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ETHNOTOPONYMS WITH UZBEK FORMANTS
Maftuna Zoir kizi Safarova
Teacher of Bukhara State University Bukhara, Uzbekistan
+998505158558
Abstract.
This article analyzes the morphemic characteristics of ethnonym-based toponyms
found in the Bukhara region, and shows the specific features of the formants in the toponyms.
Pure Turkic names and the Uzbek formants in them are analyzed.
Keywords:
ethnonym, toponym, ethnotoponym, name, formant, affix, Turkic language, Uzbek
name.
It is known that most of the ethnonyms in the Uzbek language lexicon were formed with the
help of Uzbek affixes. This is one of the peculiarities of toponymy. There are such ethnonyms,
consisting of a Turkic base and an affix, which serve to preserve purely Turkic words. Because,
Uzbek formants are present in the composition of Turkic ethnonyms:
-li formant. This affix is actively used in the Uzbek language as an adjective. M. Koshgari
called it an ancient adjective-forming affix [1; 435-437]. -li is considered a historical affix and
serves to indicate ownership of the object translated from the word, the profession of a person,
and belonging to a certain region. In some sources it is also mentioned as a morpheme that
forms relative nouns. A.N. Kononov, stating that the -li suffix is historically independent,
does not agree with A.N. Baskakov's views on the genetics of this affix. In the Turkic language,
the -lu variant of this suffix also exists [1; 72]. The -li suffix in the modern Uzbek language is
considered one of the most productive suffixes and in toponymy it forms ethnonyms from
nouns or adjectives. Ethnonyms and ethnotoponyms created with the help of this addition
express the following meanings in the modern Uzbek language:
1) A sign derived from the main ethnonym, meaning possession of a feature: such as Korali.
2) An object derived from the main ethnonym, meaning possession of an event: such as Kesakli,
Jiydali, Qamishli, Kundali, Sandikli, Ilonli, Chowli.
In addition, there are many place names that are important for Uzbek ethnotoponymy, such as
Taraqli, Bolgali, So'lakli, Qaraqo'li, Boyli, Kangli, Kanjigali, Achamayli, Oytamgali,
Qoshtamgali, Yuqori Qoshtamgali, which we did not encounter in the region. Because this
process is related to historical and political processes. However, it is clear that the -li affix is
important for toponymy. For example, the ethnotoponym Ilonli (there is a village of the
same name in the Karakol district) was also formed using the -li affix. The Ilonli - Ilonli -
Jilonli clans of many Uzbeks are recorded. There is an Ilonli - Jilonli clan in the Dormons of
Tajikistan. Kh. Doniyarov indicates that Ilonli (Ilonsoy) is one of the main Uzbek clans. This
ethnonym exists in a number of Turkic peoples. For example, among the Bashkirs, it is Elon,
Ilan. The snake is a totem, on this basis the clan was named, and place names arose from the
ethnonym [4; 84]. Thus, the -li form is added to the root of the ethnonym, expressing the
meaning of ownership of a thing, event, or characteristic.
-lik//-liq form. It is considered a very ancient suffix for Turkic languages. M. Kashgari shows
this affix as an adjective and noun-forming [3; 437]. A. Sherbak noted that in the language of
Turkic written monuments this suffix was used to form the names of objects, abstract nouns,
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words denoting place and measure, and lexemes denoting a person's occupation and position. In
the current Uzbek literary language, we can see that this suffix is mainly used to form
nouns. The fact that this suffix has existed in Turkic languages since ancient times and was
used to form ethnonyms with a Turkic basis can be seen from the fact that it has been preserved
in ethnotoponyms. Because the name of the ethnonym has become the name of the territory
where they lived. For example, Korlyk, Teraklik.
Abulgazi Bakhodirkhan mentioned that the Qarlyks were named after a group of people who
did not return from hunting and later dispersed from the lands they were found by the people [2;
40]. This is an idea based on folk etymology. In fact, the Qarlyks are considered a branch of the
Turkic peoples [5; 55]. M. Kashgari, on the other hand, presents the Qarlyks as a group of
Turkmens [3; 439]. From this it is clear that the word is both adjectival and very ancient.
