Names and Their Conflict Potential in the Context of Polyonymy: Exonyms and Endonyms as a Manifestation of Language Ideology, on the Example of Slovak and Ukrainian Onymy

Vlastné mená a ich potenciál konfliktu v kontexte viacnázvovosti: Exonymá a endonymá ako prejav jazykovej ideológie na príklade slovenskej a ukrajinskej onymie

Marek ĽUPTÁK

https://doi.org/10.53465/JAP.2025.9788022552806.322-331

 

Abstract: This paper explores the conflict potential of proper names in the context of polyonymy, with a particular focus on the interaction between exonyms and endonyms as manifestations of language ideology. Using examples from Slovak and Ukrainian toponymy, the study demonstrates how geographical names, especially in ethnically or historically multilingual regions, function not only as orientation and identification tools but also as carriers of deeply rooted cultural and ideological meanings. Proper names, encoded through historical language contact, may act as symbolic markers of identity and heritage. In times of political tension, such symbolic value can become a catalyst of conflict, manipulation, or linguistic aggression. Special attention is given to German–Slovak name pairs, which exemplify diachronic and synchronic layers of naming traditions in Slovak toponymy. On this background, the concepts of endonym and exonym are discussed. The analysis further addresses typologies of conflict situations in the proprial sphere, drawing on Šrámek’s classification of extra-linguistic and linguistic triggers. Examples include politically motivated renaming waves in Slovakia (post-1948, post-1989) and the contemporary Ukrainian context, where ideological de-Russification has led to extensive remotivation and renaming of oikonyms and urbanonyms. Ukrainian requests for the international use of transliterated endonyms (Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro) illustrate tensions between traditional Slovak exonyms, often rooted in The conclusion highlights the importance of onymic and onomastic competence in choosing appropriate naming strategies. Communicative context, intentionality, and political sensitivity must be considered to avoid ideologically burdened exonyms and to foster respectful, context-aware language use in potentially conflict-laden discourse.

Keywords: polyonymy, endonym, exonym, conflict potential in the proper sphere of language, renaming in toponymy 

Kľúčové slová: viacnázvovosť, endonymum, exonymum, potenciál konfliktu v propriálnej sfére, premenovávanie v toponymii

Fulltext: PDF

Language of the paper: Slovak

Online publication date: 23 December 2025

Pages: 322 – 331

 

ISBN: 978-80-225-5280-6 (online), 978-80-225-5279-0

ISSN: 2729-8973 (online), 2729-8981

Publisher: Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Vydavateľstvo Ekonóm

 

How to cite this conference proceedings paper (APA 7^th Edition):

Ľupták, M. (2025). Vlastné mená a ich potenciál konfliktu v kontexte viacnázvovosti: Exonymá a endonymá ako prejav jazykovej ideológie na príklade slovenskej a ukrajinskej onymie. In R. Štefančík (Ed.), Jazyk a politika. Na pomedzí lingvistiky a politológie X (pp. 322–331). Vydavateľstvo Ekonóm. https://doi.org/10.53465/JAP.2025.9788022552806.322-331