The young Algerian and their first name: emotional attachment or imposed heritage?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48075/odal.v6i1.34952Keywords:
given name, Algerian youth, name attachment, name rejection, motivationsAbstract
Although extensive research has been conducted on given names, including studies by Coulmont (2011), Varro (1994), and other specialists who have inspired this work, this contribution aims to highlight the affective bond between young Algerians and their first names. The analysis of this bond provides an in-depth perspective on its psychosocial and identity-related dimensions. It underscores its influence on identity construction, the understanding of the emotional and symbolic connotations associated with first names, as well as the social perceptions they may generate. It is precisely this multidimensional nature of the subject that motivated our choice and gives this contribution its value and originality.The empirical dimension of this research is based on the analysis of responses to a questionnaire administered to a sample of 316 young people aged 16 to 21. The collected data were examined through a psychosociological approach to assess how these young individuals perceive their first names and the underlying motivations behind their attachment to or, conversely, rejection of them. The results reveal that a majority of young Algerians maintain a positive emotional relationship with their first names, an attachment primarily nurtured by family ties, the modernity of the name, its meaning, or its religious significance. While various factors may influence this identity-related bond, it appears that the family plays a predominant role, both in the attribution of the name and in fostering the sense of attachment that ensues.
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