Thus, the affixes -lik//-liq were used in ethnonyms to indicate the presence of a certain name,
the origin of the population, and in this regard, they actively participated in the formation of
ethnonyms. There are ethnonym-based toponyms formed with the help of this addition in the
region: Beglik (Shafirkon district), Kichik Karshiliklar (Shafirkon district), Karshilik (Kogon
district), Teraklik (Vobkent district), Qorlik (Olot district), etc.
-lar form. This ancient suffix served to express excess, abundance of quantity in Turkic
languages, and in the current Uzbek literary language, in addition to these meanings, it also
expresses the meanings of exaggeration, respect, and scorn. This form has been widely studied
in linguistics, and A. Kononov expressed his opinion on its formation. In addition, G.
Abdurakhmanov, Sh. Shukurov [1; 28] also discussed in detail the features of the -lar affix.
In addition to the above-listed semantic functions of the -lar form, it also serves to form
toponyms. Most ethnonyms were formed with the help of the -lar affix and migrated to the
toponym. The toponymist scientist S. Korayev listed the functions of this affix in the
composition of toponyms, giving as examples ethnonyms such as Echkilar, Qargalar, Shagallar.
It should be emphasized that the -lar affix in ethnotoponyms does not express meanings such as
plurality or excess of quantity, but rather identifies a specific ethnic group and its area of
residence. In particular, among the ethnotoponyms collected in the territory of the Bukhara
region, one can find many place names formed with the addition of -lar: Arabs (Vobkent,
Zhandor, Gijduvan, Shofirkan, Peshko, Romitan districts), Beklar (Kogon, Zhandor, Alot,
Shofirkan districts), Kyrgyz (Gijduvan district), Kirqlar (Romitan district), Lo'lilar (Bukhara
city), Marvilar (Vobkent district), Mangitlar (Peshko t.), Mings (Romitan, Vobkent districts),
Sarays (Shofirkon t.), Turks (Bukhara t.), Turkmens (G'iduvon t.), Khojas (Romitan t.), Sheikhs
(Bukhara t.), Sheraks (Olot t.), Shekhs (Bukhara district), Eshmats (Kogon district), Eshans
(Vobkent district), Jews (Bukhara district), etc.
So, since ancient times, the -lar affix has been used to form ethnonyms. We analyzed this issue
using the example of ethnotoponyms. As a result of the analysis, we have witnessed that, due to
the fact that the Bukhara region is one of the ancient cities, a large number of ethnonyms
formed on the basis of the -lar suffix, that is, created with the help of Uzbek affixes, have been
preserved as place names.
-cha formant. This suffix has the properties of formation, word modification, and form
formation. The -cha suffix expresses the smallness, lack, delicacy of the object, the positive or
negative assessment of the object, and a subjective assessment of the object by evoking an idea
about it [5; 98], a number of ethnotoponyms were created from the original Turkic ethnonyms
using this compound: Qongirotcha (Gijduvon district), Saroydeycha (Romitan district),
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Saroycha (Romitan, Peshko districts), Chandircha (Shofirkon district), Alelicha (Zhondor
district), etc.
-chi form. In “Devonu Lugotit Turk” it is mentioned that in Turkic languages it is an affix
used for nouns [3; 467-468]. In Sherbak’s studies, it expresses a profession, the name of a
person who is inclined to a certain noun, and the name of a tool that serves to implement an
action. A. Turobov also emphasizes the activity of the -chi affix in the composition of
toponyms, noting that the -chi suffix plays a significant role in the formation of new words in
the modern Uzbek literary language, and that there are controversial opinions about its function
and meaning: “This affix is mainly considered a noun-forming affix. However, despite this,
it is also used in the formation of adjectives.” Therefore, the etymology of the -chi suffix was
discussed by such linguists as N.F. Katanov, S. Brockelman, and N.A. Baskakov [5; 96]. The -
chi suffix actively participates in the formation of ethnonyms that enrich the vocabulary of the
Uzbek language. In particular, more than 20 ethnonyms in the ethnotoponyms of the Bukhara
region were formed with the help of the -chi suffix.
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