Beyond the Dog's Name: A Silent Dialogue among the Shona People

In this article Tatira demonstrates how dogs' names are used extensively by the Shona people to communicate with relatives, neighbors, and household members in situations where direct communication would be difficult or impossible. As a result, most dogs' names express grievances that cannot be discussed; they offer an indirect way of communicating in order to rebuke, insult, or correct bad behavior. In examining the dog-naming practices he encountered during fieldwork in Zimbabwe, Tatira also demonstrates how they relate to witchcraft, marital problems, and other social issues.