Functional and stylistic potential of real anthroponyms in works of fiction (based on J.B. Priestley’s novels and their Russian translations)

Shutova N.

The study concerns the functional and stylistic expressiveness of really existing anthroponyms in fiction. It is argued that the author’s choice of names is always motivated. In the process of speech production a name is always influenced by a number of social and cultural factors; as a result, it acquires additional connotations. Over time the obtained connotations become fixed on the language level allowing writers to use definite names, their derivatives and combinations for describing characters. The issue is relevant as many connotations of real names are usually lost or distorted in translations. Social and stylistic connotations of real anthroponyms present the object of the research. Characterising potentialities of names in a work of fiction are the subject of conducted analysis. J.B. Priestley’s novels served as the material for investigation. Methods used are communicative, contextual, lexicographic and comparative analysis.

Keywords:work of fiction, anthroponym, anthroponymycon, anthroponymic formula, connotations, translation, social context