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УДК 811.11
ОСОБЕННОСТИ СЕМАНТИКИ МОРФЕМНОГО СОСТАВА ГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИХ НАЗВАНИЙ АНГЛИЙСКИХ ГОРОДОВ
Н. А. Аверьянова, Н. Г. Харланова
SEMANTIC PECULIARITIES OF THE MORPHEMIC STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
N. A. Averianova, N. G. Harlanova
Аннотация. Статья затрагивает один из самых интересных вопросов лингвистики - происхождение английских географических названий, специфику их морфемного состава. Показаны различные принципы классификации английских топонимов. Географические названия представлены как часть лексики английского языка.
Ключевые слова: топонимика, ономастика, топонимы, принципы классификации, морфемный состав.
Abstract. The article touches upon one of the most interesting questions in linguistics - the origin of English geographical names, their specific morphemic structure. Different principles of classification of English toponyms are given. Geographical names are described as part of the English language lexicon.
Key words: toponymy, onomastics, toponyms, principles of classification, morphemic structure.
The etymology of geographical names is a very complicated linguistic phenomenon. A topographic name cannot be accidental or devoid of meaning.
Proper names occupy a considerable part in the vocabulary of the English language. They serve to name people and animals, geographical places and various objects of material and spiritual culture.
The specific nature of proper names has always drawn the attention of scholars [1, 2]. Their peculiarity has led to the appearance of such branch of linguistics as onomastics (from the Greek onomastike «the art of naming»).
Toponyms are proper names of different geographical objects. Each language - and English is not an exception - contains thousands of toponyms of various types [3].
English names of settlements are classified on the basis of three principles.
1. Structural principle. English proper names can be divided into two big groups:
simple (containing one element);
complex (containing two and more elements).
O.A. Leonovich gave a detailed account of the toponymical groups [4]: simple toponyms which include only a stem: Stock, Bath, Lee, Walle, Crook;
derivative toponyms which contain a stem and a toponymical suffix: Birmingham, Brighton, Canterbury, Scarborough, Helmsley, Bathampton;
compound toponyms which contain two morphemes acting as the stem of a word: Ninebanks, Shirehead, Blackpool, Ashcombe;
composite toponyms: Long Riston, New Forest, Ashton under Hill, Norton in the Moors, Stratford on Avon, Stanford upon Soar.
2. Functional principle. There are three types of English geographical names:
folk names, these are the names which are connected with people living on the territory: Essex means «(territory of) the East Saxons». Such names are usually very old;
names given according to the peculiarities of a settlement (simple and compound): Wick (Avon) means «the dwelling, the specialized farm or trading settlement». Crosby (Cumria) means «village where there are crosses»;
topographic names (according to the peculiarities of topography and area): they can be simple, such as Wawne (Humberside) «quaking bog or quagmire», and compound such as Ottershaw (Surrey) «small wood frequented by otters». These names describe some elements of landscape.
The analysis of semantic characteristics of settlement names makes it possible to reveal the repetition of many lexemes. The most frequently found groups are:
1. Words pointing at the location of the object.
2. Qualitative adjectives describing the object.
3. Natural objects situated near the settlement.
4. Topographical terms.
5. Buildings, roads.
6. Names of minerals.
7. Names of agricultural products.
8. Names of cereals.
9. Names of trees and bushes.
10. Names of wild and domestic animals, birds, fish.
11. Words connected with hunting.
12. Words characterizing the soil of an area.
13. Proper names.
14. Hydronyms, toponyms.
15. Words defining the social status and profession.
For example, Weald and Wield from old English «weald, wald» (wood);
Hartford, Hertford from «hart»;
Foxton from «fox»;
Otterburn from «otter»;
Rookley from «rook»;
Wolborough from «wolf»;
Clifton from «cliff»;
Stanton from «stone»;
Bure St Edmunds;
Petersfield;
St Albans.
3. Historical principle. Geographical names can be classified according to the following stages:
• Ancient names present the smallest group. Scholars call them pre-Celtic.
