Евразийский национальный университет им. Л. Н, Гумилева

Нармухаметова Н.М.

Personal names

Bonum nomen bonum omen

It’s believed that a person need a name foe identifying and distinguishing himself from others. In ancient times names derived from Apollo’s name belonged to aristocracy. Personal name is the password designating the bearer’s belonging to definite public circle.

It explains the existence of parallel systems of personal names, even if there is one official, obligatory for all. Such parallel systems are everywhere different. In fact any number of a society belongs to many crossed societies; as a citizen, he has three names: a last name, a first name, a patronymic, but he can be a writer or an actor by profession and have a pseudonym, besides he is a family man and has wife or children who call him not by surname, name or patronymic, he also has home name, school nickname, etc. Many peoples living far from each other have age names. Young men of Negro tribe Mosi in Western Africa live separately, preparing to maturity; for this period they receive special names and only they and their instructors know these names: later, after becoming adults, they can call each other by these names, but never at presence of others.

Only in the long period of time and space dynamics of names is visible. Some tendencies are general, determined, others are minor and subordinate, and directed “against current”.

There are separate factors connected with the life and activity of the person reflected in names; geographical environment, biological factors, public life, fashion and others.

Among proper names of any language, especially among anthroponomy, there are words, denoting features of a landscape, the atmospheric phenomena, etc. for instance, from English nicknames as Brook, Hill, Cliff, Dale, Fell, Holly, Wood, Tree appear surnames and the noted Indian-American names such as Fine Lake, a name of North American leader is Frost, a patronomycal name of the tribe Amakha is Thunder.

Names reflecting biological characteristics of a person existed and exist at all names. Such kind of names were common in the antiquity (Lame, Bandy-legged, Fingerless, etc)

Names are a part of any culture and they are of a great importance, both to the people who receive names and to the societies that give these names to them.

Despite their universality, there is a great deal of difference from one culture to another in ways how names are given.

Generally, in cultures with a keen sense of ancestry, children get their names from totems and family trees of their parents. In some cultures names are taken from events which happen during the pregnancy of the mother or shortly after the birth of the child, and in others, names are divined through magic and incantation. In some cases the name given at birth is only the first of several names person will be given throughout life. When this happens, the new names are given either to mark important milestones in life or to ward off evil spirits by tricking them into thinking that person with the old names has disappeared.

Robert Plank, who studied names of twins, discovered that the names fit into three patterns show unmistakable similarity. The most common pattern which occurred in 62 cases that were studied by Plank was the use of names that begin with the same letter. This included such names as Richard and Robert (Ricky and Robby), Joseph and Judith (Joey and Judy) as well as such names as Paul and Paula.

The second pattern involved names that had different first letters but which are similar in sound, rhythm or rhyme. Such sets of names as Tracy and Stacy, Billy Joe and Penlly Sue accounted for 17sets of names.

Finally, Plank found that only 21 sets of names were different enough from one another to be consider red dissimilar.

The great value at the choice of a name has the phonological-and-psychological factor which is understood as the occurrence of certain emotional associations caused by various sounds and combinations of sounds

The desire to be considered original forces some parents give their children rare, unusual names; Bina, Charisma, King. Parents of newborn Afro-Americans especially “sin” with it. Such names as Deon, Irory, Maurice, Brianna, Keisha, Kyra are in majority representatives of the Afro-American population. Frequently name is given in honor of the other person, often close relative. Many fathers act as Mr. Dombley in Charles Dickens’s novel “Dombey and son”; “He will be christened Paul of course. His father’s name and his grandfather’s”. compare also Fielfing’s “Tom Jones”; “…the little foundling to whom he had been godfather, giving his own name of Thomas”

The evaluation of a name is historically concrete. The name is excellent during one time in a certain environment, but for other time or other environment can became unpleasant.

It’s necessary to foresee and weigh a lot of things when a name as it deserves it; the person will live with it a whole life.

Proper names in literary works often play a specific role assisting author to portray the reality more effectively in the view of their ideologically-aesthetic positions. Each literary name receives a certain stylistic loading aimed to make the hero called by this name more vivid and evident.

