Keywords
endonyms and exonyms
territoriality
national identity
Belarus
sociolinguistics
How to Cite
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Abstract
This article examines the functioning of proper names from a sociolinguistic and political perspective, focusing on the name of the Republic of Belarus across languages. The aim of the study is to explain why the form Belarus (Byelarusʹ) is promoted by Belarusian authorities and communities, and why traditional exonyms continue to be used in other languages. The study also demonstrates that proper names perform functions that extend beyond mere identification and reference, and that these functions may acquire particular significance in politically sensitive contexts.
The analysis is based on a qualitative, onomastic and sociolinguistic approach, drawing on comparative examples from various languages and historical contexts, as well as selected theoretical accounts of proper-name functions. Particular attention is paid to the distinction between endonyms and exonyms and to the socio-political conditioning of naming practices, including their historical development and contemporary transformations.
The findings indicate that, alongside their primary referential function, proper names may assume a secondary, symbolic function, interpretable as an expression of territoriality. In this capacity, names operate as markers of collective identity and symbolic boundaries, reflecting broader processes of negotiation between linguistic tradition and political agency. The preference for Belarus thus reflects not only linguistic choice but also an ongoing process of identity construction and political self-determination.
It is concluded that disputes over country names are not purely linguistic but are embedded in broader cultural and political dynamics. Proper names can function as symbolic instruments of territorial demarcation in both physical and mental geographies, thus contributing to the construction and consolidation of national identity.
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