• Names given by the Britons are less ancient. They are located unevenly: they are hardly found in the east, but there are a lot of them in the west.
Ex. Two Britton words for the denotation of the hill, mountain - bre and pen are found in many geographical names, especially with the ancient English adding. Brewood meant «wood on the hill» and originally was called Brewudu.
Ex. The Britton word ced in the meaning of «wood» was found in Chet-wode/Buckinghamshire, originally Ced Wudu (etymological tautology).
• Latin greatly influenced the etymology of Britton names.
The Roman invasion which lasted for about 400 years left a group of names transformed to Britton and Old English.
Ex. The root egles from Latin ecclesia (church, temple).
Ex. Caster/chester/ceaster from castra or «station or waked town, old fortification or earthwork/fortress» (Manchester/Lancashire/ originally Mamucion Castra; Winchester/Hampshire originally Venta Castra, «fortified place, stronghold»).
• The origin of many names dates back to Old English. They include all the above-mentioned types:
a) folk names make up the smallest but an important group of Old English names.
Ex. Names containing saete in the meaning «settlers» and «folk» do not generally mean separate settlements but wider territories. (Suffolk means «the south at the Dorn», where this name is the reduced form of the Old English Dorchester);
b) names given according to the peculiarities of a settlement are compound, sometimes we can find simple names.
Ex. beretun and berewic are derivatives of the Old English barley: Bartons «barley» and Berwics «outlying part of an estate».
Topographic names are rarely found. They can be simple and compound.
Ex. Edgmont/Shropshire in the meaning «hill of a man called Ecgmund»;
Blackmoor/Hampshire/ «dark coloured pool»;
Grinlow/Derbyshire/ «green hill or mound»;
Stanfield/Norfolk/ «stony open land»;
Defford/Herefordshire and Worcestershire/ «deep ford»;
Oakley/Bedfordshire/ «wood or clearing where the oak trees grow»;
Shiplake/Oxfordshire/ «a sheep stream».
• Danish and Norwegian also influenced English. Most of these names are compound, they ended with «by», then it meant «village» and «thorp» in the meaning of «secondary settlement, dependent outlying farm or hamlet».
Ex. Ingelby/Derbyshire/ meant «an English settlement»,
Irby/Lancashire/ «an Irish settlement»,
Whenby/North Yorkshire/ «a settlement of the woman» [5].
Thus, having analyzed 460 geographical names we pointed out 10 groups (ton, ham, ford, wood, hill, chester, stone, pen, combe, bre).
47 % (215 cities) of them have the morpheme «ton», which proves the fact that the people who lived on the territory of Britain were eager to legalize their rights to possess the territory.
21 % (98 cities) of them contain the morpheme «ham», the meaning of which coincides with that of «ton».
Ford - 12 % (56 cities)
Ex. Oxford, Bradford.
Wood - «wood» 4 % (20 cities)
Ex. Blackwood, Hollywood.
Hill - «hill» 4 % (17 cities)
Ex. Seghill, Harthill.
Chester - «fortress» 3 % (16 cities)
Ex. Manchester, Rochester.
Stone - «stony area» 3 % (13 cities)
Ex. Shenstone, Maidstone.
Pen- «hill» 2 % (11 cities)
Bre- «hill» 1 % (6 cities)
Ex. Bredon, Penarth.
Combe - «valley» 2 % (8 cities)
Ex. Overcombe, Salcombe.
