The Editor in Chief,

Nigerian Journal of Trends in Language, Arts and Social Seciences Education. Benue State
University, Makurdi.
Glodudu2013@gmail.com.
EVOLUTION IN THE NAMING PROCESS IN TIV SOCIETY.

Levi Iorfa MASE

Researcher in the Department of French, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna state.

Email: levimase@outlook.com.

Phone: 08072898196

ABSTRACT
The importance of name to humanity cannot be over emphasized. It is culturally acceptable to
name a new born baby, such that there is a naming Ceremony in many societies. This paper
takes a critical look at the historical background of naming process in Tiv society from the
ancient time the to present day using a descriptive approach. Is there any changes in the
naming pattern in Tiv? What brings about changes? Does emotion influence namimg processes
in Tiv society ? The answers to these questions are provided in the paper. Most people in the
world name their children (male or female) reflecting their emotional states and circumstances
at the moment of the birth of the child. The reasons behind the names and who has the duty
to name newly born babies in their society are revealed in the work. It also studies the changes
in the naming pattern as a result of modernization and christianization of the Tiv society. The
paper equally considers the importance of names to human beings in general and Tiv society in
particular. The paper observes that Tiv names are persistently undergoing change on the basis
on personal conviction of parents. This article also observes the unnecessary unisex names
imposed on some names and it effects on the people bearing such names, and their reactions
to names. As a typical Tiv man, the researcher used personnal experience and some interviews
from old people and parents to arrival at the conclusion. It finally gives recommendations to
that effect.

Key words: Evolution, modernization, Civilisation, Feminization.

INTRODUCTION
Evolution manifestes in every society in the world in different phases of life be it Language,
culture, Education or understanding, both undergo evolution. Tiv language is a language spoken
in two countries: Republic of Cameroon and Republic of Nigeria. In Nigeria, it is spoken in Five
states to include Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Cross River and plateau states. It belongs to the Tiv
people who are believed to have originated from the Bantu people in Congo region of Central
Africa. The language is also believed to be of Bantu class. Aganyi & Musa ( 2018). Name is very
important thing to human beings. It differentiates someone from another or something from
other things. Name serves as identity to the bearer. ( Proper nouns).
It also serves as a communicative means to the ears of those who understand the language in
which one is named. Names can be inform of request, demand, praise, prayer, command, etc.
Human Name also portrays culture and serves as a historical point to the parents of the child.
“ Every person has a name. Every name has a story behind it. And every story behind a name
has a cultural context in which it is embedded. The process of naming a child is different in
every culture. In some cultures, the person who name the child, the meaning of the name itself,
and the context in which it may be spoken are all significant (2012:1).” We can see that Parents
recognize the importance of name and select good names for their children. Some time, a child
is named base on the prevailing situation in which the parents of the child found themselves in:
it could be an expression of joy, anger, dismay,. Name could be a request. Some parents name
their children after other things: living things and non living things. Jorida Cila affirme that
choosing a name for one’s child is a purposive act. Among bicultural individuals in particular,
this process may be more complex as they may be faced with added burden to having to decide
between a name that reflects their ethnic origin and a name that is more common in their
adoptive countries.( Cf Abstract).

For example Ijuo (tiger ), Okwu ( matche) as Igede names. In Tiv , Iwen ( stone)) Toho (bush)
which some people are named after them.
 “ Hausa names are heavily influenced by Islam, example. The personal names
Ahmed, and many compound personal names begin with Abdul( servant of)
followed by One of the attributes of Allah, exemple. Abdulrahman, Abdulsalam,
Abdulmalik, Abdulaziz… some family names come from names of local
communities eg Kano, sokoto tonshow clan affiliation ( A guide to names and
naming practices. https://www.fbiic.gov.public>now>Naming-practice.PDF.
Retrieved 21/6/2021.
This means that Hausa names also undergo evolution as influenced by the religion.
.gov.publicanowicz has this to say.
One of the biggest milestones in having a baby is selecting the perfect name.
Parents recognize a child’s name becomes part of their identity and you only get
one shot to pick a good name. The act of giving your child a good name
continues through out their upbringing and these names will be just as
important… as a result, parents often contemplate for months, trying on
different names to see which one will suit their little bundle.
www.carn.msu.edu.news.hell.my.names.com. 18/4/2021

