WHAT IS A DEMONONYM? SCOPE, SIGNIFICANCE, AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

Аннотация

This article explores the concept of the demononym, its definition, and its scope of usage. A demononym is interpreted as the proper name given to a demon, evil spirit, or similarly negatively perceived supernatural being within religious, mythological, folkloric, or literary contexts. The study examines the role of demononyms in onomastics, their semantic aspects, naming strategies, connections to cultural codes, and their manifestations in various folk cultures (e.g., Bulgarian, Perm, English). The article also highlights their functional roles—such as identification, legitimization, taboo expression, and apotropaic use—and discusses how they differ from other types of mythonyms. Kalit so‘zlar: demononim, mifonim, onomastika, mifologiya, yovuz ruh, nomlash strategiyasi, semantika, apotropik funksiya, tabu, lingvomadaniyatshunoslik https://scientific-jl.com/ped 3 71 Volume-81, Issue-1, May -2025 “PEDAGOGS” international research journal ISSN: 2181-3027_SJIF: 5.449 Kлючевые слова: демононим, мифоним, ономастика, мифология, злой дух, стратегии наименования, семантика, апотропейная функция, табу, лингвокультурология English keywords: demononym, mythonym, onomastics, mythology, evil spirit, naming strategy, semantics, apotropaic function, taboo, linguistic cultural studies In English-language literature on onomastics, the term demononym is not as widely used or established as terms like anthroponym (personal name), toponym (place name), or theonym (name of a deity). This term is mostly used within the contexts of mythology, folklore, religious studies, or literary analysis. Etymologically, it consists of two parts: demon (from Greek daimon – originally meaning a spirit or divine power, later carrying a negative meaning – demon, evil spirit) and onym (from Greek onoma – name). Therefore, in general, a demononym refers to a proper name given to a demon, i.e., a supernatural being perceived as an evil spirit or devil. The fact that this term is not included in all major explanatory or onomastic dictionaries in English indicates its relatively narrow usage. Nevertheless, some sources and studies do provide definitions or descriptions of the term. I.A. Podyukov and S.V. Khorobrikh, for example, define it as “proper names of demons (demononyms) featured in the local mythological texts...” Here, a demononym is specifically explained as a “proper name of a demon.” In some classifications of onomastics, demononyms may fall under the broader category of mythonyms (names of mythological characters), or even theonyms (if a demon is considered a “fallen” deity, such as Lucifer). In her article “Onomastics,” Carole Hough reviews various classifications of proper names. Although she does not use the term demononym explicitly, she notes that names of supernatural beings form a distinct category, which aligns with the concept of the term. Like any proper name, the primary function of a demononym is to identify and differentiate a specific demonic entity (e.g., Asmodeus) from others (e.g., Beelzebub) or from the general class of demons (e.g., devil, imp, succubus). This term is usually applied to: Canonical or apocryphal demons and devils in Abrahamic religions (e.g., Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Lilith). Names of evil spirits, demons, and devs in various mythologies and folklore traditions (if the entities have specific names). Names of demonic characters in literary works (especially fantasy or horror genres), either created by the author or borrowed from folklore (e.g., Tolkien’s Balrog—though this may resemble a species name—or Lovecraft’s Cthulhu, which can be interpreted as a kind of wild, demonic force). https://scientific-jl.com/ped 3 72 Volume-81, Issue-1, May -2025 “PEDAGOGS” international research journal ISSN: 2181-3027_SJIF: 5.449 There is some debate as to whether names of nature spirits (e.g., water nymphs, forest spirits) or mythical creatures with negative traits can be considered demononyms. This largely depends on whether such entities are perceived as “evil” or antagonistic within their cultural contexts. In both English and Uzbek, demononyms often show anthropocentric traits. They may: Derive from human names (less common but found in folklore), Reflect human fears, flaws, or societal concepts (e.g., Nightmare—originally an evil spirit that torments sleepers; Gremlin—a spirit that sabotages machinery). It is important to distinguish between a demononym (e.g., Asmodeus—a proper name) and generic terms indicating types of demons (e.g., devil, imp, succubus). In conclusion, a demononym is a proper name given to a demonic, evil spirit, or similarly negatively connoted supernatural entity within a religious, mythological, folkloric, or literary context. Its primary function is to individualize and distinguish the entity. It often emerges through cultural naming traditions shaped by human perceptions and fears. In global philology, research specifically focused on demononyms is not extensive. One such work is Iliya