Abstract:
This study was about naming system, gender construction, and gender stereotyping in
Kindali. The aim of the study was to investigate and assess the nature of Kindali naming
system and how the society constructs and stereotypes gender through naming system in
Kindali. The study was guided by three specific objectives which are: to examine the
nature of Kindali naming system, to investigate how the society constructs gender
through naming system in Kindali, and to investigate how the society fosters gender
stereotyping through naming system in Kindali.
The primary data were collected through questionnaires and interviews, which made the
study a worthwhile activity. The languages used in collection of data are Kiswahili and
Kindali.
The study dealt with three objectives that are related to naming system in Kindali.
Firstly, the study attempted to examine the nature of Kindali naming system; that
naturally Kindali has elaborate and overt morphological and derivational semantic
processes for naming. Secondly, the study revealed that the society constructs gender
through naming system by affixation, especially the use of prefix and common uses of
names basing on gender. Thirdly, the study revealed that the society fosters gender
stereotyping through naming system by using Kindali names which their meanings praise
males and demean females.
