Proper name

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A proper name ( Latin nomen proprium ) names individual things or beings. Proper names form a separate class of words . Together with the generic names (nomina appellativa) , the collective names (nomina collectiva) and the substance names (nomina materialia) , they form the Concrete . Concrete as nouns have a naming function and, by and large, have the same functions in a sentence . However, proper names have peculiarities on all linguistic levels.

The delimitation and the delimitation of proper names from generic names is individually questionable and controversial (see below for proper name and meaning ).

The linguistic concept is less clear than the logical concept of the proper name . In logic proper names are (by definition) only those expressions that designate a single object. This includes proper names in the narrower sense (e.g. Alexander the Great ), definite designations (e.g. the son of the Macedonian king Philip II, who lived from 356 to 323 BC ) and deictic expressions (e.g. . B .: this general here who sold us residents of Artacoana into slavery ). Names in the sense of logic are only proper names. Generic names denoting several objects are not names in the logical sense, but predicators (predicates in the logical sense).

This article focuses on the linguistic characteristics of proper names. Historical and genealogical aspects of proper names, however, are dealt with under the lemmas name , first name and family name .

Spelling of proper names

A cross-lingual peculiarity of proper names in the typeface is their spelling with an initial capital letter. In many languages, proper names are easily recognizable in texts, because in these - except for the capitalization at the beginning of the sentence - all words are written in lower case. Because all nouns are capitalized in German, it is not a distinguishing feature for this language. According to the rules on which it is based, the first word and all other words except for articles, prepositions and conjunctions are capitalized in German in multi-part proper names with non-substantive components. However, exceptions beyond the official regulations are permitted.

The writing of proper names tends to be invariant, mainly because of their identifying function: the writing of proper names changes less clearly than in other areas of the vocabulary. This is especially true for proper names that are difficult to change, e.g. B. for family and place names, too. This applies both to the sequence of letters, which can be different ( Günther vs. Günter ), as well as to other forms of spelling such as the separate or combined spelling and the spelling with or without a hyphen (see Neubrandenburg , Neu Lübbenau , Neu-Bamberg ) . In many areas, the spelling is officially regulated and thus withdrawn from language change.

Proper names from other language areas occupy a special position . In language areas with their own character system, e.g. B. Cyrillic or Arabic , the names have to be adapted to the local grapheme system ( transcription and transliteration ). While the personal names from other language areas are mostly used unchanged ( Pjotr, Vaclav ), there are place names for many

a) Double names, especially for place names that fall in formerly German-speaking settlement areas ( Brno vs. Brno );

b) in rare cases adjustments to the German typeface ( Cairo , Brussels ).

The establishment of a specific spelling of proper names in German has been concluded for personal names since the 18th century and for place names since the end of the 19th century. A notable adaptation of the spelling of the place names was the replacement of the C with the K (e.g. Cassel → Kassel or Cöln → Cologne , in both cases the official change of the spelling did not take place until the Weimar Republic ).

Morphology and word formation

The diffraction of words ( flexion ) provides a way of distinguishing proper names and generic names, where they are otherwise the same shape ( the Finks vs. the finches ).

By derivation ( derivation ) may result from proper nouns whole word families emerge ( Russia → Russian , Russian , Russian (language), russify etc.). In most cases the leads are regular. But there are also a variety of arbitrary formations ( arbitrariness ), such as B. Israel → Israeli . Sometimes several derivatives are present next to each other (e.g. Jenaer and Jenenser ).

When forming nouns by composing them with proper names, coupling with a hyphen is often preferred to the otherwise common spelling. This is especially true if the proper name ortographic is not integrated ( Mekong offensive , but stay in Italy could arise), or the risk of misinterpretation ( Fischer-Initiative ).

Categories of proper names

Proper names can be categorized according to what kind of object they denote:

  • The most common name bearers are certainly people . When it comes to personal names ( anthroponyms ), one can differentiate between first and last names in many cultures . In earlier historical epochs , nicknames and nicknames were also in use. A special kind of personal name is the pseudonym (as an alias or artist name ). Proper names can be attached not only to real, but also to fictitious people (e.g. Anna Karenina ).
  • Proper names can also be added to other living beings . This is all the more likely, the closer these creatures are to us (a pet is most likely a bearer of its own name, a wasp or a flower is more likely not);
  • Place names ( toponyms ) form another large group . These can be further subdivided into Dörfer- / city names , country names, river names, field names , and the like. The names of celestial bodies ( astronyms ) can also be counted here.
  • Institutions are typically also bearers of proper names .
  • The product names form another large group .
  • In addition, there are other, but rather marginal, categories of self-named bearers, e.g. B. Events (like the Second Punic War ).

syntax

The outstanding syntactic peculiarities of proper names are:

  • the connection with determining nouns in complex noun phrases
  • the different use of the article and other determinative pronouns
  • the connection with prepositions to prepositional phrases

(Complex) proper nouns in noun phrases

In German, the first and last name of a person form a noun phrase, with the last name being the head of this noun phrase (see: Karl Müller s new car). The determinative relationships within these phrases are controversial.

