Zoonyms in Personal Names of Kalmyks and Chinese

Abstract

Proceeding from Kalmyk- and German-language materials collected through continuous sampling from diverse corresponding dictionaries, the article provides a comparative study of zoonyms which are one of the most underinvestigated categories of onomastics. The conducted analysis testifies that in Kalmyk there are more zooanthroponyms connected with domestic animals, their age, gender, and color properties than there are in Chinese. This is due to the fact that the traditional economy practiced by the Kalmyks up to the early 20th century had been nomadic livestock breeding. Personal and family names stemming from terms to denote gender and age features of animals, or names of animals untypical for the Central Asian fauna, prevail among Kalmyk zoonyms, while in Chinese no such trends have been traced. The animal age and gender identification system developed by the Kalmyks - nomadic livestock breeders - was more elaborated than that of the sedentary Chinese. Many of the Kalmyk zooanthroponyms had actually been nicknames parents used to give to their children according to certain traditional religious beliefs. The trend to give zoonymic names has almost disappeared among the Kalmyks, and nowadays can be basically traced in family names. The number of zooanthroponyms among Chinese personal and clan names is much lower which is to the sedentary way of life of the nation. The Chinese anthroponyms contain no gender and age differentiating characteristics, names of wild animals, and animals geographically untypical for the territory of China as such. However, Chinese family names may contain names of mythical beings, and a number of Chinese hieroglyphs have retained zoonymic graphic elements since most ancient times.