Genealogy, Vol. 9, Pages 99: Naming as Narrative Strategy: Semiotic Inversion and Cultural Authenticity in Yemeni Television Drama

Genealogy doi: 10.3390/genealogy9030099

Authors:
Elham Alzain
Faiz Algobaei

This study investigates the semiotic and cultural functions of character naming in the Yemeni television series Duroob al-Marjalah (Branching Paths of Manhood) (2024–2025). It applies onomastic theory and Barthesian semiotics to examine how Yemeni screenwriters employ names as narrative and ideological tools. A purposive sample of ten central characters was selected from a Yemeni drama series for qualitative analysis. Each name was examined for linguistic structure, semantic meaning, intertextual associations, and socio-cultural alignment. Semiotic interpretation followed Barthes’ signifier–signified–myth model to decode narrative and cultural symbolism. The findings indicate that character names function as multifaceted semiotic tools, conveying heritage, while occasionally employing stylization for satire or fostering empathy through cultural resonance. However, many lack grounding in Yemeni naming conventions, creating a tension between narrative dramatization and socio-onomastic realism. The results suggest that while Yemeni screenwriters show partial awareness of naming as a cultural and narrative tool, the creative process often privileges thematic resonance over ethnographic accuracy. This research contributes to onomastic theory, Arabic media studies, and semiotic analysis by evidencing how localized naming practices—or their absence—shape identity construction, world-building, and cultural recognition in regional television drama.

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Elham Alzain www.mdpi.com