Proper Names in the Legal Terminology of the English Language

The article deals with the problem of coining terms and nomenclature signs with proper names illustrated by the example of the English language legal terminology. The article begins with the discussion of the problems of intersection of two linguistic areas (those of terminology and onomastics) and differentiation between terms and nomenclature signs. It is observed that linguistic units with proper names possess a cultural specificity in the legal English as compared to the Russian terminological system of law. Linguistic and extra-linguistic factors influencing language units’ formation with the help of proper names in legal English, their structural and semantic specificity are revealed. The latter is considered from the point of view of the two-level semantics of language signs. The authors come to the following conclusions: (1) structural variability of the units under consideration especially strongly manifest in formation of legal nomenclature; (2) systemic linguistic oppositions of terms and nomenclature signs with proper names determine the semantics of these units; (3) the basis of the meaning of a term and a nomenclature sign is a notion, its essential components being included into the definitions; (4) differential semes of the meanings are assigned to the proper name elements of terms; (5) all semes of nomenclature signs with proper names constitute an inseparable whole and are not assigned to any specific elements of these units; (6) the meanings of nomenclature signs with proper names specify those of the terms in the hierarchical structure of the terminological system and in particular legal situations.