The significance of the naming technique in KPD Maphalla’s novel, <i>Kabelwamanong</i>

Abstract

This article is a conceptual study of onomastics in KPD Maphalla’s novel, Kabelwamanong, focusing on the naming of characters and places. The study intends to determine the extent to which naming is utilised as a technique to show how the author presents his characters and how they contribute towards the development of themes in this text. Maphalla’s choice and use of names is deliberate, and the technique makes a significant contribution to his narrative. The author is aware of the power of names and naming. The study reveals that in Kabelwamanong, Maphalla makes good use of names and naming to express opinions or make philosophical comments about characters and the roles assigned to them. Names, therefore, assist in identifying character types, reflect philosophical and moral positions that characters represent, and provide hints to the meaning of the text. The article concludes that names in Kabelwamanong are not mere decorative strategies, but rather vital aspects of literary art. The quality of the narrative could be improved by the way the naming technique is used in this text.