The contemplation has to do with the gender of the baby, the purpose of the name, and what the name
is all about since it has to be it’s Identity. “ Name is a personal identity to the bearer < A person’s name
is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language>” .Dale Carnegie. This means
that people love their names but if the name is not given in a proper way, the bearer turns round to
hate it, to the extent that some people change their names. “ In many cultures, men have seen in the
ability to name as ability to control or to possess. Naming- applying a word to pick out and refer to a
fellow human being, an animal, an object, or a class such beings or objects…( Encyclopaedia Britannica
(549).

The duty of naming a newly born baby was basically rested upon the shoulders of the the oldest man in
the family. This person would holds the newly born baby in the hands, gives a name with words
explaining why the baby is named like that. For example, in 1964, Gideon Mase Ahile ran away for his
dear life leaving his pregnant wife in the hand of His cousin brother, Akile Gbande during Tiv political
crisis. The woman delivered a baby boy. Then, Akile Gbande held the boy and said: “ I was worried that
UMBC would kill your father but God almighty has protected him therefore, I named you, “Terkula” God
has protected your father. The person naming the baby could be a grand father to the baby, Uncle to
the baby, grand mother to the baby etc. Some time, an important person to the family who visit them at
the material time. He would asked if the baby has been given a name or not, he then names the child.
But If this is done , a child may end up having many names because the name given by the parents is
there and the visitor’s name. Let us consider what ancient Tiv man used to do.

ANCIENT TIV MAN.

Ancient Tiv man named his children based on the circumstances surrounding him during the
birth of child. He could be sad, happy or in need and try to express this through the name of the
child or children in general. For example, a tiv man sold beniseeds and used the money to pay
bride price , he could name a son born of the wife as beniseeds ( ishwa). It could be maize
( ikyuleke), ground nuts ( Ahi or Abum). By so doing, there are names people bear after other
things , living things and non living things alike. Names like Igbudu-motorable road, Awen-
stones, Ikyôgh- forest etc.
A typical Tiv man then believed in his kinsmen such that 40 percent of names contained part of
the kinsmen or his people. These names start with tyô-( kinsmen) Or ( Ior) people. These
include:
Word meaning.

Tyô. Kinsmen

Ior people,

Igba. Mother’s Kinsmen

Tar. World.

Tse. Extended family

(A)
Tyô + Wase- tyôwase = kinsmen have helped.
Tyô+ venda- tyôvenda= kinsmen have refused.
Tyô+ kula- tyôkula= kinsmen have protected .
Tyô+ rumun- tyôrumun= kinsmen have agreed.
Tyô+ ngi- tyôngi= kinsmen exist.
Tyô+ kaha – tyôkaha= kinsmen differed.
Tyô+ doo – tyôdoo= kinsmen are good.
Tse= extended family is used to form male names.
Tsehemba= extended family wins
Tarvihi= extended family has spoiled.
Tsekaha= extended family differs.
Tsenongo= extended family has tried. Or extended family is stubborn.

(B);

Some time, they would used ior (people) in general, instead of tyô ( kinsmen)
People + predicate.
Ior+ this and that just like the case in A above. Or remove tyô and replace it with people.
TyôWase- Changes to Iorwase = people have helped instead of kinsmen have helped.
Ior+ venda- Iorvenda= people have refused.
Ior+ fa- Iorfa= people know
Iorrumun= people have agreed,
Iornenge= people saw,
Iorpine= people asked,
Iornzughul= people get confused/people frustrated (me, us).
Iorvihi= people are bad/spoiled.
(C), In some cases, a Tiv man would ascribed his situation to his mother’s relatives, , whether
good or bad. One’s Mother’s relatives are called “Igba”. Mother’s Kinsmen. This reflects in
some of the names like’
Igba+ doo-Igbadoo=
Mother’skinsmen are good.
Igba+ zenda- Igbazenda=
They have sent parking ( maybe the father).
Igba+ yima- igbayima=
They have saved ( maybe the father)
Igba+ rumun- igbarumun = they have agreed.
Igba+ na- Igbana= they have given.

