Proper Names: Linguistic Status

Proper names constitute an interface between a language as a system and individual entities such as humans, locations, organizations, business products, or pet animals as reference points in the world. Names have two normal kinds of use: vocative and referential. Names identify individuals, whereas words name classes of entities. The use of names is governed by language-specific subsets of grammatical and pragmatic rules. Additionally, within each language a complex system of protocols governs the ‘correct’ use of personal names.