Eflection Of Hyponym-Equinymic Relationship Of Zoological Terms In The Avar Toponymy

Abstract

Zoological terms in toponyms contain words that have a common semantic part, the so-called equonyms that exist in the Avar toponymy in hyper-hyponymic relationships. The article describes their ways of expression in microtoponymy, touches on the issues of interaction between proper names and appellatives, semantics and the functioning of toponyms in hyperonymic-equonimical relations. Zoonyms function as part of toponyms and as mono-lexical toponyms. In the studied layer of vocabulary, there is a close relationship and interpenetration of the lexical and grammatical levels. Zoological terms and toponyms with their participation indicate that almost the entire vocabulary of the language, which makes up its basic vocabulary, is used to name local objects. The study analyzes the toponymic material of the Avar, Andean languages belonging to the Avaro-Andean group of Dagestan languages, in which we consider the equonyms within the framework of semantic microstructures. The topographic names and microtoponyms reflecting the hyponymic-equonymic relations in zoological terms collected by the authors in several regions of the Republic of Dagestan, which are considered at the formal and semantic levels, served as practical language research material; analysis of its functional properties and a systematic description of certain narrowlyastic vocabulary of a certain region. The current stage of development of world science is characterized by the most intensive development of those areas and sections that occupy a borderline position, i.e. combine elements and methodology of several scientific areas at the junction of which they arose.

Keywords: Semantics of a toponymhyperonymhyponymequonymgeographical termszoological terms

Introduction

Geographical names, first of all, are units of language, therefore they are included in the sphere of interests of linguistics. And as part of it they are designated by the terms “toponyms, microtoponyms” (Nikonov, 1964). A certain typology is observed in reflecting the realities in the foundations of toponyms, the inclusion of anthroponyms, designations of professions, objects of material and spiritual culture, numbers, names of plants and animals, etc., and their reflection on the semantic level (Murzaev, 1976; Popov, 1965). Semantic relations can be synonymous, antonymic, and equonymic (father – mother, words that have a common semantic part), gender-labeled or hyper-hyponymic (parent – hyperonym, mother, father – hyponyms) (Nikitin, 2007) “Hyponyms, logically subordinate to the same hyperonym, appear in relation to each other as cohyonyms ...” (Nikonov, 1964, p. 110). “The semantic relationship of cohyponyms is the relation of elements of one class; hyponyms include the semantic content of the hyperonym and are contrasted with the corresponding differential sems” (LED, 1998, p. 432).

Problem Statement

Equonyms in the toponymy of Dagestan are considered as a special toponymic picture of the world. The scientific novelty of the study is represented though the combination in it of the representation of the mental and ontological being of the toponymic system, the analysis of its functional properties and the systematic description of certain narrowly monastic vocabulary of a certain region. “Equonyms are words of one level of generalization with a common hyperonym – the name of the concept of a generic character. Equonim is a concept and its name expressing in relation to other concepts and names of the same level of generalization in a non-hierarchical system” (Nikitin, 2007, p. 501). Equonim and equimony are concepts of the functional-semantic plan of vocabulary units. Equonima are considered by us within the framework of semantic microstructures. Therefore, they are on the same functional and semantic level with the phenomena of synonymy, on a par with the opposites – antonyms and conversions. The character of the lexical-semantic microstructure of equimony is explained by the fact that it is represented by a collection of words united by systemic relations.

Research Questions

The subject of the research is the semantic-linguistic features of the toponyms in Dagestan in the areas of residence of the Avars and Andians. Regional toponyms in various studies are investigated mainly by the traditional approach, i.e. in the system of linguistic disciplines. We consider the subject of research from the point of view of the history of the emergence of a toponym, its etymology, distribution area, lexical-semantic classification and structural-derivational characteristics – any proper name (toponym). It should be noted that some of the local semantic relations, such as synonymy, antonymy, and convertibility, are well known and constitute a subject of extensive literature, while others, such as equonymy, are little known and poorly studied. Brief information on this phenomenon is contained in the works of Nikitin (2007), where it is noted that equonyms are hyponyms of the same level of generalization taken in relation to each other. So, the names (words) “father”, “mother” are hyponyms relative to the hyperonym “parent”; the same names with respect to each other are equimony. Equonimia is a semantic connection between names (words) – equimony. The meanings of equimony have a common semantic connection, meaningfully equal to their closest hyperonym and constituting a hypersem of their intensions (Nikitin, 2007).

