Observations on the Linguistic Problem of the Lexical Meaning of a Proper Name

Key words: proper name, signifier, signified, code, toponym, personal name, semantic generation, desemantization The study of semantics is one of the relevant issues of linguistics, and the problem of the lexical meaning of a proper name has been and still remains one of the controversial issues of linguistics. The focus of our article stems from this particular circumstance, in which we examined the controversial problem of the literal meaning of a proper name. The diversity of opinions on this matter can be categorized into three main viewpoints: 1. The rejection of the existence of a literal meaning, 2. The confirmation of the existence of a literal meaning, 3. An attempt to reconcile two points of view, the authors of which try to solve the problem by distinguishing the meaning and significance of the name, considering the latter as the content element of the signifier of a proper name. In the article, we meticulously analyzed linguistic theories related to the issue, categorized them, and presented our position with relevant provisions, which document the meaninglessness of the proper name. Rejecting that approach, we proposed a review of the existing principle of classifying changes in word meaning, supplementing it with two more types: semantic generation of the word and desemantization of the word.