Precedent Proper Names in Informal Oikonymy

Abstract

The paper deals with the Russian language informal city names (oikonyms) motivated by other toponyms (with reference to Russia and the CIS). The author shows that the motivating proper name can replace the city name (e. g. Глазго < Glasgow ‘Glazov’) or contaminate with it (e. g. Экибостон < Ekibastuz + Boston), the “alien” onym being attracted to construct an informal oikonym due to its phonetic similarity or, on occasion, due to an affinity, either real or imaginary, between the two settlements. The author argues that the phonetic motivation is more characteristic for the modern urban tradition, than for popular dialects.

Keywords

• Russian language
• onomastics
• toponymy
• oikonymy
• city name
• informal oikonymy
• informal city names
• precedent proper names
• language game