Surnames and values from the perspective of universal perceptual-adaptive mechanisms: Remarks on the Iza Matusiak-Kempa’s “Nomen omen. Studium antroponimiczno-aksjologiczne”

Abstract

This review article surveys and comments on the key issues discussed in Iza Matusiak-Kempa’s monograph “Nomen omen. Studium antroponimiczno-aksjologiczne”. The monograph is a solid diachronic axiolinguistic analysis of over two thousand Polish surnames based on common nouns, considered in the axiological context. The analysis of the data leads one to identify how physical or psychological aspects of humans are conceptualized: these aspects are connected with values, which can be desirable or undesirable from the perspective of biologically and socially determined social needs. Those needs, in turn, may be linked with the colloquial knowledge of the world, pragmatic and adaptive approach to reality, and with the universal mechanisms of perception and nomination. A big advantage of the book is its interdisciplinary character. The author locates her reflection on antroponymy in research procedures based on a dialogue between linguistic description (with its focus on the conceptual system and the language of values) and other disciplines, normally rather distant from traditional onomastics (sociobiology; evolutionary, social, and cognitive psychology; anthropology, etc.). This is a very good example of how Edward O. Wilson’s idea of consilience can be realized in onomastic, or generally in linguistic research: solutions are sought through an integration of the humanities, social sciences, and biological sciences. This review article ends with a positive evaluation of the monograph.