Anthroponymic identification of women in the diary discourse of the Ukrainian Language in the first half of the 18th century

Abstract

This scientific study investigates the means of single-word anthroponymic identification of women in the diary discourse of the Ukrainian language during the first half of the 18th century, a largely under-researched aspect of historical anthroponymics. The author emphasizes the relevance of a comprehensive diachronic study of regional anthroponymic systems, particularly those of Chernihivshchyna and Starodubshchyna, which at that time were at the intersection of various cultural and linguistic influences (Polish, Ukrainian, Moscovite). The research aims to deepen the understanding of the linguistic and sociocultural characteristics of women’s lives in early modern Ukraine through the prism of their naming. The primary source for this study consists of the unique diary entries of General Ensign Mykola Danylovych Khanenko from 1719–1754, which, despite their value, have only partially drawn the attention of onomasts. The study employs a complex set of methods, including general scientific approaches (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction), linguistic methods (descriptive, continuous sampling, contextual, pragmalinguistic, discourse analysis), and sociocultural approaches (historical-cultural contextual analysis, sociolinguistic approach). An analysis of previous research highlights a general tendency toward a small number of female names in written records from the 14th – 18th centuries. Ukrainian and Polish scholars (M. Seniv, I. Yefymenko, L. Lytvynchuk, V. Denysiuk, O. Zelinska, I. Mytnik, L. Dacewicz, E. Rudnicka-Fira, M. Olejnik, among others) unanimously attribute this to the low socio-legal status of women at that time and the specifics of official documents where men were the main subjects of legal relations. The key findings of the study demonstrate that single-word anthroponyms in M. Khanenko’s diary fulfill not only nominative and identificational functions but also the function of reminding and marking emotional experience. Their use reflects the degree of closeness, emotional attitude, and the dynamics of the author's relationship with the person mentioned. Specifically, the author refers to his daughter using affectionate forms (Настуся, Настя) alongside the official form (Анастасія), which indicates the Ukrainian nature of the monument’s language and the intimate character of the diary. The study also revealed that single-word anthroponyms of the «name» type were predominantly used for identifying girls, young women, and women of lower social strata (with adapted or diminished forms of names), while Church Slavonic forms were preserved for representatives of the upper classes. Despite the dominance of male names, the diary contains instances of women being identified by their husband’s surname, which is characteristic of representatives of the upper classes. Andronyms formed from the husband’s/father’s name or surname using the affixes -их-a, -ин-a, -ов-a are actively functioning, which was a widespread phenomenon throughout the Ukrainian-speaking territory. The researched genre of the diary, while maintaining a business tradition, demonstrates a departure from purely official names, providing space for colloquial, intimate identifications. The presented results significantly expand the understanding of the means of nomination and identification of women in Ukrainian society during the first half of the 18th century, opening new perspectives for understanding the psychology of personality and the nuances of everyday communication of that period.