Toponyms in media texts headlines (based on Spanish language)

Abstract

The study is dedicated to the analysis of the functioning of toponyms in the headlines of Spanish media texts. The main categories of toponyms and the frequency of their use in headlines of Spanish media texts of different subjects and different genres are identified, the functional and semantic potential of these linguistic units in the structure of the headline is determined, their use as a means of direct nomination of a toponym, as well as a means of secondary nomination to designate other objects. The material for the study was the headlines of media texts extracted from the online version of the leading Spanish newspapers “El País”, “El Mundo”, “ABC”, “La Vanguardia”, “La Razón”. When analyzing them, the observation method and the comparative-descriptive method were used. As a result of the study, it was found that toponyms have a high nominative density and rich functional-semantic potential in the headlines of Spanish media texts. It was discovered that there are certain correlations between the type of toponym and the possibility of its use in the headline, between the frequency of its use and the subject of the media text, between the type of toponym and its use as a means of primary and/or secondary nomination. The identifi ed features of the implementation of the functional-semiotic potential of toponyms in the titles of Spanish media texts seem to be valid for other languages.