THE FUNCTIONING PATTERNS OF ANTHROPONYMS IN A. P. CHEKHOV'S SHORT STORIES

The aim of the research is to (i) consider the role of proper names in the stories of A. P. Chekhov, to (ii) determine the significance of combinations of common names with proper names in revealing the author's position and creating a humorous effect, and also to (iii) identify frequent word-building patterns for the anthroponyms. Literature analysis on theoretical issues of artificial and natural names as well as studying practical examples from onomastics and anthroponymy realms enabled to specify the functions of combinations of common nouns with proper names. These names are part of the plot, conveying ideological messages, concentrating meaning, structure and content. Combinations of proper names and common nouns characterize the style of the writer. In the stories analyzed, common names contain a direct indication of status, position, rank, while proper names metaphorically portray the character or highlight the dominant of his/her personality and convey the author's message concerning evaluation of the image. Linguistic analysis of word-building patterns has shown that most surnames of the characters in the stories of A. P. Chekhov are formed by suffixation from common names, and they are the result of the author's word-making, another way to implicitly evaluate characters. In Chekhov's word combinations, proper and common names are interrelated and opposed.