Exploring Functional Nature of English Anthroponyms in Literary Texts for Children

Abstract

Defining the functional nature of English anthroponyms in literary texts for children is complicated philological problems as these language elements perform an essential role in creating the system of images of any literary work. The complex study of anthroponyms functioning in literary texts for children is rather important because it meets the requirements of a new scientific paradigm of literary onomastics. The purpose of the research is to describe a scientific assumption of the phenomenon of literary anthroponymy in general, and that of proper names and literary anthroponyms in particular, and describe their functional peculiarities in literary texts for children. Special attention is paid to anthroponyms and their stylistic expressive abilities, which originate from the time when ancient philosophers regarded proper names in terms of their semantics and purpose of use only. The rapid development of literary onomastics makes it possible to point out different kinds of onyms, anthroponyms, toponyms, and the names of characters in fiction. The key feature of literary anthponyms is their distinguishing stylistic possibilities. It is proved that the functional nature of anthroponyms lies in the fact that they operate in literary texts as vivid markers of the author’s intention, implementing definite ideological, esthetic, and cultural tasks. In a word, they update stylistic features (informative and emotive) at the textual level. Consequently, the wide use of stylistic expressive properties of anthroponyms in literary works led to the need to conceptualize their functional nature in literary texts for children.