List of reference links
1. Bondaletov, V. D. Russian Onomastics / V. D. Bondaletov. - М. : Enlightenment, 1983. -224 p.
2. Zhuchkevich, V. A. General Toponymy / V. A. Zhuchkevich. - 2 publication. - Minsk, 1968. - 139 p.
3. Murzaev, E. M. Geography in Names / E. M. Murzaev. - M. : Science, 1980. - 168 p.
4. Leonovich, O. A. Toponyms of the United States of America / O. A. Leonovich. - Moscow, 2004. - 247 p.
5. Leonovich, O. A. Essays of English Onomastics / O. A. Leonovich. - M. : Interfax, 1994. - 120 p.
Supplement
Ham «settlement, farm» Addingham, Altrincham, Amersham, Aylsham, Balsham, Bamham, Burnham on Crouch, Billinham, Bingham, Bridham, Birmingham, Bloxham, Boreham, Bottisham, Bosham, Brixham, Bramham, Bromham, Buckingham, Clapham, Cobham, Cottenham, Cookham, Chippenham, Chartham, Cheltenham, Chobham, Durham, Debenham, Dersingham, Dearham, Ditchingham, Gillingham, Haddenham, High Bentham, Harrietsham, Hexham, Hingham, Heacham, Higham Ferrers, Hailsham, Immingham, Isleham, Keyingham, Keynsham, Kirkham, Lavenham, Lenham, Letham, Leasingham, Lyneham, Lowdham, Martham, Marcham, Melksham, Meltham, Meopham, Messingham, Nerrleham, Needham, North Walsham, North Elmham, Northam, Nottingham, Odiham, Oakham, Oldham, Padiham, Reepham, Rotherham, Swaffham, Seaham, Snettisham, Somersham, Soham, Stalham, Stretham, Sheringham, Shipdham, Thatchham, Teynham, Topsham, Uppingham, Westerham, Weaverham, Wickham, Whickham, Willingham, Windlesham, Witham, Wareham, Wokingham, Woldingham, Wolsingham, Waltham, Wattisham.
Ton «settlement, farm» Adlington, Accrington, Alton, Alfreton, Aston Cliton, Atherton, Ashburton, Ashington, Ashton in Makerfield, Ashton-under-Lyne, Albringhton, Buxton, Bampton, Barlaston, Barton-in-the-Clay, Bebington, Bedlington, Bere Alsron, Burniston, Burton, Burton-upon-Trent, Burton Joyce, Burton Latimer, Bishopston, Bishopton, Bovington, Bollington, Bolton, Bolton Spa, Boughton, Bridlington, Briston, Brighton, Braunton, Broughton, Broughton Astley, Bruton, Brayton, Caddington, Cuxton, Cullompton, Carterton, Castle Donington, Caton, Clutton, Clayton, Cleckheaton, Clenchwarton, Coylton, Colonton, Colyton, Cleckheaton, Clenchwarton, Coyleton, Colinton, Colyton, Comberton, Compton, Congleton, Clamlington, Crediton, Chryston, Croston, Crofton, Chilcompton, Charlton, Kings, Cheddington, Cheddleton, Ducklington, Dalton in Furness, Dumbarton, Dunnington, Darlington, Darton, Deddington, Denton, Dennington, Destington, Doddington, Donington, Downton, Earlston, Earls Barton, Easington,
East Linton, Easton, Easton-in-Gordano, Eaton Bray, Eaton Socon, Eglington, Frizington, Frinton-on Sea, Freckleton, Fremington, Galston, Glinton, Gosberton, Glimston, Great Torrington, Great Ayton, Great Eccleston, Geddington, Hamilton, Haddington, Hilton, Histon, Halton, Humberston, Huyton, Heckington, Heighington, Honiton, Hopton on Sea, Houghton on the Hill, Hook Norton, Ilkeston, Ingleton, Johnston, Kirton, Kirton in Lindsey, Kedington, Kempston, Ketton, Kedlington, Kingsteington, Kington, Kirkburton, Kirkliston, Kirknewton, Knighton, Leison, Leamington, Livingston, Lymingtin, Leighton, Little Eaton, Little Clacton, Little Paxton, Littlehampton, Longton,, Launceston, Mulbarton, Malton, Manston, Market Weightin, Market Dtayton, Market Lavington, Marston, Melton, Menston, Middleton, Mickleton, Minchinhampton, Misterton, Moreton in Marsh, Nuneaton, Nafferton, Neilston, Necton, Neston, Netherton, North Patherton, Northhallerton, Norton Canes, Newton, Newington, Overton, Okehampton, Ormiston, Partington, Pelton, Poynton, Pocklington, Paulton, Potton, Preston, Poulton le Fylde, Paignton, Ruddington, Ruskington, Renton, Repton, Rishton, Royton, Shepton, Sacriston, Sutton, Southhampton, Swillington, Seaton, Skipton, Skelton, Somerton, Sawston, Slilton, Stevenston, Steeton, Tarbolton, Tarleton, Terrington, Thurston, Totton, Uddingston, Ulverston, Wigton, West Hallam, Westhoughton, Wigston, Willaston, Williton, Wincanton, Winterton, Waltington, Yealmpton, Yarnton, Yatton.
