Description

Names: A Study of Personal Names, Identity, and Power in Pakistan

Product Information

Title: Names: A Study of Personal Names, Identity, and Power in Pakistan
Author: Tariq Rahman
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 240
ISBN-13: 9780199402588 / 978-0199402588
ISBN-10: 0199402582
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP Pakistan)
Publication Date: June 4, 2015
Edition: First Edition

Overview

In Names: A Study of Personal Names, Identity, and Power in Pakistan, Tariq Rahman explores the intricate relationship between names, identity, and social power in Pakistani society. Through a deep linguistic and sociological analysis, Rahman examines how names carry historical, cultural, religious, and political significance, influencing a person’s social status, community affiliations, and power dynamics.

This book delves into the origins and meanings of names, their evolution over time, and how they reflect class structures, religious beliefs, and regional identities in Pakistan. It provides fascinating insights into naming traditions, the impact of colonialism, and contemporary shifts in personal identity through names.

An essential read for linguists, sociologists, historians, and anyone interested in the cultural and political significance of names in South Asia.

Key Features

✅ In-Depth Linguistic Analysis: Examines the etymology and evolution of personal names
✅ Sociocultural Perspective: Explores how names reflect identity, religion, and class in Pakistan
✅ Historical & Political Context: Investigates the colonial and post-colonial influence on naming traditions
✅ Scholarly Yet Accessible: Written by Tariq Rahman, a leading expert on language and identity in South Asia

Interesting Facts

Names as Identity Markers

In Pakistan, personal names often indicate a person's ethnicity, religion, and even political affiliations.
Colonial influences, Arabic, Persian, and indigenous South Asian languages all shape Pakistani names.

Power and Social Hierarchy

Certain surnames historically signified aristocratic or feudal lineage.
Political and social mobility has led to changing naming trends, with some families adopting new names to signify modernity or social status.

Religious & Regional Influences

Islamic traditions play a key role in naming practices, with names derived from Arabic and Persian.
Regional and linguistic variations influence names across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Publisher

Published by Oxford University Press (OUP Pakistan), this book is a valuable contribution to the study of language, identity, and power dynamics in Pakistan.

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