Meirbekov Akylbek Kairatbekovich, Tileuberdiyev Bolatbek Makulbekuly

South Kazakhstan State University named after Mukhtar O.Auezov. Philology faculty. Kazakhstan/Chimkent. E-mail: ph-doctor@mail.ru

Cultural similarities between English – Kazakh names and naming practices

The big successes, the grandiose changes which were having place in a socio-political, scientific and technical, economic and cultural life of Kazakh and English people, promoted development of their native language, its dictionary fund - various sphere of lexicon, including anthroponomy. The result of lingual-cultural analyses that were held on anthroponomy structure of the Kazakh and English languages shows some similarities in naming traditions of two languages. For example, the names given to individual attributes, specialties, names of things, to physical features, time of a birth of the child. Such elements of naming tradition of the Kazakh and English languages show similarity in national thinking of two nations.

Key words: anthroponomy, naming tradition, names, category, lingual-cultural, borrowings.

In every language words are derived into two large groups. They are Common and Proper noun words. Proper noun’s `onomastic´ branch anthroponomy includes itself family name, patronymics and names. Anthroponomy are takes very important role in human society. As long as there has been language, there have been names. Naming is the first task of speech through which we differentiate one person from all others. Every society has a naming system, and all these systems have certain common elements. Person names are a badge of a cultural identity and therefore throw studying names and naming practice of a definite nation or country we can know about their culture and traditions. Names, as words by which reality is known and spoken of, are the most meaningful lexicon in the vocabulary of any language, and they are an important part of the language inventory as they not only name the environment, but also store all the distinctions about the fauna and flora. Working with anthroponomy of two different languages such as English and Kazakh, we have identified some similarities and differences in naming practices.

Someone would say that these two languages which are from two different branches of language group cannot have any common phenomenon in naming system. In order to prove points – our offered report would speak for itself. From our studies we can underline similarities of English and Kazakh anthroponomy in its classification, in borrowings, in religious naming traditions, in formation and in their structures.

In Anthroponomy stock of both languages there are names borrowed form Arabic language and Slavic language. Such as Ali, Abraham, Anna, Rose, Denis and so forth. There is also affix ‘-man’ which is used to form name in both languages. Academic of science of Kazakh SSR T. Zhanuzakov notes that affix –man occurs in European and Central Asian countries languages. For example; in English language Norman, in Kazakh language Meirman. According to this fact etymology of -man affix’s in Turkish languages is derived from European languages. The affix –man was borrowed into Kazakh language from Arabic language. Its first lexical meaning in German language /mann/, in English /man/, in Arabic /man/. Some words during changing process, when it comes as a second component of a certain name, they lose their meaning and become suffixes [1, 283]. As in word /Man/. This is one of the similarities of English and Kazakh language naming practice.

In English and Kazakh modern names there are names formed by associatin of parts of two names, for example in English language Saralinda /sara (h) + linda/, in Kazakh Seidakhmet /Seit +Akhmet/. Such names that made by contamination is very productive nowadays. Creation of names is rather possible, by contamination - the phenomenon is productive and presently, has been caused by aspiration to have sonorous, shortened and specially-made out name. Also there are similarities of English and Kazakh anthroponomy in word names and shortened names categories.

The similarities in the etymology of English and Kazakh given names are shown in the following categories:

· Aspiring personal traits /external and internal/. For example, the name Clement means `merciful´. Kazakh examples include Meirim, Meirbek means `merciful´.

· Occupations, for example George means `farmer´, in Kazakh language Koishibai, Koishibek means `sheep man´.

· Circumstances of birth, for example Thomas meaning `twin´ or the Latin name Quintus, which was traditionally given to the fifth male child. In Kazakh naming tradition we have to name one of three child as Mukhammed, or another one to name twins as Asan and Usen to boys, Aiman and Sholpan to girls.

· Objects, for example Peter means `rock´ and Edgar means `rich spear´. In Kazakh naming practice Jartas means `rock´, Dulyga means `helmet´.

· Physical characteristics, for example Calvin means `bald´. In Kazakh, Kotibar means `born with big bottom´, if children had an unnatural growth or something suspicious on their bodies, they would be called Artykom means `unnecessary´. If a newborn boy already had some teeth, he would call Kaskyrbai means `wolf´. Some children are born with moles and birthmarks Kaldygul means `born with a mole´, or Anar means `born with a garnet´.

· Variations on another name, especially to change the sex of the name Pauline, Georgia or to translate from another language for instance, the names Francis or Francisco that come from the name Franciscus meaning `Frenchman´ and the name Dylan or Dilyn, in some cases, means `Son of the Sea´. The same phenomenon is observed in kazakh language too, for example; Damir <m.> Damira <fm.>, Daniyar <m.> Daniya <fm.>.

· Places, for example Brittany and Lorraine. In kazakh anthroponomy stock there is a few place names like Zhambyl, Oral, Edilbay, Talas and so forth.

