아프리카계 미국노예들의 이름 짓기 문화 (Names and Naming of African American Slaves.)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국아프리카학회
· 수록지 정보 : 한국아프리카 학회지 / 28권 / 1호 / 73 ~ 96페이지
· 저자명 : 박은진

초록

From the moment of leaving the west coast of Africa for North
America, the slaves became nameless. It was only when they were sold to
masters in America that they obtained new names. The masters gave them
names which were originated in the Bible, Greek-Roman classics and
others. Some of the slaves refused to be re-named and were successful to
hold their original African names probably by pretending to forget the
newly given names. An overwhelming majority of the slaves, however,
adopted themselves to the new names.
Being allowed to name their children, the slaves utilized various sources
of names around them. First, some of the slaves gave African names to
their sons and daughters according to African customs of naming. Even
though many of the original meanings came to fade out over time, the
slaves continued to use the African names in shorter, simpler forms.
Second, the slaves also turned to Western names, the same kinds that their
masters gave them. They included big names in the classics as well as
those of the Founding Fathers and statesmen of America. The slaves might
not have known who the names were originally for. But they chose those
names for their own reasons, far different from those of the masters.
Slaves expressed their aspirations for their children in names. Among
many figures in the Bible, the slaves tended to favor those who led the
Israelites out of bondage or sufferings. They also converted some English
adjectives and even abstract nouns to names, hoping their children realize
the meanings in their lives. They even used some materialistic words and
titles of high status.
Unconventional to the eye of white American masters, naming of
African American slaves was not just simple resistance nor mere
assimilation. It was a distinctive, creative process of acculturation on the
part of the slaves who were once portrayed passive victims.

영어초록

From the moment of leaving the west coast of Africa for North
America, the slaves became nameless. It was only when they were sold to
masters in America that they obtained new names. The masters gave them
names which were originated in the Bible, Greek-Roman classics and
others. Some of the slaves refused to be re-named and were successful to
hold their original African names probably by pretending to forget the
newly given names. An overwhelming majority of the slaves, however,
adopted themselves to the new names.
Being allowed to name their children, the slaves utilized various sources
of names around them. First, some of the slaves gave African names to
their sons and daughters according to African customs of naming. Even
though many of the original meanings came to fade out over time, the
slaves continued to use the African names in shorter, simpler forms.
Second, the slaves also turned to Western names, the same kinds that their
masters gave them. They included big names in the classics as well as
those of the Founding Fathers and statesmen of America. The slaves might
not have known who the names were originally for. But they chose those
names for their own reasons, far different from those of the masters.
Slaves expressed their aspirations for their children in names. Among
many figures in the Bible, the slaves tended to favor those who led the
Israelites out of bondage or sufferings. They also converted some English
adjectives and even abstract nouns to names, hoping their children realize
the meanings in their lives. They even used some materialistic words and
titles of high status.
Unconventional to the eye of white American masters, naming of
African American slaves was not just simple resistance nor mere
assimilation. It was a distinctive, creative process of acculturation on the
part of the slaves who were once portrayed passive victims.

참고자료

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