Dynamics of nomination principles in Moscow Metro stations in lingua-cultural perspective

The authors research into nomination principles of Moscow metro stations in the historical perspective revealing the socio-political background which influenced the initial nomination and re-nomination of the stations later on due to the change of historical conditions in Russia. The empirical database covers more than 260 Moscow metro station names. The authors analyze station names along different axes. In the case of Moscow, the development of the metro is referred to the periodization of the socio-economic national development. Combining these two systems makes it possible to distinguish nomination principles and build their hierarchy in each of the periods, with the special focus on the etymology of station names. Several thematic groups of names are revealed: station names following the geographical principle of nomination (naming after a village used to be located around the place, after a street (square, park, boulevard, etc.) or an institution around the station); names referring to historical figures (war heroes, politicians, writers, key social groups, etc.) or events, as well as names alluding to national values. Changes in metro station names make a special cluster as they reflect shifts in the country’s political environments. In Moscow, the trend to commemorate the country’s revolutionary past, in the long run, gave way to geographical nomination principles. New public transportation circles follow this principle.