“A Town with Two Names”: A Historical Oikonym in Modern Context (The Case of the Town of Pokrovsk/Engels)

The article uses the example of town Engels (Saratov Region) to explore case duplicate naming in local usage, i.e. use historical oikonym Pokrovsk (until 1931) and its derivatives along with official name or instead it. author showcases that speech, has become a living alternative used almost every sphere except business documentation. At same time, there are some testimonies gradual demarcation language contexts associated old derivatives. Until mid-1990s, adjective pokrovskii were regarded nearly as equivalents corresponding names. Currently, their is confined Russian Orthodox circles (due religious origins derived from Pokrov ‘the Intercession Theotokos’ — an holiday). Apart that, pokrovsk- component can occur proper names, mainly commercial (names entities products) cultural holidays) types. Other usage cases refer mass media urban naming. Meanwhile, demonym pokrovchane, which Soviet period was only limited contexts, reclaimed positions 1990s. it widely press everyday being more popular than formal variant engelsity (and even less frequent engelsites, engelstsy, engel(s)chane). reason why pokrovchane proved usable lies both inconsistency variability Engels-based demonyms mid-20th early 21st centuries. also addresses “hybrid” new oikonyms combined: Pokrovsk-Engels (Engels-Pokrovsk) mentioned onyms (city’s holiday celebrations, events, history, etc.). prepared under RANEPA state assignment research program.