A MORPHOSEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF NAMES IN AGATU AND ALAGO DIALECTS OF IDOMA LANGUAGE

A morpho-semantic analysis of names in Agatu and Alago dialects of Idoma was examined to show Again and Alago norms and values expressed in their naming patterns. Names for both male and female were collected through observant method and were used for the analysis. Despite many works in ldoma culture and language, this field of morpho-semantic study has never been looked at within the framework of Agatu and Alago hence the need for this study. The data was derived from native speakers of Agatu and Alago in Agatu and Doma local government areas, one for Agatu and the other for Alago. The analysis shows circumstantial names, showing the circumstances surrounding a child’s birth, twins’ names, sentential names, death derivative name, names that portray the supremacy of God, names that show strength and descriptive names. Structural components such as noun-based compounds, verb based compounds and adjective-based compounds and their sub-categories were also identified in Agatu and Alago names. It was discovered that the meanings of some names are predictable from their structural components. Agatu and Alago native names should be reserved as a mark of identity, culture and tradition