Publication details
Kešonymické hrátky: Motivační typy pojmenování keší v českém geocachingu
| Title in English | Cacheonymic games: The motivational types of cache names in Czech geocaching |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Acta Onomastica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Linguistics |
| Keywords | proper names; onomastics; cacheonym; propria; geocaching; community of practice; toponym |
| Description | Based on an analysis of the names of approximately 1500 Czech geocaches, the article outlines the basis naming processes involved in choosing cache names. Since most geocaches are located in the open countryside, it is not surprising that transonymic processes involving transformation of toponyms and other kinds of place names are very frequent. However, due to the diverse character of geocaches, the motivation may also derive from existing antroponyms or any other names of man-made, natural or fictional objects. Cache-naming may likewise involve the specification of the founder’ identity, the method of solving a mystery task, the cache function, a mention of the treasure-hunt nature of the game and the serial character of some caches, with names often chosen with an element of humour. It is argued that the special nature of caches as onymic objects allows their names to be conceived of as a special category, namely cacheonyms. The article also discusses several aspects of the formal make-up of cache names and outlines some basic sociolinguistic issues connected with code choice (local code (e.g. Czech) v. English v. other codes, and their mutual combinations). |