FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DEONYMS DERIVED FROM THE PROPER NAME MERKEL (TO “THEORETICAL COURSE OF THE SECOND FOREIGN LANGUAGE (GERMAN)”)

Abstract

This paper highlights the deonymization study in the contemporary German media-political discourse. A thorough analysis of the deonyms derived from the onym Merkel, which are widespread in the German media-political discourse, has been carried out. The extensive usage of these deonyms is explained, firstly, by the fact that Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of the European Union, is a significant figure in the European area; and secondly, by phonetic harmony of this two-syllable name. The article outlines the preconditions for the emergence of the deonyms derived from the onym Merkel, that are constantly “evolving” under the influence of political communication changes in the socio-political life of the Chancellor of the European Union Angela Merkel – an important figure in Europe. The significance of Angela Merkel in politics is confirmed by the emergence of the neologism “der Merkelismus” (“Merkelism”), which is interpreted as the style, the way of policy by Angela Merkel. The leader of Merkelism (“Anführerin des Merkelismus”) seeks social consensus, peace and stability, balanced political decisions. In this paper the deonymization types that are characteristic for the contemporary German media-political discourse are analyzed. The deonymic derivation, the deonymic conversion and the deonymic word combination are defined. An important role is attributed to the deonymous derivation that is the most productive type of deonymization in the German media-political discourse. The formation of deonyms derived from the proper name (onym Merkel) by means of suffixation and / or prefixation is accompanied by numerous examples. Of particular interest are the deonymic contaminations (word combinations with the component “Merkel”) in the Ukrainian media-political discourse. The deonymic conversion, i.e. the transition of one part of speech into another without usage of affixes, is presented by substantivation. The pragmatic functions of the deonyms derived from “Merkel” are covered. The data obtained prove that the deonyms derived from the onym Merkel have the component of connotative value, accumulate extensive information, draw attention to their originality and expressiveness, are markers of humor, irony, sarcasm, which aim to create a certain emotional influence on the recipient.