TOPONYMY AS A PARAMETER OF BRAZILIAN IDENTITY

Abstract

Identification is a transformational process within sociocultural groups, which results in their identity – a matrix or scheme with nodes of the cultural code. The identifi cation vectors are diverse. One of them is linguocultural, in the context of which the diff erentiation and integration of cultural and linguistic components is carried out. The signs of exclusivity of linguistic communities are found in diff erent layers of the language. One of them is a layer of toponyms, individual place names. The names of objects form a system and appear not only as pro per names, but also as an appellative used as names of the landscape. Toponymy, as the science of place names, uses not only linguistic data. For her, the information that can be provided by history, which explains the cultural development of space, and geography, which studies various forms of landscape, both cultural and anthropoge - nic, is important. Brazilian toponymy is a rapidly developing fi eld of linguistics. Its connections with lexicology are especially important. This is due to the dynamics and history of Brazilian society, which involves diverse ethnic, religious, and professional groups of the population who have their own linguistic and cultural identity. The various functions of toponyms include: nominative, which conveys information not only about a particular place, but also determines its geographical, administrative, and ethno-confessional status; from a geoindicatio nal point of view, a toponym indicates a point (or line) in space with which it is associated; the pragmalinguistic function of a toponym is aimed at to give an emotional, rational, or aesthetic assessment to a geo object that has received toponymic identifi cation. Semiotically relevant are such groups of toponyms as natural and anthropogenic; among natural ones are zootonyms, phytotoponyms, hydronyms (names of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, wells, swamps, reservoirs, waterfalls, channels), lithotoponyms, oronyms (terrestrial names of relief), cosmonyms (names of planets and cosmic luminaries), dreamonyms (names of forests). Brazil’s nature is majestic and diverse, and the population is heterogeneous in its composition and origin. Due to the toponymic activities of diff erent ethnic groups using their native languages (Portuguese is the offi cial language of Brazil), geographical features are given names from diff erent languages. Most of them are Portuguese place names, the next largest place is occupied by the place names of the indigenous (Native American) population. Place names from the African langua ges of Kwa and Bantu are historically determined. Toponyms are also created by immigrants from European and Asian countries. Among the anthropogenic toponyms, from a nominative point of view, there are oikonyms – names of settlements. The class of oikonyms includes astyonyms and comonyms. Urbanonyms include the names of inner-city objects (godonyms and agronyms). A special group consists of ecclesionyms.