Functioning of toponyms in Spanish media texts of different themes

This article is dedicated to studying the functioning of toponyms in Spanish media texts from three sections ("World News", "Sports", and "Economics") in leading Spanish newspapers. The aim of the research is to identify the toponymic density and selectivity of Spanish media texts, as well as to describe the characteristics of the functioning of toponymic units in articles of different thematic affiliation. In addition, precedent toponyms are examined. The scientific novelty of the research lies in identifying the correlation between the frequency of toponym classes in media texts of the three sections and their ability to serve as a means of not only primary but also secondary nomination based on metaphorical and metonymic shifts, the prevailing types of the latter varying depending on the affiliation to one or another media topic. The research results indicate that Spanish media texts are characterized by high toponymic density and, simultaneously, toponymic selectivity; certain classes of toponyms possess a richer nominative potential, the realization of which varies in publications of different thematic affiliation, which determines the preference for certain types of metonymic shifts over others.