A SEMANTIC ANALAYSIS OF UROẸ PERSONAL NAMES OF AFUZE LOCAL AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT
This study is a semantic analysis of Uroe personal names. The study aimed at revealing Uroe dialect and culture through personal names. Uroe personal names can serve as a resource material for the study of semantic and socio-cultural back ground of Uroe dialect. The research is carried out because Africa personal names have histories attached to it and at this circumstances and culture influenceUroe personal names. The study employed primary and secondary source of data collection. The primary source of data collection are oral interview and participant observation in the work. The data is gathered from a large scale of random sampling of Uroe community and outside the community who have vast experience on naming practices. The theoretical framework used in analyzing the data is basic linguistic theory. The data were analyzed using literal and free translation. The study only covers semantic analysis of Uroe personal names and there are other aspects of Uroe personal names the study could not cover; such as the morphological analysis, negation in Uroe personal names and western influence of Uroe personal names. Findings into Uroe personal names are indispensable part of the language. Uroe personal names cannot be separated from their circumstances and culture. The study also shows that Uroe personal names can convey message from name-giver to the community.