Precedent names as a way to semiotize culture in modern German fictional discourse

Abstract

The article analyzes the functioning of precedent proper names through the lens of cognitive linguistics, using the novel Olga by Bernhardt Schlink as a source. The precedent names and titles are being analyzed as cultural code markers and means to verbalize the key concepts in German culture of the XX century, such as BERMENSCH, LOST IDEALIST, WANDERLUST. Precedent names mark the cultural codes manifested through objects, music, art, space and time which eventually form a nations spiritual code. The main sources of German national cultural codes are demonstrated by precedent onomasticon which, in its turn, proves the steady domineering of book culture in the XX century. Precedent mythonyms and hagionyms demonstrate that the cultural layers of Classical antiquity and Christian culture are still preserved. Functional and semantic features of precedent onyms liken them to abstract names which enables them not only to verbalize spiritual cultural codes but to manifest symbolisation of specific linguistic culture.

Keywords

• german language
• precedent proper names
• cultural codes
• symbolisation of culture
• concept of übermensch
• concept of lost idealist
• concept of wanderlust
• fictional discourse