On a first-name basis: Englishization and naming in Flanders

Following and contributing to the ongoing shift from more structuralist, system-oriented to more pragmatic, socio-cultural oriented anglicism research, this paper verifies to what extent the global spread of English affects naming patterns in Flanders. To this end, a diachronic database of first names is constructed, containing the top 75 most popular boy and girl names from 2005 until 2014. In a first step, the etymological background of these names is documented and the evolution in popularity of the English names in the database is tracked. Results reveal no notable surge in the preference for English names. This paper complements these database-driven results with an experimental study, aiming to show how associations through referents are in this case more telling than associations through phonological form (here based on etymology). Focusing on the socio-cultural background of first names in general and of Anglo-American pop culture in particular, the second part of the study specifically reports on results from a survey where participants are asked to name the first three celebrities that leap to mind when hearing a certain first name (e.g. Lana, triggering the response Del Rey). Very clear associations are found between certain first names and specific celebrities from Anglo-American pop culture. Linking back to marketing research and the social turn in onomastics, we will discuss how these celebrities might function as referees, and how social stereotypes surrounding these referees are metonymically attached to their first names. Similar to the country-of-origin-effect in marketing, these metonymical links could very well be the reason why parents select specific “celebrity names”. Although further attitudinal research is needed, this paper supports the importance of including socio-cultural parameters when conducting onomastic research.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) of dentures in long-term care facilities.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The difficulty of identifying the ownership of lost dentures when found is a common and expensive problem in long term care facilities (LTCFs) and hospitals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of using radiofrequency identification (RFID) in the identification of dentures for LTCF residents after 3 and 6 months. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-eight residents of 2 LTCFs in Switzerland agreed to participate after providing informed consent. The tag was programmed with the family and first names of the participants and then inserted in the dentures. After placement of the tag, the information was read. A second and third assessment to review the functioning of the tag occurred at 3 and 6 months, and defective tags (if present) were reported and replaced. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: At the 3-month assessment of 34 residents (63 tags) 1 tag was unreadable and 62 tags (98.2%) were operational. At 6 months, the tags of 27 of the enrolled residents (50 tags) were available for review. No examined tag was defective at this time period. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study (number of patients, 6-month time span) RFID appears to be a reliable method of tracking and identifying dentures, with only 1 of 65 devices being unreadable at 3 months and 100% of 50 initially placed tags being readable at the end of the trial.

Fonthill Literary Journal, Fonthill Grammar School Lyceum, n.d.

The Fonthill Grammar School was established in 1856. The school closed in 1876 when it failed to receive community support for a new building. The editors of the journal were two individuals with the last names Ray, and Wiggins, unfortunately their first names are not included in any of the submissions to the journal.

The importance of being Alfred -- from the king of West Saxons to Nobel

The article appeared in a Festschrift devoted to a distinguished Polish linguist Professor Alfred F. Majewicz. It discusses the Christian name Alfred born by the Jubilarian in its various aspects: its Anglo-Saxon origins, etymology and popularity (past and present) in various European countries, with particular emphasis on Poland. It also presents some famous people, literary characters and pop culture heroes bearing this name.

A dictionary of the law of elections, with the practice from the issuing of the writ to the final decision of the honourable House : comprising all the cases decided, with correct references to the statutes and authorities : extracted from the journals of the House of Commons, the law reports, and the numerous treatises on election laws : with an appendix containing the names of all the boroughs, - when they first returned members - their returning officers - the various rights of voting therein, &c. : the whole alphabetically arranged & carefully digested /

Mode of access: Internet.

A general abridgment of the common law, alphabetically digested under proper titles. With notes and references to the whole. With three tables: the first, of the several titles. The second, of the names of the cases. And the third, of the matter under general heads.

Includes indexes.

Some passages in the history of the First Church in connexion with the Shepard Congregational Society in Cambridge : together with its confession of faith, form of admission, ecclesiastical principles, and rules, and names of members.

Mode of access: Internet.

The East-Haven register : in three parts. Part I. containing a history of the town of East-Haven, from its first settlement in 1644, to the year 1800 ... Part II. Containing an account of the names, marriages and births of the families ... to the year 1800 ... Partr. III. Containing an account of the deaths ... from the year 1647 to ... 1823 /

Mode of access: Internet.

Buchanan's history of Scotland : in twenty books : containing: I. An account of its several situations and the nature of its soil and climate : II. The ancient names, manners, laws, and customs of the country, and what people inhabited the island from the very beginning : III. A chronicle of all its kings from Fergus, the first founder of the Scotish monarchy, to the reign of king James VI. of Scotland, and First of England.

Translation of Rerum Scoticarum historia.

The American universal geography, or, A view of the present state of all the empires, kingdoms, states, and republics in the known world, and of the United States in particular : in two parts, the first part treats of astronomical geography ... the second part describes at large, and from the latest and best authorities, the present state ... : to which are added, an improved catalogue of names and places ... : the whole comprehending a complete and improved system of modern geography, calculated for Americans /

"Illustrated with twenty-eight maps and charts."

Explanation of the views of the Society for Employing the Poor : with the constitution and by-laws; and an extract from the report of the managers, for the first three months, and a list of subscribers' names.

Shoemaker

The true republican : containing the inaugural addresses, together with the first annual addresses and messages of all the presidents of the United States, from 1789 to 1841; together with their farewell addresses and illustrated with the portrait of each of the presidents. To which is annexed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States, with the amendments and signers' names. Also, the constitutions of many of the most important states in the union /

Mode of access: Internet.

The twenty-first book of Livy. With explanatory and grammatical notes and a vocabulary of proper names.

Mode of access: Internet.

The true republican : containing the inaugural addresses, together with the first annual addresses and messages of all the presidents of the United States, from 1789 to 1845 : together with their farewell addresses, and illustrated with the portrait of each of the presidents. To which is annexed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States, with the amendments and signers' names. Also, the constitutions of many of the most important states in the Union. /

Plates unsigned, but originally the work of: Albert Newsam, Augustus Kollner and P.S. Duval?

Historical sketches of Charles the First, Cromwell, Charles the Second, and the principal personages of that period : including the king's trial and execution: to which is annexed an account of the sums exacted by the commonwealth from the royalists, and the names of all those who compounded for their estates; with other scarce documents. Illustrated by fifty lithographic plates.

Mode of access: Internet.