The Concept of a Nickname: Its Essence and Main Functions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58423/2786-6726/2024-1-77-88Keywords:
nickname, network name, virtual name, onym, internet communicationAbstract
Network name as a primary factor in self-presentation shapes the first impression of the user in the virtual world, becoming an integral component of achieving the set goal. The purpose of this article is to analyze the concept of a nickname, define its essence, highlight characteristic features, and understand its main functions.
In particular, the specific character of nickname definitions in lexicographical works and scientific research papers have been studied. It has been determined that contemporary linguistic works actively discuss the issue of internet communication in general and the functioning of linguistic naming units in particular. The revised the following characteristics of nicknames highlighted by the vast majority of researchers have been identified: definition of this concept suggested in the paper is crucial for our research. Moreover, a real or fictional name, a pseudonym, an alias utilized by users for internet communication; the place of use – chats, forums, blogs; the place of communication – the global network, communication on the internet in general.
Furthermore, it is important to highlight specific features of nicknames, considering that communication in social networks, chats, forums, and self-presentation in them undergo constant changes. Therefore, this article characterizes the common and distinctive features of a network name and similar onyms as the login name (loginonyms) (presented in computer discourse), an alias, pseudonym, and cryptonym (recognized in onomastics). Common features of a nickname and an alias include the ability to create an unlimited number of onyms for one person, therefore hiding the real identity and modeling a fictional one; as well as non-conventionality of the form and fictionality of the name. Similarly to login names (loginonyms), nicknames are specific types of proper names in the field of Internet communication. Moreover, cryptonym, login name (loginonym), and network name are used in written form. Additionally, the article defines the marking features of network names.
Since a nickname is a multifunctional phenomenon, the functional-semantic potential of nicknames is outlined in this scientific research. As a result, it has been revealed that the functions of network names should be categorized depending on the place of their use.
References
Aleksieieva, Olha, 2015. Spetsyfika antroponimiv u kompiuternomu dyskursi [Specificity of anthroponyms in computer discourse]. Naukovyi chasopys NPU imeni M. P. Drahomanova. Seriia 9. Suchasni tendentsii rozvytku mov, vyp. 12,
p. 3–9 (in Ukrainian).
Blednova, Olha, 2018. Semantychni osoblyvosti osobystykh imen v suchasnii nimetskii Internet-komunikatsii [Semantic Features of Personal Names in Modern German Internet Communication]. Visnyk Luhanskoho natsionalnoho universytetu imeni Tarasa Shevchenka. Filolohichni nauky, № 7(321), p. 11–17 (in Ukrainian).
Dziubina, Oksana, 2016. Struktura, semantyka ta prahmatyka slenhovykh neolohizmiv sotsialnykh merezh Twitter ta Facebook (na materiali anhliiskoi movy) [Structure, semantics and pragmatics of slang neologisms of Twitter and Facebook social networking services (on the material of English language)] : diss. Cand. of Phil. Sciences: 10.02.04. Lviv. https://lnu.edu.ua/thesis/dzyubina- oksana-ihorivna/ (in Ukrainian).
Omeliukh, Iryna, 2023. Funktsiino-prahmatychni osoblyvosti nikneimiv (na materialu saitu KOLO) [Functional and pragmatic features of nicknames (based on the material of the KOLO website)]. Visnyk Zhytomyrskoho derzhavnoho universytetu imeni Ivana Franka. Filolohichni nauky, vyp. 2 (100), p. 208–217 (in Ukrainian).
Popova, Anna, 2017. Nikneim yak osnovnyi zasib samoprezentatsii virtualnoi osobystosti v internet-komunikatsii: semantychna pryroda ta klasyfikatsiia (na materiali ukrainskoi movy) [Nickname as the main means of self-presentation of a virtual personality in Internet communication: semantic nature and classification (based on the Ukrainian language)]. Typolohiia movnykh znachen u diakhronichnomu ta zistavnomu aspektakh, № 33-34, p. 49–58 (in Ukrainian).
Popova, Anna, 2017. Semantychni osoblyvosti merezhevykh imen v anhliiskii ta ukrainskii antroponimitsi [Semantic features of network names in English and Ukrainian anthroponymy]. Materialy naukovoi konferentsii (2015–2016 rr.). Sektsiia
«Porivnialno-istorychne movoznavstvo», vol. 1, p. 35–36 (in Ukrainian).
Soprykina, Viktoriia – Malenko, Olena, 2021. Psevdonimikon ukrainskoi kulturnomystetskoi sfery pochatku XXI stolittia: linhvistychna interpretatsiia [Pseudonymicon of the
Ukrainian cultural and artistic sphere of the beginning of the 21st century: linguistic interpretation]. Kharkiv : KhNPU : KhIFT (in Ukrainian).
Shestakova, Olena, 2009. Nikneim yak zasib konstruiuvannia virtualnoi identychnosti v elektronnomu dyskursi chata [Nickname as a means of virtual identity designing in electronic chat discourse]. Visnyk SumDU, p. 135–138 (in Ukrainian).
Shestakova, Svitlana, 2019. Osoblyvosti nominatsii uchasnykiv virtualnoi komunikatsii (na materiali nikonimiv) [Nomination features of participants’ virtual communication (on the materials of nikonyms)]. Naukovyi visnyk Mizhnarodnoho humanitarnoho universytetu. Seriia : Filolohiia, t. 1, № 43, p. 121–124 (in Ukrainian).
Shytyk, Ljudmyla – Omeliukh, Iryna, 2021. Struktura nikneimiv u sotsialnykh merezhakh [Structure of nicknames in social networks]. Movoznavchyi visnyk : zbirnyk nauk. prats, № 31, p. 18–26 (in Ukrainian).
Yaroshenko, Natalija, 2009. Antroponimy ta lohinonimy: naslidky mizhvydovoi transonimizatsii [Anthroponyms and loginonyms: implications of interspecies transonymization]. Visnyk Dnipropetrovskoho universytetu. Seriia “Movoznavstvo”, vol. 2, № 15. p. 173–177 (in Ukrainian).
Naruszewicz-Duchlińska, Alina, 2003. Pseudonimy internetowe (nicknames) jako forma autoreklamy [Internet pseudonyms (nicknames) as a form of self-advertisement]. Prace Językoznawcze, 5, p. 85–98. http://surl.li/pilad (in Poland).
Ozimska, Joanna, 2020. Autoprezentacja na portalu randkowym: tworzenie wizerunku z punktu widzenia onomastyki [Self-presentation on a dating website: Creating an image from an onomastic point of view]. Wizerunek jako kategoria teorii komunikacji, antropologii kultury i semiotyki tekstu, p. 277–285. http://surl.li/pikuj (in Poland).
Siwiec, Adam, 2014. Pseudonimy internetowe vel nicki – charakterystyka onomastyczna i uzus [Іnternet Pseudonyms vel Nicks: An Onomastic Characterization and Usage]. Roczniki Humanistyczne. Językoznawstwo, 62, p. 101–122 (in Poland).
