DOI 10.51955/2312-1327_2021_4_109

Svetlana Yu. Bogdanova

Semen I. Popov

Abstract. The article deals with the analysis of the possibility of referring the names of social networks, online services, messengers, video hosting platforms, etc. to the category of proper names. Russian and foreign linguists’ opinions on the problem of attributing commercial names to proper names or common names is presented. The names of services in the language system belong to pragmatonyms, the subcategory of proper names. Their characteristic features, such as word-building models, are revealed. The four main word-building models are: blending, metaphorical extension, creating new words which sound like English words, abbreviation. Linguistic creativity required from those who make new commercial names rests on the senses which the creators of services want to convey. Metonymy plays the main role in the development of meanings of new words, which takes place according to the scheme ‘company name – name of the service – personal account – message’, where some of the positions may remain empty. Verbs which derive from the names of services are usually capitalized.

Keywords: Online services, social networks, messengers, onomastics, proper name, common name, commercial name, pragmatonym.

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