Proper Names vs Common Names: The Questions of Meaning and Functioning

Abstract

This article is devoted to peculiarities of the meaning and functioning of proper names in comparison to common names. The relevance of the topic is conditioned by the varieties of views of scientists exploring the theory of proper name. Some say that proper names are deprived of semantic meaning, others think that the semantic value of the proper name is conditioned by its immediate connection to the object named. Nevertheless, both sides agree that proper names must be allocated to a separate group of nouns and they should function in accordance with some specific rules. The authors of this article take the view of those researchers who agree that proper names have some specific features that have nothing to do with the peculiarities of common names. In this article the status and the etymology of proper name are analysed. There is also an exploration of some extra-linguistic factors that contribute the assignment of proper names in the language system and their functioning in language itself.