Presidential races even impact baby names. Babycenter’s recent study found that Clinton is currently influencing baby names more than Trump is.
Call for Papers: HAMSA Journal of Judaic and Islamic Studies special issue on Onomastics of Muslims and Jews
An upcoming issue of the HAMSA Journal of Judaic and Islamic Studies will be devoted to the theme “Onomastics of Muslims and Jews”. In this special issue, articles dealing with diachronic and synchronic variation in the naming patterns of both communities will be presented. The deadline for receipt of manuscripts is the 15th of October 2016. Researchers interested in submitting a contribution for possible publication can find more information, including the call for papers on the HAMSA website.
The New Yorker’s “Name” a Cartoon Contest
Every week, “The New Yorker” runs a cartoon caption contest in which readers are invited to provide a name for an unlabeled cartoon. Finalists for each week are selected by “The New Yorker” staff and the winner is picked by the readers. Interested in throwing your hat into the ring?
People of the Ancient World Conference, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, October 13-15, 2016
From the 13th to 15th of October, an International conference on “People of the Ancient World” will be held at the Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca. The goal of the three-day conference is to bring together researchers whose work focuses on the Greco-Roman world. One of the official themes of the conference will be “Onomastics, naming practices, and name interpretation”. Further information about this conference can be obtained by emailing romans1by1[@]gmail.com.
Symposium of the RITerm2016, Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 18-21, 2016
Lexicographers with a specialization in the terminology of the Iberian Peninsula may be interested in attending the 10th annual symposium of the RITerm2016, which will be held in São Paulo, Brazil from the 18th to the 21st of October 2016. The official contact person for the event is Ieda Maria Alves.
Announcing the LEME Database for Lexicons of Early Modern English
LEME, of the Lexicons of Early Modern English, is a new data-base for researchers interested in historical linguistics. The data-base currently contains more than 750,000 word entries from the years 1480 to 1755. The primary sources used for the digitized compilation include lexicons from the Tudor, Stuart, Caroline, Commonwealth, and Restoration Periods. Users of the LEME can search for entries by date, title, author, subject, and genre.
How to Tell Someone’s Age When All You Know Is Her Name
What does your name tell strangers about your biological age? According to lovers of statistics and onomastics, perhaps more than you might imagine. In this interesting article, Nate Silber and Allison McCann explain how you can tell someone’s age, when all you have is their first name.
2016 Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas, Cambridge, England, September 13-15, 2016
From the 13th to the 15th of September, Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge will be holding its 2016 Colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas. The theme of this year’s colloquium is “Onomastics and its History.” Information on the conference lineup, accommodation, and fees, can be found at the conference website.
About the Designation of Official Names and Proper Names for Certain Biological Products
In the pharmaceutical business, companies hoping to jump on the profit bandwagon of their competitors often release products that have no significant clinical difference to the market leaders. Makers of these “biosimilars” have long argued that their products should be allowed to carry the same generic or non-proprietary names as the name brand leaders. However, many of the major drug franchisors have fought tooth and nail against this practice, claiming territorial rights. Caught in the middle of the billion-dollar onomastic fight has been the US government. Recently, however, the FDA proposed a solution. The generic drug system would be augmented with a random set of four letters. Learn more about the proposed naming rules.
About Names: From first man to sexiest man alive, ‘Adam’ endures
Dr. Cleveland Evans writes about names for the Omaha World-Herald. This week’s column explores Adam.… Read More