COMPOSITE OIKONYMS OF UKRAINE ENDING IN ‑IVK‑A OF 19TH–21TH CENTURIES

Abstract

Summary. The article is devoted to the analysis of the composite oikonyms ending in ‑ivk‑a. The article analyses the problem of differentiation of complex and composite names. The purpose of our research is to record and to analyse the composite names of settlements ending in ‑ivk‑a. The division is based on a structural criterion. 1,546 composite names are recorded. All onyms are divided into two groups: 1. Oikonyms, the attributes of which characterize the names of settlements by to various features (1298 names); 2. Oikonyms-appositions (191 names). Attributes in composite oikonyms indicate different features: time of foundation (New, Old: Nova Pavlivka, Stara Vyzhivka), size (Small, Big: Mala Soltanivka), the location of the settlements (Upper, Middle, Lower, Western, Eastern: Nyzhnja Zhuzhmanivka), indicate the nature of the area, flora (Field, Forest, Steppe, etc.: Lisova Lysijivka), colour (Green, Red, Yellow: Zelena Rubanivka), etc. The highest number of onyms whose attributes indicate the time of the foundation of the settlement was performed (833 titles), 775 of them contain the Nova‑ (Novo‑) component. Attributive components of composite oikonyms often have the opposite semantic load, forming complete and incomplete oppositional pairs, respectively. Contextually oppositional oikonyms were also recorded. An attribute in compound oikonyms is also an adjective with the suffix ‑ськ, which expresses an ethnic aspect or indicates a relationship to other toponyms (Sapanivsjka Khotivka, for instance). Oikonyms-appositions usually indicate the founder of the locality or the location of the settlement (Petro-Mykhajlivka). Such names are often formed as a result of merging of two settlements into one (for example, Dubivchyk-Maslivka). Appositional construction, formed by a combination of the oikonym ending in ‑ivk‑a and an appellative denoting the type of settlement (Khutoro-Mykolajivka) or the place of production activity (Rudnja-Ghacjkivka), were recorded. Composite oikonyms formed with the help of prepositions (Kolo-Mykhajlivka), memorial oikonyms (Taraso-Shevchenkivka) are singled out separately. The highest number of composite oikonyms was recorded in the 20th century, the least in the 19th. A tendency towards the economy of language forms was observed. While analysing the territorial distribution of oikonyms ending in ‑ivk‑a, we claim, that composite names are the most typical for Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Odesa, and Sumy regions, the fewest such names have been attested in the western regions of Ukraine.