Personal Naming Patterns and Preferencesamong Pashto Speech Community

The purpose of the present study was to analyze personal naming practices for old and new generations of Pashto speech community. It specifically focused on the linguistic properties of these names and the diversity in naming practices. The personal names of the old generation were analyzed for traditional names signifying the preferences for those names. While, the modern trends in naming practices were explored and the possible social reasons for the preferences of modern names were analyzed. The study explored the shift from the association of the community with nature and culture towards modern fashionable trends. For this purpose, 35000 names from the voter list of all the 35 districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan were reviewed and analyzed to explore naming practices across generations. Likewise, 32000 names selected from 8 educational boards were taken to ascertain naming practices across younger generation of Pakhtun. Furthermore, a total of 700 respondents in 4 purposively selected districts were interviewed through convenient sampling. The findings shows that naming practices and patters among Pakhtuns are traditionally driven and religiously influenced. It was observed that thenaming practices of older generation are well integrated into Pashto phonological patterns which are being replaced by modern trends having different phonological patterns and their own complex semantic structures. The changing naming practices are mostly attributed to mass media, education, globalization and increasing population. The gender differences in names were easily recognized through sound symbolism and the traditional female role is reflected in naming practices as well. The study is highly significant for analytical, theoretical and cultural perspective. It highlights theconnection between linguistic practices and socio-cultural beliefs and the modern trends in naming practices for Pashto speech community in today’s globalized world