The threshold of affect: considerations on the attribution of the name and the social construction of the person

Abstract

This article examines the process of naming children in urban lusophone contexts in Brazil and Portugal, highlighting its significance in forming emotional bonds and social identities. The act of naming is presented as a crucial step in the social construction of a person, integrating social and human reproduction. Names function as markers of affective relationships, carrying strong emotional significance. The essay critiques the dominant culturalist perspective in anthropology, which has focused on the notion of "discourse" and the incommensurability of cultural differences, often at the expense of considering social action. The author argues for moving beyond this "discursive reduction" to address the relational and emotional dimensions of naming and identity formation, thus reintroducing the importance of social action in anthropological studies. This approach challenges the epistemological skepticism prevalent in recent anthropological discourse, advocating for a more balanced view that acknowledges both cultural specificity and the potential for comparative analysis.