ONYMS AS A FORMATIVE COMPONENT IN THE PUBLICISM OF ULAS SAMCHUK (Dedicated to the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Ulas Samchuk)

This article is devoted to analyzing the use of onyms in the publicism of Ulas Samchuk. The study is based on his memoir On a White Horse, published in the Bronebiina Publitsystyka series. Given that U. Samchuk’s name was long silenced and his works remain relatively underexplored—particularly from a linguistic perspective—the chosen topic is both relevant and timely. Examining the onymicon in Samchuk’s works not only contributes to a broader understanding of literary onomastics but also deepens our insight into the processes of image formation in his writing. The aim of this study is to identify the specific role of onyms as vivid linguistic and expressive tools in Samchuk’s publicistic legacy. Accordingly, the object of analysis is onyms as components of the onomastic space, while the subject is the particularities of their linguistic function within the publicistic text. A functional-stylistic approach was chosen to analyze the means of artistic onomastics. Various types of onyms—such as toponyms, choronyms, ergonyms, ideonyms, and others—are considered, all skillfully integrated into the narrative fabric of Samchuk’s writing. Drawing on the works of D. Buchko, V. Kalinkin, O. and Yu. Karpenko, M. Torchynsky, and others, the proper names used in the text are systematized and their functional roles defined. The study identifies several key functions of onyms in Samchuk’s writing, including nominative, informative, and ideological roles, along with evaluative, aesthetic, and expressive functions. These findings confirm that proper names serve as a significant stylistic element in his publicistic style. It is established that onyms not only constitute a substantial portion of the lexical inventory of the work but also reflect the writer’s intellectual capacity, broad erudition, and educational background. These observations allow us to assert that onyms are a distinctive feature of Samchuk’s idiostyle in autobiographical publicism, functioning as a vivid and figurative component in his texts. Future research may explore the use of onyms in his other works, expanding the study beyond literary onomastics to include cognitive aspects such as conceptualization and categorization.