Nominative determinism

Nominative determinism

Nominative determinism is a comparatively recent term for the theory that a person's name can have a significant role in determining key aspects of job, profession or even character. It was a commonly held notion in the ancient world.

Synonyms and/or related concepts include: aptronym, apronym, aptonym, jobonymns, 'namephreaks', onomastic determinism, 'perfect fit last names' (PFLNs), psychonymics and, classically, the notion that nomen est omen, or όνομα ορίζοντας. Tom Stoppard in his play Jumpers labelled the phenomenon cognomen syndrome.[1]

A related term, to refer to a name peculiarly suited to its owner, is aptronym, said to have been coined by the US newspaper columnist Franklin P. Adams. The distinction between cognitive determinacy and a mere aptronym is seen as subtle but fundamental: i.e. post hoc vs propter hoc. ND researchers are sometimes referred to as comiconomenclaturists — connoisseurs of humorous names.

Contents

Origin and meaning

The term nominative determinism had its origin in the 'Feedback' column of the British popular science journal New Scientist in 1994:

"We recently came across a new book, Pole Positions - The Polar Regions and the Future of the Planet, by Daniel Snowman. Then, a couple of weeks later, we received a copy of London Under London - A Subterranean Guide, one of the authors of which is Richard Trench. So it was interesting to see Jen Hunt of the University of Manchester stating in the October issue of The Psychologist: "Authors gravitate to the area of research which fits their surname." Hunt's example is an article on incontinence in the British Journal of Urology (vol 49, pp 173-176, 1977) by J. W. Splatt and D. Weedon.[2] (This really does exist. We've checked it).
We feel it's time to open up this whole issue to rigorous scrutiny. You are invited to send in examples of the phenomenon in the fields of science and technology (with references that check out, please) together with any hypotheses you may have on how it comes about. No prizes, other than seeing your name in print and knowing you have contributed to the advance of human knowledge."[3]

An earlier and widely cited instance of the idea that name may significantly influence choice or behaviour is contained in Carl Jung's seminal 1952 paper on Synchronicity:

"We find ourselves in something of a quandary when it comes to making up our minds about the phenomenon which Stekel calls the 'compulsion of the name'. What he means by this is the sometimes quite gross coincidence between a man's name and his peculiarities or profession. For instance ... Herr Feist (Mr Stout) is the food minister, Herr Rosstäuscher (Mr Horsetrader) is a lawyer, Herr Kalberer (Mr Calver) is an obstetrician ... Are these the whimsicalities of chance, or the suggestive effects of the name, as Stekel seems to suggest, or are they 'meaningful coincidences'?"[4]

Jung listed striking instances among psychologists — including himself:

"Herr Freud (Joy) champions the pleasure principle, Herr Adler (Eagle) the will to power, Herr Jung (Young) the idea of rebirth…"[4]

Though various social psychologists and others may have argued that a name can indeed significantly influence a life, New Scientist itself appeared finally to adopt a more equivocal position:

"Let the last word go to Andrew Lover, who writes to us expressing the earnest hope that nominative determinism is a real phenomenon. We hope so, too, young Lover."[5]

Spurious nominative determinism

Having a name suited to your job is not, it may be argued, inevitably nominative determinism. Marina Stepanova,[6] for example, was an elite hurdler who achieved a world record in 1986. She entered the sport and achieved early athletic success, however, under her maiden name Marina Makeyeva [7] and only later acquired by marriage the strangely more apt name. Since her married name cannot have influenced her earlier life, Marina Stepanova may be regarded as an example of an aptronym, rather than an instance of nominative determinism.

Examples

References

  1. ^ Timothy Noah (Dec. 16, 2005). "Charol Shakeshaft, Topped!". Slate. http://www.slate.com/id/2132505/. 
  2. ^ Splatt AJ, Weedon D. The urethral syndrome: experience with the Richardson urethroplasty. Br J Urol. 1977 Apr;49(2):173–176.
  3. ^ New Scientist, Newscientist.com, Feedback, November 5, 1994
  4. ^ a b New Scientist, Newscientist.com, Feedback, April 20, 1996
  5. ^ New Scientist, Newscientist.com, Feedback June 22, 1996
  6. ^ Trackandfieldnews.com
  7. ^ Football-heroes.net
  8. ^ Smithsonian Institution
  9. ^ Aber.ac.uk
  10. ^ Foodforthepoor.org
  11. ^ NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
  12. ^ It was discussion of Splatt and Weedon that led New Scientist to coin the term in the first place
  13. ^ Topics.nytimes.com
  14. ^ Telegraph.co.uk
  15. ^ UK Border Agency website

External links

Research into nominative determinism


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