Commemorative Street Names in Lublin in Linguistic Terms

Abstract

The article is devoted to proper names of Lublin, in particular the names of streets, squares, and boulevards. The starting point for linguistic considerations are selected terminological issues in the field of contemporary onomastics and analytical works devoted to street names in Polish cities (including the achievements of Mieczysław Buczyński – a researcher of Lublin urbanonyms). The term “commemorative names” is broadly understood and defined as a set of names created intentionally by authorities to honor figures, events, social and political organizations and military formations significant to a given community. The analytical part discusses the classification of semantic categories of Lublin’s commemorative names. It is based on the division into three groups: (1) anthroponymous names (formed from the names and surnames of people distinguished for Lublin and the region, from people distinguished for Polish culture, from people distinguished for world culture), (2) names related to historical events and anniversaries, street names from military formations, social and political organizations/movements, (3) street names derived from military formations, social and political organizations/movements, groups, societies and associations. The study showed that the commemorative street names of Lublin fulfill the functions typical of urban names (identity, communication, social, cognitive). These names unify the local community, fulfill a propaganda function (reflect the system of values promoted by the city authorities), show naming trends in a given period, and fit into the concept of city development. Changes in the names of Lublin’s streets reflect nationwide socio-cultural changes.