Kapibara Kiler i krokodyl U-Boot – imiona zwierząt zamieszkujących ogrody zoologiczne
Capibara Kiler and crocodile U-Boot – names of animals living in zoological gardens

Summary/Abstract: The article presents an onomastic analysis of zoonyms collected in three large Polish zoological gardens. The aim of the work is to examine the trends in the latest naming of wild animals living in zoos and to try to characterize it. The results of research on the names indicate that most names are transfers and derivation is a rare procedure. Among the collected zoonyms, there are visible tendencies towards: 1. naming sub¬sequent animals of a specific species using a previously invented key, which makes it easier mainly in relation to animals that must be given a name for legal reasons; 2. giving animals, especially those that are known to be transported to another foreign zoo, universal names; 3. composing names based on word play or vocal instrumentation; 4. giving animals fashionable names and stereotypical names; 5. giving animals names reflecting their external features. It turns out that even in such a formalized sphere of zoonymic vocabulary, as the names of wild animals are, we can see con¬siderable creativity when inventing onyms.

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