In connection with a title, the title usually forms the head of the phrase ( in the name of the Dean Professor Schmidt , post for Mr. Karl Weber ), in connection with an attributing noun, the proper name forms the head of the phrase ( Federal Chancellor Schröder's trip to Irak ), unless the proper names are appositiv used ( the journey of our Chancellor 's Schroeder to Iraq ).

Proper name and article usage

Like generic names, proper names can be combined with an article and adjectives to form a complex noun phrase. The tasks of definite and indefinite articles are, however, different from the function that they have with generic names. When using articles for proper names, it is important to distinguish whether they are personal names, geographical names or other proper names.

Personal names

In standard German , personal names are usually used without an article.

If a certain quality is to be ascribed to the person, the definite article is to be used ( the young Goethe ). If the particular article is used before the surname, it either expresses a derogatory attitude ( the miller once again failed to pay his bill ) or a famous personality ( who sang Callas ). The article is compulsory if a proper name is used ( Sandra is actually loved by everyone ).

The use of the indefinite article in front of a personal name is exceptionally permissible if the speaker has a specific expressive intention. By using the indefinite article, he can give the proper name an exemplary peculiarity ( a Margaret Thatcher would have had no qualms about it ), indicate a metaphorical use of the proper name ( John Major was not a second Margaret Thatcher ) or express rejection or distance ( a Franz wanted to speak to you - expresses: I don't know this Franz ), to mark the modalizing use of a proper name ( a deeply angry Margaret Thatcher left the conference room ) or to designate an entire clan ( a Weizsäcker has never stood before a court ).

The demonstrative article before proper names

a) makes a proper name the topic after it has been introduced in a distant manner ( A Franz wanted to speak to you. This Franz tells you that he cannot come to the trial );

b) individuates a speaker if the speaker has to assume that the listener knows two speakers with the same name ( we have three millers in the club. One comes from Bodelshausen, and this miller has become national champion in wrestling );

c) marks a special relationship between the speaker and the bearer of the personal name ( I just don't like this miller );

d) can emphasize a certain aspect of the entity named by the proper name ( you may know Leipzig from the GDR times. This Leipzig no longer exists ).

Geographical names

The use of the article in geographical names is inconsistent. No article is placed in front of city names. Country names are mostly used without an article. However, there are some exceptions (e.g. Iran, the Maldives, Turkey, Mongolia, Switzerland). A neuter article use always takes place here, however, when a property is ascribed to the city or the country ( beautiful Vienna ).

Names of rivers, seas, stars and mountains, on the other hand, always have a specific article in front of them.

Within the geographical names, one can therefore differentiate between classes of names through the use of the specific article, e.g. B. Fulda (city), the Fulda (river).

Proper names and prepositions

Some marginal prepositions seem to have sortal restrictions on proper names:

  • You can only go to Switzerland and France . The exclusion of proper nouns without articles as arguments of the directional preposition in seems to be related to the fact that the dative case is understood as an unmarked case - cf. they drove in France (dative), with case marking: they drove to northern France .
  • In the context of proper names the archaic meaning of to survive: University of Cologne , to poor knight .
  • The departure time and arrival time of means of transport can be expressed by combining from and to with place names, but without an article ( from Zurich at 11:17, to Göttingen at 17:33 ).

Proper name and meaning

Proper names and common names differ most clearly in terms of their meaning . The prototypical proper name is used on a singular object (a person, place, etc.) to give a lecture . The extension or the scope of meaning of the proper name is therefore fixed. The more difficult and still controversial in the technical discussion is the definition of the conceptual content (the intention) of proper names. Some semantics assume that proper names are meaningless and that their function is limited to reference. Other semantics postulate the opposite and subsume all facts and circumstances that can be expressed about the designated entity under the meaning of the proper name.

While the advocates of the position of the meaninglessness of proper names cannot explain that some proper names convey an even if minimal meaning knowledge in the form of characteristics - e.g. B. is a person that we call Bernhard , male - the meaning maximalists fail because they cannot draw an exact line when describing the meaning and cannot explain that u. A minimum of knowledge about the bearer of a name is sufficient to be able to use the name correctly (e.g. Goethe was a writer → I've never read anything by Goethe ).

A compromise position between these two positions is that the knowledge about a proper name bearer can be very different from person to person, but must have a minimal common core so that these people can meaningfully communicate about this proper name bearer.

