Wybrane fonologiczne aspekty nazw geograficznych

Geographical names, including place-names and terrain names, defined as (micro)toponyms, are considered to be a part of cultural heritage of a given geographical region, which results in protection by law (see Monument Protection and Care Act, art. 6.2, Law Gazette of 17 September 2003). They are not only the evidence of relationship between the man (cultural community) and natural environment in which the man exists. Geographical names, contributing to the creation of folk image of the world, are also a source of information about historical landscapes, past environments and cultural processes. The main direction in toponomastic studies is to determine etymology (provenance) and language functions of geographical names. Less attention is devoted to phonological analysis of these names though they belong to sound layer of cultural landscape. It is especially visible in onomatopoeic names illustrating natural sounds of nature. For example in hydronyms (“Szumiąca”, “Szumy”, “Szypoty”), which try to reflect the specificity of water movement in rivers, distinctive consonants are used in Polish: buzzing (“sz”, “ż”, “cz”, “dż”), hissing (“s”, “z”, “c”), and hushing (“ś”, ź”, ć”, “dź”). Also combinations of consonants are used (“szcz”, “ść” or “gż”). Music structure, and especially timbre of sound seem to be the most important morphological factor and element in the names of such kind. Sound layer of geographical names is additionally enriched as a result of using language dialects. Dialect, depending on region and communication groups, causes phonological differentiation of names in respect of such elements of sound (phonological) system as accent, intonation, tone, syllable, foot rhythm, phrase.