앗시리아인의 이름, 정체성의 뱃지 : 현대 이라크 앗시리아인의 이름 짓기 (Assyrian Names, the Badge of Identity : Naming Practice of Contemporary Assyrians in Iraq)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 아신대학교 ACTS 신학연구소
· 수록지 정보 : ACTS 신학저널 / 32권 / 277 ~ 308페이지
· 저자명 : 이성옥

초록

행크스와 호지스(Hanks and Hodges)가 “문화적 정체성의 뱃지”라고 언급한 것처럼 아슈르, 사르곤, 니노스 등 고대 앗시리아 역사에서 가져온 앗시리아인의 이름은 앗시리아인에게 있어 앗시리아어의 사용과 함께 가장 눈에 띄는 정체성 표지 중의 하나이다. 또한 이러한 고대 이름의 사용은 현대 앗시리아인이 고대 앗시리아의 후손이라는 수천 년에 걸친 앗시리아인의 연속성의 증거로서 자주 거론되기도 한다. 그러나 성명의 패턴은 시간을 거치며 자발적, 또는 강압적으로 변화한다. 특히 종교적 이름을 제외한 고대 앗시리아 이름의 증가는 앗시리아 민족주의 운동의 성장과 함께 일어난 현대적인 현상으로 보인다.
본 논문은 지난 10여 년 간 중동에서 가장 급격한 인구 감소를 겪고 있는 소수 기독교 집단인 이라크 앗시리아인의 집단 표지인 개인의 이름을 짓는 행위를 실증적으로 분석한다.

영어초록

An Assyrian name which is taken from ancient Assyrian history such as Ashur, Sargon, and Ninos is one of the most salient identity markers of the Assyrians like “a badge of cultual identity” as Hanks and Hodges refer. Also, the usage of these ancient names is often taken as a proof of Assyrian continuity over thousand years. However, the naming pattern tends to change over the course of time either voluntarily, or sometimes by force. Especially an increase of ancient Assyrian names, besides Assyrian religious names, seems to be quite a modern practice along with rise of the Assyrian national movement.
This article is an empirical examination of names and naming behavior of contemporary Assyrians in Iraq, a minority Christian group which is experiencing the most drastic population decrease in the twenty first century in the Middle East. The study finds that traditional Assyrian naming pool for a newborn baby was expanded from a preferably a grandparent’s name or from one of the relatives’ to famous Assyrians such as ones in ancient Assyrian history and Assyrian church history. The rise of modern Assyrian nationalism inevitably resulted in this expansion of naming pool since widely used names before the nationalism were mostly religious names. At the same time, this change shows that the focal point of self-identity of Assyrians had been shifted from a religiously defined one to an ethnic nationalism. For being an Assyrian is presumed to be Christian, Assyrian names regardless of their religious origins tend to be perceived as Christian.
Ancient Assyrian names and Christian names in Assyrian language make up about eighty percent of male names, meaning these names do differentiate Assyrians from other sectarian groups in the region. As a minority group, though these names are a group marker, an expression of the identity and a source of pride, they may lead the name holders to social discrimination and sometimes harrassment, in addition to distortion in pronunciation when written in Arabic, the official language. Adoption of Arabic names is consciously rejected as it is considered as a part of larger Arabicization, hence the loss of distinct identity. On the other hand, adoption of Western names, especially Western version of Christian names, is voluntary and increasing despite some concern for the loss of identity. They are considered more fashionable and modern but still Christian, hence a continuation of identity. The study also confirms the general conservativeness in male naming. Assyrian males tend to use nationalistic names and religious names more in Assyrian language, comparing to female names which are more sensitive to fashion and aesthetic elements, have more religiously neutral names and adopt more Western form of Christian names. One can foretell that ongoing ordeal of Assyrians in Iraq and the consequent mass emigration will enhance the adoption of Western names, if not emerges a new trend in Assyrian naming.

참고자료

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