NICKNAMES MOTIVATED BY INTERNAL TRAITS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17896058Keywords:
nicknames, internal traits, semantic motivation, onomastics, sociolinguistics, English languageAbstract
Nicknames motivated by internal traits constitute a significant category within English informal naming practices. Unlike externally motivated nicknames based on appearance, occupation, or social status, internal-trait nicknames reflect psychological, moral, emotional, and behavioral characteristics attributed to the individual by a speech community. This study investigates the linguistic mechanisms, semantic motivations, and sociocultural functions of internal-trait motivated nicknames in English. Drawing on data from historical records, media discourse, and fictional narratives, the analysis applies qualitative semantic classification and functional interpretation. The findings demonstrate that such nicknames serve evaluative, mnemonic, and identity-constructing functions, often employing alliteration, metaphor, and sound symbolism. The study contributes to onomastics and sociolinguistics by clarifying the role of internal traits in nickname formation and social perception.
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