Purpose of the Study

The aim of this study is the analysis, description and preparation of material for the vocabulary representation of the semantic-linguistic features of the toponymic system of Dagestan, presented on the example of the Avar and Andean languages. Equimony and equonymy are closely interconnected with the phenomena of hyponyms – words or phrases of a specific, more special meaning with respect to a word or phrase of a generic, more generalized meaning, as well as hyperonyms – words or phrases with a generic, more general meaning with respect to words and phrases of a species, less generalized meaning. In equonimical relations, on the contrary each dependent member is semantically equal to the dominant member of the paradigmatic series. So for example, the bogon “pig” is the dominant member of the equonimical series in relation to its dependent members – hababanbolon “boar-hog” – bichinbolon “boar” – cItsIvabolon “sow”, bolognonchin “piglet”. This indicates that between the dominant and dependent members of the equonymic paradigm, a functional-semantic community is revealed, rather than isolation, which cannot be said about the relationship between the dominant and dependent members of the patronymic paradigm: Болъонихъвай – “the path along which the pigs walk”, Болъонал унеб нух – “The path along which the pigs walk”, Болъонил кIкIал – “the gorge where wild boars live”, Хъабанболъон кIанцIулеб хур – “the field in which there is a wild boar”, БолъонитIанчIи кIанцIулеб ах – "the garden in which there are piglets, "etc. Toponyms reflect the relationship of man to nature that has developed over a long historical period. But the main methods of our research are linguistic: etymological, formant and word-formation and semantic analysis of toponyms (Tagirova & Khalilov, 2018).

Research Methods

When investigating the issue in addition to general scientific research methods, the method is a descriptive one. The geographical method of toponymic research is based on the use of popular geographic terms.

The cartographic method is used to establish patterns of placement of toponymic phenomena, the dynamics of their development in time, spatial relationships and dependencies, both between individual toponymic facts, and between them and various kinds of social and natural realities reflected on maps. A full description and analysis of toponymic facts cannot be carried out not using of historical research methods. Toponyms reflect the relationship of man to nature that has developed over a long historical period. But the main methods of our research are linguistic: etymological, formant and word-formation and semantic analysis of toponyms (Tagirova & Khalilov, 2018).

Findings

The names of the representatives of the animal world function either as parts of toponyms (joining the geographical terms characteristic of the Avar toponymy), or as mono-lexical toponyms (Otsomieva-Tagirova, 2014; Popov, 1965). Zoonyms are one of the important layers of the vocabulary of each language, which mainly deals with the terms of livestock, poultry, etc.

In the Avar language, the concept of "cattle" is expressed in a lexical way – гIачи, i.e. a lexical unit that functions as a hyperonym – a generic name for the word “cow” – гIака, оц//уц“bull”. The lexical units of гIака, оц//уц, гIачIар, баси, кIийдажо// кIийлбаси, лъайдажо// лъайдабаси, бече are hyponyms in relation to the lexeme-hyperonym гIачи meaning "cows // cattle". Between hyponymic tokens there are cohyponymic relationships. In turn, гIака – оц//уц; гIачIар – баси; кIийдажо// кIийлбаси, лъайдажо// лъайдабаси – бече are equimony in relation to each other and to each other. In the Avar language there is also the word buga in the meaning "cattle, a bull for insemination, launched into a herd" (Tagirova, 2010).

The names of cattle are widely used in the formation of Avar place names: ГIачязул нух // ГIачинух – “cow road // path”, ГIачиракъада – “the place where cattle stops”, ГIачикъоро – “the place where cattle are closed”, ГIачиягохI – “the hill where cattle is grazed”, ГIачи гъолеб бакI – "the place where the flock is driven ”, Бугъи щоб -“the ridge on which the inseminating bulls graze”, Оцазул хъвай – "the bull's path”, Оцолъ рохь – “bull forest ”, ГIучIрул гъолебакI – “the place where young cows are sent to graze // females- young growth”, Баси нохъо – "cave for the bulls ”, Оцониб – “the area where the bulls graze”, Бачазул щоб – “calf hill”, Бачибокь – “calf barn”, Бачал гъоли нохъо – “cave where calves are driven”, БачикIкIал – “the gorge where calves are grazed”, Бачи гъоле бакI -“place where calves are driven”, Бачазул нохъо -“cave of calves", etc.

On the basis of the lexemes гIи “a herd of sheep // sheep” and цIцIани “a herd of goats” form a cohyponymic relationship. Equonims are: гIи -“sheep flock”, куй – “wether”, чахъу – “sheep”, кьегIер – “lamb”, дегIен "goat", цIцIе "she-goat", бурутI – "goat". In the microtoponyms of the Khunzakh, Kazbekovsky, Gumbetovsky districts, a rather large number of names are found: ГIангусаби – “the place where animals graze with cropped ears”, ГIи чурулякI – “the place where the sheep bathe”, ГIиял нохъо – “sheep cave // cave-sheep paddock”, ГIиябокь – “sheep crib”, Куйдузул парас “the gorge where the sheep graze", Куйдузул нохъо "the cave of the wethers", ЦIцIани хьихьулеб мархьу – “a farm where goats are kept”, ЦIцIаназул къайи – “the goat’s tract”, ЦIцIаналъ рохь – “forest where the goats graze”, ЦIантIада магIарда рохь – “forest on the mountain, where goat gaze", БуртIал тIамулеб нохъо – "goat cave”, – ИнчIи тIамулеб нохъо – “Cave of the young” (Geographic appellatives in Avar place names and hydronyms, 2008).

