疍民命名文化探略

On the Name-Giving Culture of Dan-min

特殊的水上生产生活环境使得疍民的命名具有浓厚的水上色彩,普通疍民的命名文化具有以与水相关的事物命名、用"佬"命名、用数字命名、名字中常带"阿"或"亚"、为小孩起贱名及寄托心愿的命名等特点。这些特点显示疍民命名较为粗俗,是其社会地位及文化水平低造成的。自清代中期起,部分疍民上层因经济条件的改善及社会地位和文化水平的提高,他们的命名已与陆地文化人趋同,文雅而有内涵。

The unique living environment has given a huge cue of watercolor to Dan-min＇s name-giving culture. The names of ordinary Dan-rain are related to either water or number. Simple Chinese characters such as ＂佬、阿＂ and ＂亚＂ are also commonly seen when Dan-min name their children. Dan-rain＇s names have shown the simplicity and casualness of their name-giving culture and are indicators of Dan-rain＇s humble social status and low level of literacy. Since the mid Qing Dynasty, thanks to the improvement in their economic conditions and advancement in both social status and educational level, some better-off Dan-min have shared more with inlanders in their name-giving pattern, which tends to be more cultured and refined.