DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF PROPER NAMES OF UKRAINIAN EARLY MODERN PERIOD
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Nika Oksana I. 
Published: December 2024

specific character of proper names discursive implementa- of proper names discursive implementa- of proper names discursive implementa- proper names discursive implementa- discursive implementa-
tion of Ukrainian proper names in the early modern period of the 17th century. The research task is to char-
acterize proper names as a resource of persuasiveness in the preaching discursive practice of the 17th cen-
tury; to determine the discursive polyplanarity of proper names in early modern Ukrainian sermons; to an-
alyze proper names in terms of text generation and cognitive processes of the speaker (knowledge, mem-
ory reproduction, analogy); to reveal the principles of combining proper names and creating images (met-
aphors, similes) in Ukrainian early modern practice; to establish the influence of ideology on the discourse
and creation of the imagery of agionyms for the designation of the names of the Rus saints.
Research methods: discourse analysis (to characterize the process of text generation in the preach-
ing discursive practice of the 17th century, which is conditioned by historical sociocultural processes), ono-
mastic discourse analysis (based on the analysis of proper names in discourse) taking into account axiolog-
ical and ideological representations of discourses, contextual and interpretive analysis (two stages, contex-
tualization and interpretation, are covered), linguistic and cultural interpretation (to characterize baroque
conceptism and determine secondary meanings in the preaching discursive practice).
Proper names are an active resource of text creation in the early modern sermon, which is analyzed
in accordance with the traditional episteme and sociocultural conditions of the Ukrainian early modern
of the second half of the 17th century, the requirements of institutional discourse, the type of discursive
practice, and the author’s instructions. Baroque conceptism with the creation of new meanings contributed
to the memorization and perception of the presentation, activation of attention, emotions of recipients,
influence on the consciousness of Ruthenianas. The preaching practice of this period acquires certain signs
of epistemic discursive transformations, which explain beliefs and partly knowledge that acquire symbolic
meaning in the preaching activity to the discourse of faith. The encyclopedic nature of the author, the
creation of new images, and persuasiveness accumulate in the preaching of multi-layered proper names
that synthesize different cultural layers in the preacher’s updated interpretation. The onomastic discourse analysis not only studies the imagery of historical discourses, but also extrapolates
the study of proper names to the peculiarities of ancient text generation and the cognitive processes of the
speaker. Processing of information by the author is considered in the aspects of processing foreign language
sources (analysis of methods of adaptation of borrowed proper names), reproduction of information from
memory (inaccurate spelling of proper names), creation of analogies, images (metaphors, similes).
The creation of images by analogy determines baroque syncretism, which combines theonyms and
mythonyms, biblical anthroponyms and mythonyms, Christian theonyms and pagan theonyms. New fields
of knowledge and secondary meanings of astronomical names (names of constellations, stars) become one
of the resources of the baroque imagery of the sermon, its axiological representation. Sociocultural and
ideological conditions actualize sermons in honor of the Rus saints in the Ukrainian preaching discourse.
The comparison of these agionyms with biblical anthroponyms (parallels from the Old Testament), names
of ancient philosophers, poets (Sophocles), names of world history (Alexander the Great) is characterized.