TRANSNOMINATIVE POTENTIAL OF MYTHONYMS IN MODERN ENGLISH

Abstract

The article is devoted to the estimation of the transnominative potential of the mythonyms in Modern English. Mythonyms are rooted in cultural consciousness of the speakers therefore they are being extensively used in synchronic plane of the English language. They are defined as language units which are based on a certain mythological meta-plot and are retrospective by their nature. Their frequent use in communication proves them to be fully entrenched in language.

The spectrum of the mythonym use is wide and varies from using a name of the mythological hero to an allusion to the whole plot of the myth. Myths therefore serve as carriers of the cultural experience through generations.

The paper reveals peculiarities of mythonym etymology and their semantic transformations in synchronic plane. The cognitive features of mythonym use in the modern English language are distinguished. The article highlights the mechanisms of acquiring by mythonyms their usual meaning and their transformation into unique mental prototypes that are formed in the collective consciousness of society.

Cognitive basis of mythonym use consists in the metaphorical resemblance of their features with the traits of a certain life situation. Their frequent use in modern contexts leads to the development of their new lexico-semantic variants. Often, in the process of usage the mythonyms acquire additional semantic coloring, which is superimposed on the original meaning, and therefore the potential of the myphonym use expands.

Frequent use of mythonyms is therefore explained by their ability to transmit certain mythological features to the extralingual situation. In other words mythonym use contributes to laconic verbalization of the communicatively relevant concept in a certain stretch of speech. The study identifies the basic principles of the transnomination process, which points to the connection of the mythonyms with the cultural memory of the people, mentality and the collective unconscious.