Methodical ways of studying proper names in professional discourse while teaching a foreign language to the students of agrarian universities

Abstract

This article considers the effectiveness of using proper names in teaching a professional foreign language English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to students of various agricultural specialties. In modern studying programs, almost no attention is paid to the study of the proper name, which occupies an essential place in the vocabulary of any language, reflecting important aspects of its history and culture development. Onomastics as a specific branch of linguistics has been formed at the cross point of several fields. The achievements of the regional onomastics determine the source of information relevant for foreign language teachers at the agrarian Universities. The study of writing and culture relicts, data from etymological dictionaries, local history and literature, research of groups of zoonyms, toponyms and anthroponyms determine the necessity of developing and applying new methodological techniques and technologies. All of the above determines the relevance of this article’s topic and defines its goals: to consider the effectiveness of using proper names when learning a foreign language applicable in professional activities; to present effective methodological techniques that contribute to the development of professional competencies. In preparing this article, such methods of scientific analysis and generalization were applied as descriptive, methods of etymological analysis, as well as elements of comparative and typological analysis.