EXONYMS Meaning and
Definition
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Exonyms are linguistic terms commonly used in the field of onomastics, which refers to the study of proper names. Specifically, exonyms refer to names used by a particular group or community to refer to places, individuals, or cultural phenomena that are located outside their own territory or culture. Unlike endonyms, which are the names used by the people or inhabitants of a particular place to refer to themselves or their own land, exonyms are labels assigned to foreign or distant locations.
Exonyms are often linguistic adaptations or translations of the original or endonymic names. They may reflect the perceivable characteristics or attributes of the place or person, borrow from the local language, or form an entirely new name based on cultural interpretations or historical events. For instance, the name "Germany" is commonly used in the English language as an exonym for the country known as "Deutschland" in German.
The use of exonyms allows individuals or communities to communicate and refer to foreign places more easily, particularly when there is limited familiarity with the local language or cultures. Exonyms are influenced by historical, trade, colonial, or immigration factors, and their adoption generally stems from the need for communication and identification across different linguistic and cultural barriers.
In summary, exonyms are names used by one culture or community to refer to people, places, or cultural aspects of another culture or community. They facilitate cross-cultural communication and understanding, acting as linguistic bridges between different groups and their territories.
Etymology of EXONYMS
The word exonym has a Greek origin. It comes from the combination of two Greek roots: exo, meaning outside or external, and onyma, meaning name. So, the word exonym literally translates to external name or name given by others.
