Fantastic Naming: A study of Pokemon, their names, and society

Abstract

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” To accept this adage as valid is sheer folly. “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The answer to Juliet’s question is “Plenty!” and to her own response to the question we can only say that this is by no means invariably true. The importance, significance, and ramifications of naming and defining people cannot be over-emphasised.” Haig A. Bosmajian, The Language of Oppression

Surrounding the phenomenon of names and naming are a multitude of questions, one of which is the question of how names create realities and reflect society. This research paper aims to provide insight into this question, through an investigation of names and naming in Pokémon. By examining the names of 807 Pokémon, the fictional creatures inhabiting the world of the eponymous video game franchise, this thesis will not only show the existence of regular patterns and trends in the ways that Pokémon are named. It will also show how Pokémon are named in a way that reflects the values and assumptions of society, in particular probing into the effects of globalisation on culture and the anthropocentricity of Man’s interactions with Nature. To derive these results, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was employed. Quantitatively, statistical analyses were used to extract trends of statistical significance warranting discussion, and the concepts of Symbolic Power, Symbolic Capital, and Habitus as developed by Bourdieu furnished further insights. It concludes by suggesting ways in which Pokémon and their names can be studied to achieve a better understanding of society.