Статтю присвячено явищу мовної економії в українському ергоніміконі, зокрема ролі компресійних типів словотворення в формуванні цього ономастичного
класу. Предметом аналізу виступають основні способи творення ергонімів, а також
їхні мотиваційні ознаки й змістова наповненість у контексті виконання ними інформативної функції.
The article focuses on language economy manifestation among Ukrainian business
names, in particular on analysis of compressive types of word formation. The author
argues that the economy principle in the category of business names was triggered
by implementation of P. Grice’s Maxims of Conversation, e. g. interaction of maxims
of quantity and quality of a message, which ensures cooperative communication.
The main language tool providing for that balance in the category of business names
is compressive word formation that comprises several types of word formation, i. e.
elliptical lexicalized word groups, initial abbreviation, syllable abbreviation, composita,
quasicomposita (lexical units that include both an element of unclear semantics and
a meaningful stem). The degree of form and meaning compression among above
mentioned types differs significantly, with an element that denotes type of business being
regularly omitted. The main motivation features kept in business names are subject and
place of business activity. Lexicalized word groups are the least reduced forms whereas
initial and syllable abbreviation represent the highest degree of compression. Recurrence
of the same elements in composita leads to their meaning ambiguity and they render into
derivational components, deprived of lexical semantics. Generalization of semantics
decreases information content of a name and increases its ambiguity, which makes its
motivation more obscure for a receiver. That trend toward formation of purely arbitrary
language signs as business names is to be interpreted as an attempt to create empty labels
as companies’ designations, which conceptualization can be easily modified whenever
necessarily.
