Common Turkic Geographical Terms as the Basis of the Basic Cognitive Model of Karachay-Balkar and Tuvan Toponymy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2026.1.9Abstract
The article analyses Common Turkic geographical terminology in the Karachay-Balkar and Tuvan languages. A study of dictionary definitions is carried out, the etymologies of certain lexical units are examined, and the conceptual, integral and differential cognitive features of geographical terms are identified. Based on the integral features “convex”, “concave” and “flat”, orographic and hydronymic appellatives are for the first time systematised and described as universal components of the basic cognitive model of Karachay-Balkar and Tuvan toponymy. Differential features have made it possible to refine and expand their semantic characteristics.
As a result of cognitive-matrix analysis, zher/ cher ‘earth’ is defined as the core, the relief of the earth’s surface as the internal cognitive context, and water bodies as the external cognitive context. Taken together, they reflect the landscape features of the territories inhabited by the ethnoses and express the basic knowledge of the Karachays, Balkars and Tuvans about the physical characteristics of geographical objects. It is shown that the Karachay-Balkar and Tuvan toponymic strata contain both originally Turkic and narrowly local geographical terms, determined natural objects are perceived, their diversity and the degree of their distribution over a vast territory.
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For citation:
Bashieva S. K. and Suvandii N. D. Common Turkic Geographical Terms as the Basis of the Basic Cognitive Model of Karachay-Balkar and Tuvan Toponymy. New Research of Tuva, 2026, no. 1, pp. 166-178 (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2026.1.9
Author Biographies
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Svetlana K. Bashieva Kh. M. Berbekov Kabardino-Balkarian State University
Doctor of Philology, Professor, Department of Russian Language and General Linguistics, Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh. M. Berbekov.
Postal address: 173 Chernyshevskogo St., 360004, Nalchik, Russian Federation.
E-mail: bfo-pdo@mail.ru
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Nadezhda D. Suvandii Tuvan State University
Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor, Head, Laboratory of Ethnology and Linguoculturology; Dean, Philological Faculty, Tuvan State University.
Postal address: 9B Mongush Sat St., 667010, Kyzyl, Russian Federation.
E-mail: suvandiin@mail.ru
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