( D) Some times, one may not use kinsmen nor people but may decide to use “Tar” <world > to mean
kinsmen, people, his mother’s relatives or his father’s kinsmen etc. That is not being explicitly.

Tar= world

Tar+ vihi- tarvihi= the world has spoiled.

Ior+ vihi- iorvihi= people are bad

Tyô+ vihi- tyôvihi= kinsmen are spoiled.

This pattern of naming is based on his observation of the actions of people around him. These are
masculine names. Let’s look at the female names.

FEMALE NAMES
In case of female names, “ Copula is mostly used leaving the subject out. The copula works as
the subject or the subject is known. Ayen Shoja identifies some copula in Tiv language.
Copula is also known as the auxiliary. It’s form is determined by the class to which the noun
belongs. Each noun has it’ own copula corresponding to the class to which the noun belongs. At
least nine classes of nouns can be identified on this basis.
1. NGU – class third person singular. – Nguvihin = He or she is spoiling.
2. MBA class- third person plural- mbavihin= kinsmen, people, are spoiling.
3. NGI class- third person singular and plural depending on the context. Ngi+ van- Ngivan+
something is coming or things are coming ( that which is coming is not pleasant)
4. NGA class third person singular and plural depending on the context. Etc. ( Shoja
.pp.59).
These names are cut from an expression or sentence leaving the subject out but keeping
the copula which serves as subject.
Tyô mba wasen= kinsmen are helping.
I.e tyô mba wasen. – Mbawasen.(female) which tyôwase- is male form of it.
Tyô mba kulan. Kinsmen are protecting- tyô mba kulan- Mbakulan.
Some time, ya= ( home, house) is used for form female names.
Yadoo= home is good.
Yavihi= home has spoiled
Yahemba= home is great.
Yanguchan= home is difficult.
Yataver= home is difficult.
It’s important to consider the evolution of the namimg processes.

EVOLUTION IN THE NAMING PATTERN

The arrival of the missionnaries in Tiv land brought about a lot of changes in the naming
processes. The belief a typical Tiv man had in his kinsmen or people, had had a turn. All
what he believed to have been done by his kinsmen or people, his mother’s relations is
ascribed to God the creator. The missionnaries brought christianity in to the land
through them a tiv man believes that God the creator is the one who does or allows
things happen and not the power of a relation. In deed, they helped put tiv language in
written form to enable them preach the gospel and translate books into tiv language
. “ In 1904, when Dr. Karl Jimmy arrived Abetse, within the three years,
he tried to write the first few words in tiv language. He went back to
 South Africa where he encouraged and noticed many missionaries to
come to tivland . ( Anyam. 27).
This agrees with the words of Shoja which say:

Tiv language got it’s written form in 1911 through the efforts of the DRCM, a
missionary body from South Africa… on seeing that their mission could hardly be
achieved with out an understanding of the Indigenous language, they had to
embark on a limited Study of Tiv language.( Cf. Preface).

The arrival of the missionnaries make most of the Tiv people changed the namimg processes to portray
the power of God almighty instead of the Kinsmen, people, mother’s relationship as it used to be.

This means that, what was said to have been done by Kinsmen, people, mother’s relations is ascribed
to Aôndo or Ter ( God or Father).

Ter Aôndo= Father God.

Ter replces tyô, in most cases.

Tyôwase- Kinsmen have helped turned to be

Terwase- Father has helped.

Terkula- Father has protected.

Teryila- Father has called.

Teryima- Father has served. This goes on and on for the Male children. In fact, all the Ter names were
born towards 1950s. This “ Ter” means Father God, the creator and the names are masculine names.

NOTE: Ter which means earthly father is a unisex name. When a father dies and the wife gives birth
shortly after the death, the child is named Terundu= father has left( died). Earthly father but not in all
cases. This name applies to male and female.

(D.) In the same process, the use of Ter, Father God, is loosing weight, as Aôndo ( God) is replacing it as
some people want to be precised. Aôndo + predicate.

