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Dmitriev A.V.

Mechanisms of adaptation of Christian anthroponyms in Votic and Ingrian: a comparative study

DOI
10.5922/2225-5346-2026-1-11
Pages
160-191
anthro­ponymic systems borrowing typology comparative linguistics Fin­nic languages language contact theory linguistic adaptation mor­phological transformation phonological adaptation

Abstract

In modern Finnic onomastics, the study of the pathways and mechanisms through which foreign borrowings are adapted in closely related languages has gained particular signifi­cance. Drawing on material from the Votic and Ingrian anthroponymic systems, this article examines the phonetic and morphological transformation of personal names of Christian origin. The study aims to identify the typological features of adaptation mechanisms and to distinguish between universal and language-specific characteristics in the two languages. An integrated methodological framework is employed, combining comparative-historical analysis, typological methods, and systematic reconstruction. The empirical basis of the research com­prises data from fieldwork, archival sources, and lexicographic materials dating from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The analysis identifies the principal strategies of phono­logical and morphological adaptation of borrowings and determines the dominant models underlying anthroponymic transformation. The findings demonstrate that a substantial pro­portion of Votic and Ingrian personal name forms derive not from canonical Christian names, but from their Russian dialectal variants, highlighting the complex nature of interlingual contact. Differences in the operation of adaptation mechanisms between Votic and Ingrian are shown to stem from the specific phonological and morphological structures of each language. Particular attention is devoted to processes of vocalic and consonantal adaptation, including consonant gemination, palatalization, and epenthesis. Morphological aspects of adaptation are also described, notably the use of the ancient Finnic suffix *-oi and its variants. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of language contact phenomena and may inform efforts aimed at preserving the linguistic heritage of the smaller Finnic peoples.