De-abbreviations: From Soviet Union to Contemporary Belarus. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Astapova, Anastasiya
• Is Part Of: Names. Volume 61:Number 3(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: abbreviation -- de-abbreviation -- humor -- names in political discourse; Onomastics -- Periodicals; Names -- Periodicals; 929.9705
• DOI: 10.1179/0027773813Z.00000000054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0027-7738

Abstract

Abstract : The article is dedicated to the study of ludic de-abbreviation, backronymization, or, alternatively, humorous decoding of the well-known abbreviations (which usually serve as names for political parties, countries, universities, and so on). A brief survey of the existing research is provided. Then, despite the fact that de-abbreviation was considered characteristic of the Soviet period, now almost extinct, the author focuses on a case study based on contemporary material, which proves that de-abbreviation is still popular and productive for name-giving. As soon as an abbreviation for the name of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, used by the police for safety reasons, appeared in press (2012), it immediately caused dozens of ludic de-abbreviations suggesting alternative names for him. The article focuses on the mechanisms of these renaming de-abbreviations as well as the reasons that caused their peculiarities and multiplicity.