1. Neutral names, appropriation of which is the most typical for the protagonists of the English literature. The most characteristic type is the local names formed nicknames, patronymic or professional names; Dombey, Manson, Copperfield.

2. Parody names, among which we can single out so called stereotypes. Their stylistic function is to express of mass character, stereotype of designated persons. Charles Dickens widely used these names; Boodle, Doodle, Duffy, Guffy.

During the epoch of classicism writers very frequently borrowed or created literary names on the basis of classic languages like Latin and Greek; Clarissa, Pamela, Evelina. Classical personal names were often borrowed together with the character from Greek, Roman and Biblical mythology. Adam, Eve, Gabriel, Absalim, Sylrio.

Etymological names relevant to the qualities of the character are very characteristic for comedies Lady Touchwood, John and Lady Brute, Mr. and Mrs. Honeymoon.

The romanticism is marked by two opposite tendencies; in one works we meet real names (Lempel Gulliver, Robinson Crusoe, Captain Bob) others differs by exotic anthroponomy (Rowena, Athelstane).

Old names consecrated by national tradition prevail in the nowadays English repertoire of personal names. From the most appreciable phenomena of last years, it is necessary to note popular tendency (under American influence) to call children by scenic names of celebrities, heroes of detective series and comics

The Kazakhs have no special made-up names. All names come from the condition of their personal existence and the style of life they lead. It is not uncommon for names to be given that reflect certain events that occur at the time of the child’s birth. Often the name reflects the hope of parents that the child will demonstrate certain character qualities. Woman’s names correspond to beauty, grace, elegance. Some are derived from animals and their special characteristics. Sometimes names are given as a determination of the age of father. Just as many other nations Kazakhs use a lot of different short-cut names. They are created by subtracting the ends of names and adding “sh” or “ken”; Ainagul= Ainash, Saduakas=Saken.

Kazakhs traditionally believe that name effects fortune. Traditionally there is a naming ceremony for infants. It’s not appropriate to use ancestor’s names or to use names from the Koran without the approval of local elders. Sometimes Kazakhs would even ask a guest to give a name to their child.

There are many ways to name children. They may be inspired by season, weather, local sites, various omens or famous events. Kazakhs often use the names of expensive fabrics, such as Zhibek (Silk), flowers, such as Enlik (Edelweiss), precious stones, Kumis (Silver). If a family had only daughters they would be given names that indicated the family’s expectation of having boys, such as Ulzhalgas (next will be boy)

Boys were meant to deal with the main difficulties of life. First of all, parents wished them to be defenders of their family and the tribe during wars and resemble famous noble people, batyrs or akyns (singers) in the times of peace.

Arman (means “dream”), Nurzhan (means “ light soul), Serik (means “support”), Zhanbolat (means “brave heart”).

In the past mortality among people was very high and it was reflected in boy’s names, they would be given plain names to protect them from evil eye. Elemes (unnoticeable), Tursyn (let it stop). Names of location were also important. The famous akyn Zhambyl Zhabaaev was named after mount of Zhambyl. The names of Ayukhan (Bear-khan), Zholbarys (Tiger) came from the times when animals were regarded as totems.

The tradition to name newborn child after famous person has been preserved. Short, simple and clear names are becoming popular, like Kanat, Talgat Olzhas, Saule, and Nazgul and so on. However, a lot of interesting and unusual names are forgotten and can only be traced in family names.

Names are the badge of individuality.

So long as the person is nameless, he is amorphous. When he receives or creates name by which he can identify himself he enters upon a truly subjective existence. The destination between proper name and common name is largely a product of civilized thought.

The list of used literature

1. Hartman A. Arthur, Robert C. Nicohy and Jesse Hurley “Unique personal names as a social adjustment factor”, Journal of social psychology 35, 1990

2. Charles Hoerr “Drama in first-naming ceremony”, Journal of American

3. Plank, Robert “Names of twins”, Names 12, 1964

4. Smith, E “The story of our names” NY, 1950