In some Avar areas where wild animals are found that have their own special names, which are not found in other dialects of the Avar language. For example, the names of game species (бис “tur-male”, сум “tur-female”, рочдооц – “deer – male, literally deer bull”, рочдогIака “deer-female, she-deer, literally deer cow”, багIнас “one of the species wild goats with hairy horns ”, бел- another type of wild goat) influenced the formation of toponyms of the area of this region. There are names of tracts associated with the habitat of these animals: Чанди мегIер – “the mountain of wild goats”, Биси кIкIал “tur precipice”, Биси нохъо “tur cave” -БагIнасил кьуро -“the rock of wild goats”, Лъунка хIор – “the lake where saigas come” (Geographic appeals ...) etc.

The lexeme of хIама – "donkey" in functional-semantic terms is considered as a hyperonym, and the lexeme of кIерт – "foal" is considered a hyponym. The donkey, as a functional semantic core word, has the echonyms of the genesis value of бихьинхIама – “male donkey”, цIухIама – “female donkey//she-donkey”: ХIамакъикь – “the place where donkeys come”, ХIаминухикь – “under the donkey trail”, ХIавл гъолиякI – “where donkeys are sent to graze”, ХIайнохъо – “donkey cave”, ХIамузул нухда – “on the way of donkeys”, ХIамул гъоле бакI – “the place where donkeys are driven", ХIамул герегараб къай – “the farm from which donkeys rolled”, – ЦIцIухIавл гъоле кIкIал – “the gorge where donkeys are driven”, КIуртузул авлахъ – “Plain // steppe for colts”.

On the basis of the names of individual animals in the Avar language, the names of some toponymic areas are formed, for example, чу – “horse” – чуял “horses” and its hyponym and equonym of гIала “mare”, тайи -“foal”, which are formed on the basis of the addition of geographical terms: Чуял xвараб нохъо – “the cave in which horses died”, Чолбокь – “the Stable”, Чуязул кIкIал – “the gorge of horses”, or “Gorge where horse herds grazed”, Чуязул харибакI – “horse pasture”, ГIала гIанкъулеб хIор – "the lake where a mare is sinking", ТайикIкIал – "the gorge, where foals are driven", Тайилъ рохь – "forest of foals ", Тайилъ кьуру – "Rock of foals", Тайилъ – "the place where foals graze."

Among the geographical names there are also names that are in the nature of Avar place names. Their common hyperonym is чан which means beast, game: Чанасвери (hares, wolves, foxes, and wild boars) – “the area where the game is found”, Чанасвериб хIор – “the lake is on the side where the game is found”, Чандириб рохь – “the forest where the game is found”. Wild animals live far from the human settlement (Superanskaya, 1957), from which the following hyperonyms and their equonymic relationships are formed:

  • Царагванда – “fox hole”, Царанохъо – “fox cave”, Царал хъвавул рагIал – “the edge at the fox hole//the edge along which there is a fox trail”;

  • Цидул мегIер – “bear mountain”, Цидул хъвай – “bear path”;

  • The so-called “wolf places” are often found in Avar place names: БацIикула – "wolf farm", БацIил рохь – "wolf forest", БацIикIкIал – "wolf gorge". БацI тIамули кIкIал – "the gorge where the wolf is trapped";

  • In the microtoponymy of the Avar regions, constructions with the hyperonym of гьой – “dog” are also often found: Гьай рехули гIерекъ – “the place where dogs are thrown”, Гьаби рехулеб кьуро – “the rock from which dogs are thrown”, Гьве рехуле кIкIал – “the gorge where dogs are thrown”, ГьабикIкIал – “the gorge of dogs”, Гьой кколеб гIус – “the rock on which the dog was caught", Гважи чIвалеб кIкIал -"the gorge where a she-dog is killed".

Another species of animal that is quite common in microtoponymy is the гIанкI – “hare”. The equimony of this hyperonym comcluded between complex words, the paradigmatic row of which is of a functional and semantic nature, in which the generic meaning is represented as гIанкI – “hare”, рукъалъул гIанкI – “rabbit (domestic)”, гIалхул гIанкI – “rabbit (wild)”, бихьингIанкI – “a male rabbit"- цIуяб гIанкI // цIцIугIанкI", a female rabbit", гIанкIитIинчI – "a baby rabbit": ГIанкIи хъещтIеро – "hare skating rink", ГIанкIи къорихъ -“at the hare’s hole”, ГIанкIазул тIалалъ кьуру – “the rock on the hare plateau”, ГIанкIазул тIалалъ – “on the hare’s plateau”, ГIанкIирохь – “the forest where hares live".

