Psaní velkých písmen v tzv. druhové složce pojmenování

This paper deals with the capitalization in Czech (in one of its functions, specifically signalling the proprial status of particular language item). In the first, general part, a new approach is proposed which, as it is argued here, may serve as theoretical background for the description of the rules of (Czech) capitalization more effectively than the traditional approach based on the somewhat uncertain definition "being the part or proper noun". Each naming item (řeka Labe) is divided into two components: the so-called generic component, which serves as a description of the type of the object being referred to (řeka ‘river’) within the naming item and the so-called proprial component, i.e. the proper name itself ascribed to this particular object (Labe). In the second, practical part, applications and advantages of this approach are demonstrated using the example of capitalization description in the so-called generic component of the naming item.