SOCIO-ONOMASTICS OF PESANTIAN IN BALI

Abstrak

The study of names and naming based on a scientific discipline is referred to as onomastics. The
term onomastics defined by Kridalaksana (2012:167), as the study of personal names and place
names constitutes an investigation within the field of onomastics that examines the origins of forms
and proper names. Langendonck (2007:6) explains that a name can be defined as a unique entity
associated with a noun within established and well-formed linguistic conventions. Erikha
(2021:275), referring to Langendonck (2007), suggests two basic categories of names: prototypical
and non-prototypical. The prototypical category refers to personal names (anthroponyms), place
names (toponyms), names of storms, names of animals, names of astronomical objects, names of
buildings, ships, and organizational names (pesantian). The science of naming can also be related
to Geonyms, referring to the naming of geographical regions; Cosmonyms, referring to naming
based on cosmic features beyond the Earth; Agronyms, referring to the naming of plants;
Hydronyms, referring to the naming of water regions; and Oronyms, referring to the naming of
relief features such as mountains and hills. Socio-onomastics is a product of society that reflects the
complexity, history, and cultural values of a particular human community. This concept connects
social elements with naming practices, in which names become more than mere identifiers; they
serve as reflections of social evolution and cultural change over time. In every society, naming
carries profound social implications. Names reflect norms, values, and hierarchies within a
community. Society determines which norms are embodied in names, such as the use of pesantian
names, family names, ancestral names, or names reflecting specific religious beliefs or traditions.
Naming practices may also reflect social trends. For example, when a particular name becomes
popular within a community, this phenomenon may indicate prevailing trends within that
community. Similarly, social changes can be reflected in shifts in naming trends. Socio-onomastics
is the result of complex interactions between society, culture, and naming practices. This concept
enables the exploration of how names reflect identity, social change, cultural values, and global
interactions. In this context, socio-onomastics not only reveals names as collections of words but
also uncovers narratives of history, identity, and the dynamics within the society that produces them.