Етноними и екзоними (За названията на някои етнични общности на Балканите)
Ethnomyms and exzonyms (About denominations of some ethnic communities at the Balkans)

Summary/Abstract: The paper investigates the approaches in naming and self-naming of some ethnic communities on the Balkans. It also focuses on the lexicalization of the second figurative meaning of a number of widespread ethnic and group names based on comparison between the vocabularies in Balkan languages. Wherever not enough data could be found, idioms, proverbs and jokes are discussed. In spite of the uncertainty of the information and the many controversial issues an attempt was made to outline the etymology of the different community names in order to present the oldest methods in naming and self-naming among the ethnic groups on the Balkans. On the basis of the linguistic data analysis the main models in creating autonyms and exonyms are outlined, some parallels with family names construction are indicated and the transition possibility between the two categories is discussed.

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