The Hydronym Labe and Its Derivational Potential in the Toponymy of Bohemia Cover Image

Hydronymum Labe a jeho derivační potenciál v toponymii Čech
The Hydronym Labe and Its Derivational Potential in the Toponymy of Bohemia

Author(s): Pavel Štěpán
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Ústav pro jazyk český
Keywords: onomastics; hydronymy; toponymy; Labe; Czech toponymical system

Summary/Abstract: The paper is focused on the specificity of the hydronym Labe in Czech toponymical system, investigating especially its role in derivation of toponyms (most often anoikonyms), but also its occurrence in prepositional and multiple-word names. It becomes obvious that the use of this hydronym in creation of toponyms differs substantially from other hydronyms, whose use is very limited. The toponyms referring to other rivers most often derive from the common nouns řeka ‘river’ or voda ‘water’ (only rarely from the particular hydronym), whereas these common nouns never refer to the river Labe in Czech toponymy. Furthermore, some affixes used for deriving toponyms from the hydronym Labe are otherwise not used for the creation of toponyms from toponymical bases. These findings result into the conclusion that the hydronym Labe functions similarly to a common noun in the Czech toponymical system.

  • Issue Year: LV/2016
  • Issue No: 55
  • Page Range: 297-304
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: Czech