· Time of birth, for example day of the week and month. Names of the weekdays were borrowed to English language from Arabic language by African migrators’ naming practice. Such names have passed phonetic and spelling changes. A commonly used weekdays name in modern English is Kofi means `born on Friday´. There is also other name which is formed according weekdays names, and they are divided into two according to their gender. Male names: Joe means `born on Monday´, Jacco, Jack, Jacky means `Born on Wednesday´ and Kofi means `born on Friday´; Female names: Juba means `born on Monday´, Venus means `born on Tuesday´, Jacky means `born on Wednesday´, Abby means `born on Thursday´ and Phoebe means `born on Friday´ [2, 163]. In Kazakh language this practice appeared in XVIII-XIX centuries. Arabic names were borrowed to Kazakh language through Tatar, Uzbek, and Tajik languages with the changes of those languages. They are Duisenbai, Duisen means `born on Monday´, Seisenbai, Seisenbek means `born on Tuesday´, Sarsenbai means `born on Wednesday´, Beisenbai means `born on Thursday´, Juma, Jumabai, Jumabek means `born on Friday´, Jeksenbay, Jeksen means `born on Sunday´. Forming women’s weekday names is not differ from men’s the difference is to add to the stem -gul, -kul suffixes instead of men’s name forming -bek, -bai,-khan suffixes. For example, Duisenkul, means `born on Monday´, Seisenkul, Seisengul means `born on Tuesday´, Sarsenkul means `born on Wednesday´, Beisenkul means `born on Thursday´, Jumagul, Jumakul means `born on Friday´, Jeksenkul means `born on Sunday´. There is also a month and holiday names such as April <fm.>, May <fm.>, June <fm.>, August <m.> and the name Natalie meaning `born on Christmas day´. In kazakh language month names used as a person names are Sauir `April´, Nauriz `March´ and holiday names that are used as person name are Kurban one of the three main holidays. Various names are likened to a time of the day or weather conditions: Tanatar means`day is breaking´, Karzhau means `snowing´, Zhanbyrbai means `rain´, Tumanbai means`fog´ and Boranbai means `snowstorm´.

Names are believed to reflect the character of the person, and great care is taken in selecting a name. Usually about a month after the child is born, the parents attempt to create an original name. Many girls are given names that signify beauty, such as Sweet Willow or Morning Star. Boys are given names that reflect strength and good health.

English names can be grouped into broad categories based on their origin: Hebrew names, Germanic names, French forms of Germanic names, Slavic names, Celtic, Greek names, Latin names, Word names, Diminutives, Shortened Names, Feminine[3, 552].

To this list, we can add Afro-American names. Eduard Kimber said: «One thing in which english people are very faulty in, with regard to their children, which is, that when young, they suffer them too much to prowl almost the young Negroes, which insesibily causes them to imbibe their Manners and broken speech»[4, 85]. Since the 1970s it has become more common for African-Americans to create new names for their children by combining their own set of fashionable sounds and syllables. Names for girls formed in this way are called "Lakeisha names" after one of the prime examples. Lakeisha names are created by linking a fashionable prefix, such as Sha-, La-, Ka-, Shan-, or Ty-, with a fashionable suffix, such as -isha, -ika, -onda, -ae, -ique, or -ice. The resulting names are almost always accented on the second syllable. In the 1970s and 1980s, names beginning with La- such as Lashonda and Lashay were most popular. In the 1990s, Sha- names such as Shameka, Shanae, and Shaniqua were fashionable. In 2004, names starting with Ja- or ending in -iyah such as Jakayla, Jamya, Janiyah, and Taniyah were in vogue. But the point of this custom for most parents is to create a unique name for their child, and many are successful. The name Beyonce comes from the African-American origin. In English the meaning of the name Beyonce is: One who is beyond others. [5].

Kazakh anthroponomy can be grouped into next categories based on their origin:

Russian (Slavic) Names. The Russian names borrowed by Kazakhs, meet in documents since XVIII century. For example, Andre (from Andrey), Mekeil (from Michael), Metbei (from Matvei), Mariyam (from Maria), Jagor (from Egor), Jakyp (from Jacob). These names were created on close cultural relation of Kazakh and Russian people. A plenty of loans of Russian personal names is especial is observed during Soviet time. The use of the following personal names concerns to this period: 1) female: Anna, Аnisа, Valentine, Nina, Rimma, Sveta, Mira etc.; 2) man's: Andrey, Alik, Vladimir, Vladlen, Denis, Victor, Maxim, Ilya etc. Socio-political, scientific and technical, economic, cultural and historical reasons during the Soviet Union, made many Russian names well penetrated into anthroponomy structure of the Kazakh language. Russian names that were created during the Soviet Union; October, Kolkhozbek, Sovkhozbek, Sovet, Armiya, Oblys, Maidan etc.[6, 552].

