The function of unofficial personal names in the Kazakh language

Abstract

The article examines the functions of unofficial anthroponyms in the Kazakh language, the features of each of the types of functions in their nomination and use. In addition to the main nominative function of proper names, a close connection between the functions of identification and differentiation is determined. The authors argue that the consideration of the name and its owner in integrity, hiding, changing the name, namelessness served as a reason for the use of nicknames. The authors put forward the hypothesis that, along with the nominative function, the connotative function is manifested in the nicknames, and the esoteric function in the pseudonyms. Since the main function of pseudonyms is considered to be an esoteric function (concealment), pseudonyms are multifunctional onyms that perform different social functions, therefore, special functions are differentiated in the linguistic material depending on their scope. The authors argue that in literary pseudonyms the esoteric function predominates, in the stage — the aesthetic function, and in the political — conspiracy, any kind of proper name combines several types of functions, the three named types of proper names combine a communicative function with a cognitive one, and unofficial proper names — with an emotional-voluntary one.