Notes on Warlpiri women's personal names

摘要

ABSTRACT This article looks at Aboriginal personal names, an area of study neglected for over 40 years, and concentrate on an Aboriginal group in Central Australia. Personal names are considered to be linked to the Dreamtime, and the methods by which names are acquired, and the people involved in bestowing names, are discussed. It is argued that naming may be seen as a rite de passage. Usage of personal names, and the factors affecting such usage, are presented, along with some observations on the relationship of personal names to territory.