Arabic-Iranian Names. Personal names of the Arabic-Iranian origin in the Kazakh language are divided in two groups: а) the names connected to Islamic religion, with names and epithets of a deity, prophets, imams, caliphs; b) the names formed from spoken language lexicon. The Islamic religion had huge influence on anthroponomy of Kazakh language. In connection with acceptance of an Islam customs and traditions of naming children have changed, pagan names were partly superseded, but many of them continued to be used. For example, alongside with Arabic-Iranian names Aldabergen, Kudaibergen means `god gave us´ were used Tanirbergen, alongside with Kamariya means `moon´, Shamsiya means `sun´, Aidai measn `moonlike´, Kunai means `the sun and the moon´ etc.

The names borrowed from the Arabic-Iranian languages, in the Kazakh language have undergone strong phonetic changes therefore have got various variants, for example: from Avraam - Abrambai, Ibragim, Ibraiym, Ybyrai, Ybyrash; from Yusuf - Zhusip, Nusip, Dusip, Tusip, Tusyp etc.

Mongolian Names. From personal names of the Mongolian origin there are direct loans and the common parallels. Mongolism in anthroponomy system are divided in two groups: 1) borrowed directly from the Mongolian language - Bayan means `rich´, Noyan means `mister´, Sayan means `good´, Aimak means `territory´, Sypatai means `Sugedei one of the Mongolian hero warrior´, etc.; 2) representing Mongolian-Turkic, Kazakh parallels: Bura means `female camel´, Buka means `bull´, Donenbai means `a four-year-old horse´, etc. Most names of Mongolian borrowings are made of military title. The given names for Mongolian-Turkic languages have been formed from the common lexicon. As is known, ethno cultural communications of Mongolian and Turkic, including the Kazakh tribes, according to historical sources, existed in an antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

Word names. Personal names of Kazakh language are a part of dictionary structure and are scooped from public language fund; accordingly submit to laws of the native language. Among them there are the names formed from all categories of lexicon.

The basic structure of Kazakh anthroponomy reflects a cultural - historical life of people, since the most ancient times and up to now. In the lexical relation primordially Kazakh sphere makes the basic nucleus anthroponomy. It has the following lexica-semantic groups of words - the names connected with I) animal industries – Bota means ‘camel’; 2) natural phenomena – Taubai means ‘rich mountains’; 3) names of wild animals and birds, – Arystan means ‘lion’; 4) names of nonferrous metals and jewelry – Altyn ‘gold’; 5) Plants – Kyzgaldak means ‘tulip’; 6) names of fruit – Alma means ‘apple’; 7) indicating relationship - Atabek means ‘grandfather’; 8) names of places – Altai, Ertis etc.; 9) indicating various household utensils - Tabakbai means ‘dish’; 10) indicating food stuffs – Shyryn means `juice´[7, 176].

Almost every language naming system pass throw definite stages of society development. Occurrence of new names - not casual, but the natural phenomenon in a society. Various kinds of language contacts, expansion of information space allows to allocate in anthroponomy many people’s names.

Development of one language is characterized by close mutual relations with other languages, as is a natural phenomenon of linguistics. As an example we can result international names of the Kazakh and English languages in this. For example, penetration of Hebrew, German, French, Slavic, Greece, Celt and Latin names in English anthroponomy structure, and also names of Russian, Mongolian, Arabian, Iranian, Turkic languages in Kazakh anthroponomy structure. In Kazakh anthroponomy the certain amount of names has come with acceptance of an Islam, therefore in it exists names of the Arabic-Iranian origin, however they now are perceived by native speakers as primordial as with current of long time completely adapted phonetic and grammatical system of the Kazakh language. Not so the significant amount of names has come from Russian and others speaking another language name stocks. Nevertheless, the basic fund of the Kazakh personal names is made with names of Turkic and actually Kazakh origin.

The results of lingual-cultural analyses on anthroponomy structure of the Kazakh and English languages, shows some similarities in naming traditions of two languages. For example, the names given to individual attributes, specialties, names of things, to physical features, time of a birth of the child. So we can say that political changes, politicians of eras, precious people of eras, and structure of societies, culture and individual reasons affect the naming process and may give us information about each of these segments.

References

1. Telkhozha Zhanuzakov. 1971. Kazakh esimderinin tarihy. – Almaty, School. 163p.

2. Joseph E. Holloway. 2005. Africanisms in American culture, Bloomington, 283p.

3. URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Given_name

4. Kimber E. The Speech of Negroes in colonial America. Journal of Negro. History 24(3) July 1939. -85p.

5. URL:http://people.howstuffworks.com/baby-name-trends-ga3.htm

6. Telkhozha Zhanuzak. 2009. Kazakh esimderinin anyktamalygy. – ALmaty, Arys Press. 552p.

7. Telkhozha Zhanuzak. 2008. Esiminiz kim? – Almaty, Ana tili. 176p.