In the ideal normal case, a proper name denotes one and only one object and a generic name denotes a genus or several possible objects.

However, (supposed) proper names can also designate several objects, (original) generic names can only designate a single object; some words can be used both as a proper name and as a generic name:

  • Proper name as a generic name: Many millers live in this high-rise .
  • Generic name as a proper name: The green bike in front of the door is mine .
  • Proper name and generic name: The sun is just one of many suns in the universe .

It is (partially) assumed that there are only gradual differences between proper and generic names, proper names have developed from generic names - with the exception of artificial proper names - and that proper names can become generic names.

Proper names and lexicography

There is a consensus among lexicographers that proper names are not dealt with in the context of linguistic lexicographical works. The knowledge of the bearers of proper names is predominantly encyclopedic. Proper names are only dealt with in linguistic lexicographical works if

a) they have developed into appellatives or even lexical signs of other parts of speech through generic use ( Zeppelin, Duden; x-ray, morsen, einwecken );

b) the proper names e.g. B. denote physical quantities ( Beaufort; Ohm );

c) the status as a proper name is unclear ( Wednesday, May ).

In the mixed type of the encyclopedic dictionary one will also describe proper names if they are e.g. B. are characteristic of the national culture. Some conversational dictionaries (e.g. Larousse) have separate sections for terms and proper names. There are special name dictionaries; an important representative of this genus is the first name book.

Metonomasia

Metonomasia (Greek μετονομασία, renaming) refers to the translation of a proper name into another language.

Examples

See also

literature

General

  • Hermann Bausinger: animal breeding and naming. About the proper names of the breeding cattle . In: Festschrift for Paul Zinsli . Francke Verlag, Bern 1971, pp. 170-184 ( full text )
  • Dietz Bering : The name as a stigma. Anti-Semitism in everyday German life . Stuttgart 1992.
  • Friedhelm Debus: Names in literary works: (invention) finding - form - function . Stuttgart 2002.
  • Ernst Eichler , Gerold Hilty , Heinrich Löffler, Hugo Steger, Ladislav Zgusta (eds.): Name research. Name Studies. Les Noms Propres. An international handbook on onomastics . 1st volume, de Gruyter, Berlin and New York 1995. In it:
    • Hartwig Kalverkämper: Text grammar and text semantics of proper names . Pp. 440-447.
    • Gottfried Kolde: grammar of proper names . Pp. 400-408.
    • Gerhard Koß: The meaning of proper names: word meaning / name meaning . Pp. 458-463.
    • Andreas Lötscher: The name as a lexical unit: denotation and connotation . Pp. 448-457.
    • Dieter Nerius: Writing the names: principles, norms and freedoms . Pp. 414-419.
    • Wilhelm F. H. Nicolaisen: Name and Appellative . Pp. 384-393.
    • Wolfgang Schweickard : Morphology of names: derivations on the basis of proper names . Pp. 431-435.
    • Orrin F. Summerell: Philosophy of Proper Names . Pp. 368–372 (historical overview).
    • Otmar Werner: Pragmatics of proper names (overview) . Pp. 476-484.
    • Rainer Wimmer: Proper names in the context of a general theory of language and characters . Pp. 372-379.
  • Name and company. Social and historical aspects of naming and name development . Edited by the Duden editorial team and the Society for German Language. Dudenverlag, Mannheim 2001.
  • Gunter Presch: Names in conflict areas. How contradictions in proper names immigrate . Tübingen 2002.
  • Gerhard Schildberg-Schroth: proper name and literary nature . Neumünster 1995.
  • Wilfried Seibicke: First names . Wiesbaden 1977 (first name dictionary)
  • Heinz father: proper names and generic names. Attempt to differentiate . In: mother tongue 75 . 1965, pp. 207-213.
  • Rainer Wimmer : The proper name in German . Tübingen 1973.

Philosophy, logic, semantics

Web links

Wiktionary: proper noun  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ How to correctly spell brands, products and company names. In: Fehler-Haft.de . Retrieved February 26, 2016 .
  2. ↑ See German spelling. Rules and dictionary. According to the recommendations of the German Spelling Council. Revised version of the official regulations 2004 with the addenda from the 2010 report . Preliminary remark § 0 (3.2) and § 60 ( online [PDF, 740 kB]).
  3. ^ Kritisch Ernst, Pragmalinguistik (2002), p. 83
  4. ↑ Ernst, Peter: German Linguistics . Vienna: WUV, 2008 (UTB; 2541), p. 196: "Every proper name emerged from a generic name."
  5. ^ So Ernst, Peter: German Linguistics . Vienna: WUV, 2008 (UTB; 2541), p. 196
  6. ^ So Ernst, Peter: German Linguistics . Vienna: WUV, 2008 (UTB; 2541), p. 196