Transonymized microtoponyms of Zhytomyr Polissya

Nadiia Sarhan, PhD, Junior Researcher in the Department of History of the Ukrainian Language and Onomastics
Institute of the Ukrainian Language of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
4 Mykhailо Hrushevskуі St., Kyiv 01001, Ukraine

E-mail: sarhan.nadiia@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7873-3549

Heading: Articles
Language: Ukrainian

Abstract: The article provides a comprehensive analysis of transonymization as a subtype of the lexico-semantic method of forming proper names, based on the material of the microtoponymy of Zhytomyr Polissia. The issue of the derivational status of transonymization is examined, as it is often interpreted in onomastic studies as a non-derivational process. The main conditions for the realization of transonymization are identified, including the adjacency or hierarchical connection of geographical objects (e.g. the name of the hamlet Веселівка derived from the name of the village Веселівка; the name of the quarry Богунський derived from the name of the residential district Богунія), the change of a geographical feature within the same territory (e.g. the bog name Избины, microregion name Багно), as well as semantic reinterpretation of the name (e.g. the name of a city quarter in Malyn Шанхай). Special attention is paid to names reflecting changes in the nature of geographical objects and to cases in which transonymization is indicated by semantic or grammatical incongruity between the name and the designated referent. It has been established that in microtoponymy transonymization may occur both in a relatively “pure” form and in combination with morphological transformations, stem compounding, and the use of differentiating components. On the basis of factual material, microtoponyms motivated by oikonyms, hydronyms, and other microtoponyms are analysed, and the directions of name transfer between different classes of onyms are determined. It is concluded that microtoponyms formed through transonymization constitute a significant layer of the region’s toponymy and represent an important source for reconstructing historical, cultural, and landscape changes.

Keywords: microtoponym, proper geographical names, hydronym, oikonym, transonymization, lexico-semantic word formation, Zhytomyr Polissia.

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Received 08.01.2026   Revised 26.05.2026   Accepted 00.06.2026