Cynonyms of the space squad

Abstract

The current paper introduces a certain layer of zoonyms, including the proper names of mongrel dogs participating in the Soviet Space Programme (1950–1960-ies), into scientific circulation. The study is aimed at recreating the onomastic portrait of the space squad cynonyms. The research corpus consists of 76 cynonyms obtained from documentary sources, scientific and popular science articles, and Internet publications applying a continuous sampling method. Examination of empirical material is carried out by general scientific methods (analysis, comparison, generalization, observation) and a descriptive method involving quantitative calculations. Derivational peculiarities of cynonyms are determined through morphemic and word-formation analysis. The study reveals the main onomastic characteristics of the space squad cynonyms: predominant object-evaluative motivation actualising the dogs-cosmonauts’ external features, behaviour and participation in the space mission; predominance of Russian folk onyms built according to characteristic Russian nominative models; pronounced manifestation of the appellative onymization process resulting in extremely frequent appellative substantives and adjective names formed by direct and associative methods of nomination; presence of transonymization onyms formed in a symbolic way through intercategorial and intraspecific transonymization; prevailing diminutivity, which determines the meliorative evaluation of referents by nominators; memorability explicated through memorial cynonyms with a numerical indicator; presence of single occasional cynonyms, which turn to be a symptomatic manifestation of the nominators’ onomastic creativity; polyonymy due to extralinguistic factors. It is concluded that the cynonyms of the space squad represent a unique scientific, cultural and historical onomasticon, which has significant information potential that reveals the peculiarities of the Russian linguistic world picture. The practical significance of the study is determined by the possibility of using its materials and conclusions to cultivate a stable civic and patriotic position among our country’s younger generation with the help of onomastic means. Further prospects lie in the study of other cultural and historical zoonymic onomasticons.

Keywords

• cynonym
• onomasticon
• nomination motive
• nomination process
• nomination method
• appellative ony-mization
• onym transonymization
• diminutivity
• meliorativity
• memorative
• polyonymy