The Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences has just announced that volume 13, Issue 1 of the academic journal, “Problems of Onomastics” (aka Voprosy onomastiki) has just been released. Covering a broad cross-section of onomastic topics, this latest volume contains English-language articles on anthroponyms of Arabic origin in Bashkir ‘Shejere’, commercial names and naming, and naming trends in contemporary Turkey.
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David Almond Fellowships Call for Applications
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics (UK’s Newcastle University) in conjunction with the National Centre for Children’s Books is now accepting applications for this year’s David Almond Fellowships. The purpose of the award is to offer support to researchers interested in using the archival collection of the National Centre for Children’s books. This Collection contains material from over 250 British children’s authors and illustrators from 1930 to today. The final date for applications for this prestigious award is the 1st of December 2016.
Jeff Bezos names big next rocket New Glenn
Jeff Bezos, the Founder, Chair, and CEO of amazon.com, has announced the name of his latest venture. “The New Glenn” is a rocket-powered vehicle being designed to launch satellites and people into the great unknown from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket was named after John Glenn, the first US American to orbit the big blue planet. If all goes according to plan, the first launch will take place before 2020.
Czech Republic officials say country would like to be called ‘Czechia’ instead
In January 1993, the former European country Czechoslovakia was divided in two separate nations. One is called “Slovakia.” What is the name of the other nation? The answer to that question will depend on who you ask. While some people prefer the name “The Czech Republic,” others prefer “Czechland,” “Bohemia,” or the snappy short version, “Czech.” Recently, government officials have tossed yet another onomastic contender into the ring: “Czechia.” Follow this toponymic debate.
Honk if you’re an 8THEIST: how forbidden vanity plates vary by US state
One of the best and safest recreational activities when you find yourself locked in traffic is decoding the names encrypted within the endless sea of technicolor vanity plates in front of you. In many US states across the nation, the creativity of some motorists to come up with eye-catching, unforgettable number-letter combinations seems limitless. But appearances can be deceiving. As Guardian reporter Mona Chalabi reports, many federal courts have tight restrictions on what may and may NOT appear on a license plate.
No Man’s Sky: Of course players are already naming planets ‘Harambe’ and ‘Planet McPlanety Face’
For sci-fy gamers who dream of naming what no one has named before, “No Man’s Sky”, an online space exploration game that was released this August, offers the opportunity to discover and name a seemingly endless supply of virtual planets. Just how many planets are up for grabs? Eighteen quintillion. For those name enthusiasts who also love numbers that would be, more specifically, 18,446,744,073,709,551,616. Ironically, the highly anticipated release of the space exploration had to be delayed several times thanks to an unanticipated legal brawl over who owns the right to the product name “Sky”.
Stalingrad: The fight to restore its heroic name 74 years after its epic battle
In commemoration of one of the bloodiest battles waged during World War II between German and Russian forces, veterans living in the city of Volgograd have begun campaigning to change the city’s moniker back to Stalingrad. The toponym “Stalingrad” met its demise in 1961 under the former Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev. Now, some 80 years after the legendary battle, Russia’s current leaders have expressed their favor with the onomastic back-step in an effort to celebrate the “Great Patriotic War”.
Peta wants Tasmania’s Eggs and Bacon bay changed to Apple and Cherry bay
First-time travelers to Tasmania will discover not only new and unusual flora and fauna. They can also expect to find an unexpected tapestry of relatively unexpected place names. While many of these toponyms are a source of pleasure and pride for native Tasmanians (e.g. Milkshake Hills, Bob’s Knobs, and Nowhere Else), there are a few names that have become the center of considerable pubic controversy. An excellent case in point is the name “Eggs and Bacon Bay.” According to animal rights activists and a few hopeful food nutritionists, it is high time that a more vegan-friendly alternative be found.
New nudibranch species named Moridilla fifo after fly-in fly-out workers
What would YOU call an 8 centimeter (okay, 4 inch), blue-n-orange multi-tentacled sea slug that eats stinging jellyfish found along Western Australia’s ocean waters? That was the question recently posed by the Western Australia Museum and ABC News in a public competition to name the curious creature. After reviewing thousands of onomastic suggestions, the winner of the competition was finally announced. The animal is now called “Mordilla fifo” in honor of the state’s mine workers. Learn more about this underwater species and the onomastic runner-ups.
What it’s like to be called Isis: ‘People ask, where’s your machine gun?’
There was a time, not so very long ago, when the female first name “Isis” was borne with a sense of pride. Today, women and girls who carry the name of this noble ancient Egyptian goddess report that those days are gone. Public outrage towards the similarly named terrorist group has made carrying this name a painful public burden. In a series of interviews conducted for The Guardian, UK journalist, Chitra Ramaswamy, tells readers about victims of this modern onomastic plight.