Terfa to Aôndofa. =Father knows to God knows.

Aôndo+ Wase-= God has helped.

Aôndo+hemba = God win,

Aôndo+ rumun= God agrees,

Aôndo+ kula,= God has protected.

Apart from christian names, there are other names which still reflect the behavior of kinsmen, mother’s
kinsmen, in fact, people in general in the society. Children still bear them. For example: Iordepuun=
people should stop Criticizing.(m)

Depuum( f)
Iorrumun= people should accept.( Agree) (m)

Kwagher= something has happened.( F)

Yadoo= The home is good.(f)

Mluwamkuman= I am contented as I am.(f)

Hunderkera= Never mind.(f)

Mhunguur= I forget.(f)

Vihimga= I am not sad/ angry. (f)

Let’s see the evolution in the case of female names.

EVOLUTION OF FEMALE NAMES.

The evolution affects the female names also. Here also the copula Ngu for third person singular is used
referring to God the creator and other forms like Doo+ -- se+---, etc .

The copula”mba “ paves way for “ NGU” in most cases.

Nguwasen- he/she is helping but it means God is helping.

Nguvan- God is coming

Nguhemen- God is directing,

Ngunengen- God is looking or watching,

Nguveren- God is blessing ( me or us).

PERSONAL CONVICTION AND FEELING.

Doocivir Ter= it is good to worship God.

Dookenger sha Ter= it’s good to look unto God.

Doowuese Ter= it’s good to praise God.

Dooember ken Ter= it’s good to rejoice.

Doose a Ter =we are happy in the Lord.

Doosen= it’s good to laugh.

Doorumun= It’s good to agree.

Doolamen= it’s good to talk

Doonan jigh high= it’s good to believe in God.

Dooshima= beautiful.

DoofanTer it’s good to know God.

Doosuur sha Ter= it’s good to depend on the Lord.

Mnena= God’s way of gift.

Mngohol (kwagh u Ter À nem)= I received what God gives me.

Ember= rejoice

Member= I rejoice

Mngu ember= I am rejoicing.

Iwangerdoo= light is good.

Iwanger in Ter= God’s light.

Mimidoo= truth is good.

Wuese Ter= praise the Lord.

Kenger sha Ter= look unto God.

Mwuese Ter I appreciate God

Sewuese Ter= we appreciate God

Se-ember= we rejoice.

Sezamber Ter= we beseech God.

Iember in Ter= joy in the Lord .

Doom a Ter= I am grateful with God.

Sekegh Ter- we will wait for the Lord (m).

There are names meant for males and females, and while Naming your child, you have to look for
female variation of the name if the baby is a female child and if it is a male you look for male name.
Rebecca Levey says:

When picking a name for your baby, there are many Considérations. Are you naming
your baby after a family member? Is there a special meaning you wanted to convey, or
name that always been dear to your heart? If you are not planning to find out the
gender of your baby, you may want to look into names that have both a masculine
name feminine version. www.huggies.com/en>celebration- Planning. 18/4/2021.

This is because we have to obey the gender basis as to name our children. She continues that.

FEMINIZATION
This is a process of forming a female name from the male name.
In many languages adding a diminutive suffix to the masculine form of the name usually
feminizes the names. Often this means adding an “ a” , “ ia”, or “ ina” to the end of the male
names to create the complementary female version. Typical examples of this pattern include:
Joseph- Josephina
Robert—Roberta
Kyle--- Kyla
Antonio—Antonia
Louis- Louisa
Stephen- Stéphania/ Staphanie.

