Why You Can't Call Animals By Human Names

Why You Can't Call Animals By Human Names
Why You Can't Call Animals By Human Names

Video: Why You Can't Call Animals By Human Names

Video: Why You Can't Call Animals By Human Names
Video: Calling Animals Anything But Their Names (Mndiaye_97 Part 1-6) 2024, March
Anonim

There is such a sign among the people: pets should not be given human names. Despite this unspoken prohibition, you can often hear how the cat is called Vaska, and the dog is called Mishka. So what is the meaning of this prejudice, and what are the arguments "for" and "against".

Why you can't call animals by human names
Why you can't call animals by human names

Historical tradition

In the Russian language, there are norms that separate names into different types. Anthroponyms are the names of people, and zoonyms are the nicknames of animals. It turns out that in the very rules of the Russian language there is a separation of names for animals and humans.

Earlier, when the church had more influence in Russia, it was strictly forbidden to call animals by human names. There is a saint behind every person's name. To give a dog a human name is to offend the heavenly patron.

There is another reason why it is undesirable to give human names to animals. Your family could once have a person with that name and it turns out that you, thus, offend the memory of your ancestors, if you call your kitty Masha, and your yard dog Danka. It turns out that the name of a human name is depreciated and ceases to mean anything.

Ethical side

There is another reason why it is undesirable to give human names to animals. For example, no one is safe from the fact that one day your son or daughter will not bring home his beloved, whose name coincides with the name of your pet, so it is better not to risk it again and call your pets traditional names.

Recommended: