Abstract:
The paper analyses Hen naming system among the Sukuma
speech community of Tanzania. Most literature has
concentrated on personal, cow, dog, and tree names but not
Hen names despite their socio-cultural significance. Thus,
this paper accounts for Sukuma Hen names and their
associated meaning under the Cognitive Grammar Theory.
The researcher used snowball sampling to get six
participants. The participants selected purposively included
three Hen keepers and three traditional healers from
Njingani village of Geita rural district in
Tanzania. Unstructured interviews and focus group
discussions were the instruments for data collection. The
study found eight Hen names in Sukuma speech community
and the associated reasons for their names. These are Jomo,
Sagala, and Holasi ''for appearance''; Shingamagaji, 'for beliefs';
Nzoma ‘for color’, kaMende, Mbuni, and Mhando ‘for body
size’. From this base, the color, beliefs, and physical
appearance determine Hen names in Sukuma speech
community. The study concludes that Hen names in the
Sukuma speech community are meaningful and they
connotate function in accordance with conceptualizations
ground. Further, there is need to conduct a study on the
names and the associated factors for Hens that are bred using
the new breeding technology.
