'FREE MARKS' AND PERSONAL NAMES: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
The article is dedicated to the research of the mark function (marking function) and the ways it is realized in speech. The article defines the terms 'mark' and 'free mark', considers the main characteristics of marks in particular lexical groups, and focuses on the peculiarities of personal names with regard to the mark function. The analysis based on comparing the material from Russian and German allows to reveal similarities and differences of free marks and personal names. The article considers the possibility of referring personal names to the class of marks.