EN
The author, departing from his research of minor place-names in Hošťálkovice (since 1976 a part of the city of Ostrava), tries to determine the causes of the reduction of the number of minor place-names. The process of reduction can be explained due to the changes in orientation of inhabitants, „technical“ changes of the old structure of minor place-names connected with collectivisation of the land, and also general urbanisation of the original rural life in the investigated locality. As a result of this, an active tier and a passive tier of names come into existence within the system of minor place-names; these layers have functions of central and peripheral phenomena. Names that are going out of use start to take over a value of a historical evidence. The traditional repertory of minor place-names is compared with the names that are still actively used by the young generation at present. The investigation of disappearance of the minor place-names shall require a detailed research (belonging also in the field of psycho-onomastics).