Determinatives in the Toponymy of the Kungrad District

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive study of the role of national geographical terms (determinatives) within the lexico-semantic structure of the toponymy of the Kungrad district. The research defines the terminological status of toponym-forming components, their classification, and their significance within the naming system. During the study, an etymological analysis was conducted on determinatives used in naming water bodies, relief forms, and settlements in the region (e.g., abat, awyl, bulaq, darya, jhap, jhol, kol, qudyq, oba, ozek, say, taw, terek, tumsyq, shynyraw). The author emphasizes the decisive role of the region's natural and landscape features in shaping the toponymic system. Furthermore, the linguistic nature of specific determinatives unique to the Ustyurt Plateau (such as qulaw, sholaq, shynyraw) is revealed. The results of the article demonstrate that toponyms are closely linked not only to linguistics but also to the traditional lifestyle of the people, irrigation history, and geographical perception. The work is scientifically grounded by comparing the functions of toponymic formants in both universal and local contexts.