ONYM-DERIVED INNOVATIONS: WORD-FORMATION AND CONNOTATIVE ASPECTS

Abstract

The paper discusses word-formational and connotative traits of onym-derived lexemes listed in the “Dictionary of Word-Formation Innovations (2022–2024)” by Anatoly Nelyuba. There are four thematic groups: names of tools; names of organizations, establishments, units etc; names of countries or settlements; personal names (the widest group). It is pointed out that, in terms of parts of speech, most of the derivates are nouns; verbs and adjectives are less numerous. The structural traits of onyms as word-formational base and their compatibility with affixes are also considered. Single words, word combinations and acronyms are also shown to be word-formational bases: the first are semantically diverse and the affixes used with them are highly productive. The illustrative word-building models and productive means of onym-derived innovations are defined. In particular attention is paid at the productivity of “skipped-step” word formation, blending of some parts of the base to create nouns from anthroponyms. It has been noted that the connotation of innovative anthroponymic formations is predominantly determined by the axiological layering of the corresponding onyms as precedent names. The role of context in shaping the connotation of neolexemes has been identified, and the mechanisms of creating figurative and evaluative meanings of these units have been revealed. The following types of connotation processes are characterized in onym-based derivatives: preservation of connotative meaning of the basic onym; enforcing or redirecting the connotation of the basic onym according to the traits of formants; the connotation is induced by the formant which adds evaluative and/or other semes to the basic meaning; layering of several connotations in the process of neolexeme creation.