There are also microtopic names with the lexeme of хIинчI -“bird”, which, as a functional-semantic core word, has the following hyperonyms: хIинчI – “bird”, гIанкIвал – “hens”, микки – “pigeon”, цIум -“eagle”, гагу – “cuckoo”, мокъокъ – “partridge”, милъирщу "swallow", etc.: ХIанчIи мегIер – "bird mountain";

The paradigm of the гIанкIвал -"chicken" hyperonym is symmetrical: хIелеко – "rooster//" male bird", гIанкIо – "hen//female bird", гIанкIодал тIинчI // гIанкIудатIинчI – "chicken// chick": ГIанкIвал рукIуне кIкIал – “the gorge where there are chickens”, Маккикъор – “the cave-pigeon nests”, Макканохъо – “the pigeon cave”, Маккал чIоли гохI – “the hill where pigeons fly”, Макказул нохъо – “the cave of pigeons”, Макказул иццахъ кьуру – "the rock by the pigeon spring ". ЦIум – “eagle”, which was once so widespread in the North Caucasus that it received the status of a “national” bird – a symbol of Dagestan and is imprinted in the state emblem, is found in the names: ЦIуал чIчIоле гохI – “the hill where the eagle flies”, ЦIуал коли гохI (цIум) – “the hill where eagles are caught”, ЦIцIумалазул нохъо – “eagle cave”, ЦIудукь хурзал – “fields under the eagles”, ЦIумал чIоле гохI – "the hill where eagles are seated", ЦIцIудукIкIал – “eagles gorge", ЦIум чIчIолеб гохI – “the hill on which the eagle sits”, ЦIцIудухIор – “eagle lake”. From toponyms you can find out about the presence in a particular area of various species of birds, whose names are given to many objects: Гагудал гохI – “cuckoo hill”, ХIанчIчIил кIкIал -“bird's gorge”, ЦIум гохI – “hill of the eagle”, Мокъокъил бал – “partridge crest”, Милъирщудул ицц – “swallow spring”, ЦIцIумагъудазул гохI – "the hill of Alp daw", Гагуду ицц – "cuckoo spring", ГъадихIинчIалъуб хурзал – “fields of the ravens”, Рузазул кIкIал – “the gorge of owls” (Tagirova, 2010).

Conclusion

From a comparative analysis of various forms of microtoponyms – words, complex words and phrases, it turned out that the names of animals are one of the thematic layers of the dictionary, semantic microstructures, which expand due to some natural and social phenomena, one of which is the so-called equimony.

Becoming a part of onomastic series, zoonyms contribute to the consolidation of interesting, distinctive words related to the history of the people.

Guided by the above prerequisites in determining the categorical status of the zoononymous vocabulary of the studied language, we attribute this layer of lexicon to lexical categories. Moreover, we are based on the following criteria: I) as a nucleus in zoononyms their hyperonyms appear; 2) this categorical concept receives its means of expression at various levels of the linguistic hierarchy; 3) the concept of hyponymy and equonymy is included in the main lexical and grammatical categories of words.

Thus, in the Avar language of the whole variety of names associated with zoonyms. there is a picture of their widespread use as sources of microtoponymic names. This allows us to judge zoonyms as material around which various new lexical units are built (Murzaev, 1976; Otsomieva-Tagirova, 2014; Tagirova & Khalilov, 2018).

From the foregoing, it is clear that geographical names do not arise by chance: noting certain features of the relief and nature, people who lived nearby called them, emphasizing the characteristic features (Murzaev, 1974). Many Avar place names are appellatives in which the names of animals and birds form a biological (more precisely zoological) system of terms.

References

Copyright information

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

About this article

Publication Date

31 October 2020

eBook ISBN

978-1-80296-091-4

Publisher

European Publisher

Volume

92

Print ISBN (optional)

-

Edition Number

1st Edition

Pages

1-3929

Subjects

Sociolinguistics, linguistics, semantics, discourse analysis, translation, interpretation

Cite this article as:

Otsomieva-Tagirova, Z. M., & Omarova, Z. S. (2020). Eflection Of Hyponym-Equinymic Relationship Of Zoological Terms In The Avar Toponymy. In D. K. Bataev (Ed.), Social and Cultural Transformations in the Context of Modern Globalism» Dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Turkayev Hassan Vakhitovich, vol 92. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences (pp. 860-866). European Publisher. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2020.10.05.115