THE PHILOLOGICAL VALUE OF PARANDZEM MEYTIKHANYAN‘S WORK "ARMENIAN ONOMASTICON"

The renowned Armenian linguist, Doctor of Philology, and Professor P. Meytikhanyan has dedicated many years to the study of the Armenian anthroponymic system-including first names, surnames, family names, patronymics, nicknames, and pseudonyms. His seminal work "Armenian Onomasticon" (Hayots Anvanarane) stands out for its contemporary relevance and scholarly value within the field of Armenian studies. The book was published by the decision of the Academic Council of the Faculty of Armenian Philology at Yerevan State University. The linguist considers the preservation of Armenian identity and naming tradition-particularly the use of the full name-patronymic-surname structureas a cornerstone of national heritage. She presents essential insights into both Armenian and global naming systems. Alongside theoretical and analytical discussion, the author gives the work encyclopedic significance by summarizing name constructions of prominent figures in Armenian and global cultural, educational, and public spheres. She encourages the preservation of traditional Armenian surname endings-such as -yan, -yants, -uni, -ants, -ents, -onts, and –unts-which have been passed down through centuries. The "Armenian Onomasticon" also includes numerous idiomatic expressions and proverbs involving personal names, as well as various malefemale and same-gender name pairings. It further references the Republic of Armenia‘s law on Civil Status Acts. The aim of this article is to examine P. Meytikhanyan‘s "Armenian Onomasticon", present its structure, analyze the linguistic features of key units within anthroponymic terminology, discuss its main theoretical tenets, and assess the scholarly value of the study.