THE FUNCTIONS OF TOPONYMS IN THE BRITISH LANGUAGE

Narmyhametova N.M.,Mussina D.A.

THE BEAUTY OF THE NAME SEEMED PART AND PARCEL OF THE BEAUTY OF THE LAND…..

R.L. Stevenson

Onomastics or onomatology is the part of linguistics, the study of proper names of all kinds and the origins of names. The words are from the Greek : "ὀνομαστικός" (onomastikos) “of or belonging to naming” and "ὀνοματολογία" (onomatologia) from "ὄνομα" (ónoma) "name".

One of the branches of onomastics is toponymy(place names).

Place names or proper names of seas, rivers, lakes, bogs, mountains, hills, woods, cities, settlements, streets and other geographical objects are studied by toponymy.

Toponymy is the scientific study of place names (toponyms), their meaning, structure, origin, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos (τόπος) ("place") and ónoma (ὄνομα) ("name").

Toponym is a name of a locality, region, or some other part of Earth's surface, including natural features and artificial ones. Its purpose - all-round studying of place names.

The long-interest attracted by toponyms can be explained not only by their unusual functions, mysterious origin of most of them, distinctions of their grammatical features from the other word class, i.e. appellatives, but, also by the fact that they are rich in information needed to solve ethnogenetic problems. Place-names as well as other manifestations of the people's spiritual culture, i.e. folklore, rites, believes etc. reflect peculiar national features, history and mentality. Each toponym consists of different information – historical, geographical, linguistical.

State language of Great Britain is English, but place names of this country are partially English. Influence on formation of English place names was rendered by historical conquests. Therefore among toponyms of Great Britain it is possible to mark out such elements as Celtic, Latin, Scandinavian, Norman.

In 11th c. B.C. intrusion and settling of Great Britain has begun by Celtic tribes. There are much Celtic elements among names of natural objects and less in names of settlements.

The majority names of English rivers are Celtic origin: Avon, Don, Exe, Axe, Esk, Usk, Thames, Derwent, Severn, Dee. Names: Aire, Humber, Ouse, Tees, Wey, Wye, Tyne and they are attitude to the most ancient strata of English toponymy. As an indicator of the Celtic accessory it is possible to allocate two components: pen- (hill, knap) and llan- (church). For instance, Penhill, Pencoyd, Penge, Penketh, Penrith and Landulph, Lanreath. Regularly there is the initial component tre- (village, settlement, farm, farmstead, manor) which also it is necessary to carry to the Celtic layer. The great number of these toponyms is located in Cornwall (Tredrustan, Tregavethan and etc.). They are also in Devonshire ( Trelleck, Trehill), Herefordshire and Lancashire ( Treysceck, Treales). Some English cities are named by Celtic names: Dover, Reculver.

Latin influence on English place names is much less than Celtic ones. It is necessary to note popularity of a component –chester – caster (from Latin “castra” and Old English “caster” - camp ). For instance, Chichester, Winchester, Doncaster, Lancaster, Chester, Colchester, Silchester. In certain cases (especially in a settlement designation on the river) English upper and lower are used like latin superior and inferior – Rickinghall Iferior, Rickinghall Superior.

The appreciable trace in toponymy of the British islands was left by the Scandinavian conquerors (IX – XI centures). However their influence is notable not in all territory of the country, and in northeast region Danelaw which consists of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Cumberland. Among repeating in Danelaw toponymic elements it is necessary to allocate –by (village, separate farm): Barnby, Grimsby, Hellaby, Thoresby, Ashby, Selby, Frisby, Westby and etc. Or Blackfordby from Blackford, Saltfleetby from Saltfleet (in the north of England this way of the naming farms exists nowadays). Element –thorp (farm, minor settlement): Londonthorp (from Old Norwegian language lundr “grove”), Carthorpe, Ullesthorpe, Kettlesthorpe (Swedish torp – yard, country house; Norwegian torp – “farm – stead”). The element - thorp was used for a designation of minor settlements or farms: Burnham and Burnham Thorpe, Barkby and Barkby Thorp, Easthorpe and Westhorpe, Northorpe and Southorpe, Thorpe in the Fallows, Thorpe le Willows, Thorp by Water. In all northern England there is the element –dale ( from Old Norwegian dair “valley”): Borrowdale, Airedale, Ribbledale.

Influence of French language on toponymy of the country is insignificant. French loans in English toponymy are limited to adjectives Beau- or Bel “beautiful”: Beauvale, Beaumanor, Bellasize, Beaulieu, Belleau and etc. In a small number of names components –mont ( French mont - mountain) and –ville are used: Eamont, Ridgmont, Grosmont, Coalville, Charterville, Bronville. These toponyms are formed from significant parts and are known as “Fanciful nineteenth – century formations”.

One of distinctive features of English toponymy is that components of names seldom correspond at modern level with real lexicon of English language. English toponyms were developed 10-15 centuries ago therefore they fix and reflect the most ancient condition of language. Modern toponymy of England - it is result of centuries-old development of names and the numerous factors which were exposed to influence.

References

1. K. Cameron. A Dictionary of British Place Names (2003).

2. G.B. Adams, Placenames from pre-Celtic languages in Ireland and Britain, Nomina , p. 46–83 (1980)

3. Лингвистический энциклопедический словарь (ЛЭС) / Гл. ред. В. Н. Ярцева. – М., 1990

4. P. H. Reany, The Origin of English Placenames (1960).

5. C. C. Smith, The survival of British Toponomy, Nomina , p.27–41 (1980).