"Beyond Humour": An Auto-ethnographic Exploration of Nicknaming Practices in a Higher Education Institution in Jaffna

Abstract

This auto-ethnographic study examines the multifaceted and interrelated functions of nicknaming within a higher educational institution in Jaffna. Drawing from my experience as an employee and insider, I examine how nicknaming operates as more than mere workplace humour, functioning as a practice entangled with the interplay of power and culture. Guided by a qualitative interpretivist paradigm and rooted in analytical auto-ethnography, this study thematically analyses my roles as a giver, receiver, and observer of nicknames. Three core themes were identified, aligning with the social, political, and psychological domains: nicknaming as a form of social bonding and relational softening; nicknaming as a means of symbolic power and everyday resistance; and nicknaming as a catalyst for identity formation and psychological stimulation. This study also strengthens the notion that nicknaming is a double-edged phenomenon, producing both positive and negative outcomes depending on the context. It further calls for a rethinking of rofessional norms through a critical examination of workplace behaviours and encourages awareness among those involved in nicknaming about its benefits and challenges. This study also recommends fostering a consent-based culture, encouraging critical self reflection through auto-ethnographic exercises, and integrating nickname analysis into rganizational assessments. Finally, further qualitative in-depth interviews have been suggested to deepen and broaden the findings.