Homo agens in the mirror of regional toponymy (based on the oikonymic dictionary of the Volgograd Region)

Abstract

The work is devoted to the analysis of the image of Homo agens (acting human), reflected in the names of settlements (oikonyms) of Volgograd Region. The study is conducted on the material of the oikonymic dictionary of the Volgograd Region, which is currently being prepared for publication by the authors of this work. The use of the lexicographic method in combination with etymological analysis makes it possible to systematize the materials of the oikonymic dictionary in accordance with the purpose of the study – to identify the main toponymic models that reflect the various aspects of human activity within the territory occupied by the modern Volgograd Region. The analysis allows us to distinguish two groups of names that give an idea of a person-actor in the territory under consideration: 1) personological oikonyms that characterize a person as a subject of a certain type of activity, axiologically significant for a particular region (represent a per-son in terms of his profession/type of activity, relations to military service, to religion, as well as his social status); 2) functional-attributive oikonyms that give a utilitarian description of an object – a specific settlement – from the point of view of human activity (indicate the adaptability of a topoobject to the life of a farmer, cattle breeder, fisherman, etc.). Prospects are outlined for the study of the images of Homo vigilantes/vigilabus – a human observer, Homo ludens – a human playing and others that can complement the presented characterization of a subject who develops the space of a particular region and arranges his life on it.