MALE. FEMALE.
Terfa. – Ngufan
Aôndofa- Ngufan
Terwase -Nguwasen/
Aôndowase- Awase/ Nguwasen
Terkula -Ngukulan
Ternenge.-Ngunengen
Terhemen-Nguhemen/ Ahemen.
Aôndohemen-Ahemen/nguhemen
Terhemba -Hembafan.
Terkimbi -Ngukimbin
Terna. -Ngunan
Aondona -Anadoo
Terrumun. – Ngurumun
Aôndoaver- Aver
Terver-Nguveren/ Iveren
Aôndover-Nguveren/Iveren
Teryila – nguyilan
Terseer- Nguseer
Terdoo- Adoo/ Ngudoon
Tersoo- Asoo./Ngusoon
Aôndosoo- Asoo/Ngusoon
Tersugh- Ngusurun/ msurshima.
Teryima- Nguyiman.
Tsehemba- Yahemba.
Iorfa- Mbafan
Iorliam- Mbalamen
Iorwuese- Mbawuese
Tyôver- Mbaveren,
Iorrumun- Mbarumun.
Tyôzenda- Mbazendan
Iorzenda- Mbazendan
Iornenge- mbanengen.
Iorpuu- Mbapuun.
Ioryima- Mbayiman
Tyôyima- mbayiman.
Tyôkula- Mbakulan.
Iorember- Mbaember.
Iorwakwagh- Mbawan.
Iorpine- Mbapinen.
Iorkenger-Mbakenger
CONTEMPORARY NAMES,
Tiv contemporary society is characterized by quest for independence in the family. Most young
men would not allow the parents to name their grand children. To them, Aged people give evil
names to children. To avoid that they name their children denying the grand parents
opportunity to name their grand children. It is disheartening that some prefer to name their
children using Western nnames For example, Divine Levi. No cultural identity. But name serves
as a pointer to the culture, tribe and language of the bearer.
From the year ninety’s, some people started namimg their children with names that are gender
free. One can not be really sure of the gender of the child based on the name as the names are
deep rooted in christianity. These names are given to male and female with out problems.
These names include:
Suese- support us,
Suem—support me,
Wasem- help me,
Verem--- bless me,
Ivim- refill me,
Kurase- protect us,
Ngoholse—receive us,
Doonen- love yourselves.
The idea of unisex names is not much found in the Tiv society. Majority of names are gender
afflicted. They are for male.
Gender challenge
Some people name their female children with male names.
Terwase, Ternenge, Ter this Ter that,. I asked one of them why he named his daughter with a
male name. He said, he wanted to portray goodness of God and, he has female children, that
should not deny him of the name, Ternenge ( God saw).
The issue is that ladies who bear male names may miss opportunity meant for ladies. There are
situations that one may not have time to check out the gender of a bearer of a name but
conclude that the person is a male or a female. For example.
1. Terwase Ahi ( m)
2. Ngunengen Iorfa (f)
3. Terwase Gbenda ( m)
4. Terver Akaaza (m)
5. Terwase Toho ( f ).
6. Mbawuese Terwase (f)
 No 5. Will be taken as a man hence Terwase is always a man, but in the real sens no5 is
female. So, in any case we people should not let their feeling over shadow the norms. All
the names are given as a result of something.
ADVICE

“CONCLUSION

Christianity has great influence on the Tiv names. We can say that sixty per cent of the names
has a root in it. It could be God is doing this or we are doing that to God. The old way of naming
children after existed things like , Usu ( fire), Ihyô (Knife), Nor ( Elephant), etc has reduced
drastically. Also, names that express the behavior of kinsmen or people in general also are
reducing as a result of modernization and christianization. The cultural landscape of Tiv land has
changed greatly over the years as western Education has come to stay in Tiv. Some people deny
their parents the right of naming their grand children that core traditional names are evil
names. Some parents, on the other hand, refused to name their grand children in the sense
that if they named, people will not use such names. Personal conviction on the part of the
parents play a key role in the process. Names are a valuable source of information, depending
on the influencing factor upon the naming practice, such as religion, Culture, emotions etc. In
Tiv society, religion emotions have taken eminent control as a namimg factor. Everything you
do, show expertise in it”. There are names meant for male and there are names meant for
female. It is our duty to search for the corresponding name to the gander of newly born baby,
so that, even the baby will grow to love the name. When a child realizes that they are given a
name meant for the opposite sex they promote the foreign name. Only a few over come that
challenge of bearing such a controversial name . Let us try and respect Gender while Naming a
baby. No matter the circumstances, they are names that one can give to express whatever
thing, that have male and female variations where necessary.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Motivations Predict Choices and Preferences of Baby Names among Bicultural Individuals. A
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