Ford «the ford crossing a river» Alford, Ammanford, Ashford, Bulford, Buntingford, Barrowford, Bedford, Bideford, Blandford, Bradford, Castleford, Coleford, Clingleford, Cromford, Crossford, Cinderford, Chiddingford, Chalford, Chelmsford, Duxford, Dartford, Desford, East Bridgford, Eynsford, Guildford, Glemsford, Gresford, Great Barford, Gilford, Hungerford, Hertford, Hemingford Grey, Hereford, Horsford, Long Lawford, Long Melford, Milford, Mundford, Retford, Rochford, Saltford, Sandford, Oxford, Seaford, Sleaford, Stamford, Stafford, Stretford, Tuxford, Twyford, West Bridgford, Wickford, Winsford, Witchford, Wallingford, Watford.
Wood «wood» Astwood, Burntwood, Burtonwood, Blackwood, Borehamwood, Brewood, Chorleywood, Evenwood, Fleetwood, Great Harwood, Heywood, Howwood, Kingswood, Lingwood, Leeswood, Ringwood, Paddock Wood, Slipto under Wychwood.
Hill «hill, mountain» Ampthill, Ahoghill, Bexhill, Bellshill, Bonhill, Clophill, Credenhill, Cairneyhill, Fernhill Heath, Ferryhill, Harthill, Hartshill, Redhill, Newarthill, Newtonhill, Seghill, Thornhill.
Cester, chester «fortress» Alcester, Bicester, Colchester, Cirencester, Chichester, Chester, Dorchester, Gloucester, Godmanchester, Inchester, Irchester, Leicester, Manchester, Rochester, Towcester, Worcester.
Combe «valley, plain» Brimscombe, Ilfracombe, Swanscombe, Overcombe, Salcombe, Salcombe, Wiveliscombe, Winchcombe.
Stone «stony area» Addlestone, Atherstone, Barlestone, Featherstone, Folkestone, Godstone, Hardingstone, Ingatestone, Maidstone, Penistone, Silverstone, Silkstone, Shenstone.
Bre-«hill, mountain» Brewood, Bredon, Brecon, Brentwood, Brechin, Bream.
Pen-«hill, mountain» Penarth, Penzance, Penicuik, Penistone, Pencoed, Penkridge, Pencaitland, Penryn, Penrith, Pensilva, Pentyrch.
Аверьянова Наталия Александровна
кандидат филологических наук, доцент, кафедра английского языка и методики преподавания английского языка, Педагогический институт им. В. Г. Белинского, Пензенский государственный университет
E-mail: nataliaverianova@mail.ru
Харланова Наталья Геннадьевна
студент, Пензенский педагогический институт им. В. Г. Белинского, Пензенский государственный университет
E-mail: natalia-2334@mail.ru
Averianova Natalia Alexandrovna Candidate of philological sciences, assistant professor, sub-department of English language and methods of teaching English, Penza Pedagogical Institute named after V. G. Belinsky, Penza State University
Harlanova Natalia Gennadyevna Student, foreign languages faculty, Penza Pedagogical Institute named after V. G. Belinsky, Penza State University
УДК 811.11 Аверьянова, Н. А.
Semantic peculiarities of the morphemic structure of english geographical names / Н. А. Аверьянова, Н. Г. Харланова // Модели, системы, сети в экономике, технике, природе и обществе. - 2013. - № 1 (5). - С. 190-195.
