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THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF PHYTONYMS IN WORLD
LEXICOGRAPHY
Matkarimova Gulira'no Abdullayevna
Mamun University Lecturer
Khiva City, Khorezm region, Republic of Uzbekistan
Tel: +998914340340
Abstract. In the process of studying phytonyms of any language it is
impossible without taking into account their historical features and new genesis.
Initially, plants were given names to distinguish them from each other, like any other
lexemes, they were elementary payo. Later, some phytonomic names, firmly
established in a certain language, became terms. But at the same time, many words
expressing the realities of the plant world, passed into the passive reserve (ceased to
be used in the language and gave way to neologisms). In this regard, the phytonomic
vocabulary of the English language is very important.
Keywords: phytonyms, V. Humboldt, A.V. Superanskaya, I.A. Baudouin.
Annotatsiya. Fitonimlarni har qanday tilda o‘rganish jarayonida ularning
tarixiy xususiyiyatlarini, yangi genesisini hisobga olmasdan mumkin emas. Dastlab
o‘simliklarga ularni bir-biridan ajratish uchun nomlar berilgan, boshka har qanday
leksemalar kabi, elementar ravishda payo bo‘lgan. Keyin, ma’lum bir tilda
mustahkam o‘rnashgan ayrim fitonomik nomlar terminlarga aylangan. Ammo shu
bilan birga o‘simlik dunyosining realiyalarini ifodalagan ko‘plab so‘zlar passiv
zaxiraga o‘tgan (tilda ishlatilishdan to‘xtab, neologismlarga o‘rin berishgan). Bu
jihatdan inglis tiling fitonomik leksikasi juda ahamiyatlidir.
Kalit so‘zlar: fitonimlar, V.Gumbolt, A.V. Superanskaya, I.A.Boduen.
Introduction.
Scientific comparative research, on the one hand, aims to determine
the individual characteristics of a particular language and, on the other hand, to reveal
its common features with other languages. This idea is confirmed by the words of I.A.
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Baudouin de Courtenay: "... it is scientifically impossible to see the categories of
another language in a given language without any limitations; science should not
impose foreign categories on an object but should search for those that exist within it
and determine its structure and composition" [1,68]. This once again confirms that
the comparative method has great theoretical value, as it allows for a deeper
understanding of language universals and the nature of language as a social
phenomenon through the unique characteristics of the compared languages.
Results and discussions.
In modern linguistics, the main shift in contemporary
science is the focus on philosophical culture and anthropological issues. When
studying language and its figurative representations, understanding the
anthropological basis of language has become crucial. Examining language and its
qualities has increased interest in interdisciplinary issues within the humanities,
leading to the concept of the "man-language-culture" unity.
The linguistic worldview is shaped alongside language. V. Humboldt and his
followers, who formulated the concept of language as a system of intrinsic values,
emphasized that language creates an intermediary world between human society and
reality. For this reason, F. de Saussure argued that diachronic and synchronic
approaches should not be mixed when studying language. He criticized the notion of
a logical unit of human cognition while highlighting the significant semantic
differences in the structures of various languages. This perspective has influenced the
study and development of multiple fields of semantics, including the "field" approach
in linguistics (J. Trier, L. Weisgerber, G. Ipsen, V. Porzig, etc.).
Several linguistic scholars have studied phytonyms for years. In linguistics, plant
names are referred to as phytonyms. The term phytonym is derived from the Greek
words "phyton" (plant) and "onyma" (name, title), meaning plant names. This term
was first introduced into linguistics by A.V. Superanskaya in her book "General
Theory of Proper Names" [2, 30-34]. Phytonyms are defined as units of folk botanical
nomenclature, while phytoterms refer to scientific plant names based on botanical
characteristics [3, 34-37]. Words belonging to this lexical group have important
characteristics that must be considered during research. U. Krishke noted that the
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analysis of phytonyms should be conducted at the intersection of three disciplines:
linguistics, philosophy, and botany. From a philosophical perspective, plants
represent natural species—objects naturally grouped together not by human intention
but by inherent characteristics. Therefore, phytonyms, as terms denoting natural
species, reflect real properties of plants and, unlike other lexical groups, are not
arbitrary but well-thought-out names. In this regard, phytonyms are closely related to
anthroponyms and toponyms, as they also denote real people and real objects.
However, unlike these lexical groups, phytonyms do not refer to specific individuals
or places but to entire classes of plants with shared characteristics.
Linguistic scholars such as T.R. Pisarskaya, N.E. Yakimenko, and L.F. Pucileva
explained the naming of phytonyms as follows: "All names of objects are based on
formal similarity or derive from a particular characteristic. Plant names either directly
denote the plant or are derived from the names of its parts" [4, 366].
F.I. Buslaev studied the mythological aspects of phytonymic vocabulary. As the
founder of the Russian mythological school, he stated in his work "The Historical
Meaning of Proper Names" that plant names demonstrate the connection between folk
life, morals, and beliefs, concluding that "...the nomenclature of folk botany itself
takes us back to the mythological era" [5, 552].
According to N.I. Konovalova, phytonyms function within the lexical-semantic
system of a language, not only fulfilling a nominative role but also pragmatic,
evaluative, and expressive functions [6, 643].
Linguist A.M. Letova classified plant names as follows:
Plants based on external characteristics (e.g., birch, white pine).
Plants named according to their properties (e.g., fern, linden, nettle, willow).
Plants named based on their growth location and method (e.g., grapevine, mushroom).
Plants named according to their practical use in daily life (e.g., tree, pea).
Plants named according to their smell (e.g., currant) [7, 198].
V.V. Salnikova also presented a classification of phytonyms based on thematic
characteristics:
1.
Trees
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2.
Shrubs
3.
Herbs
4.
Flowers
5.
Fruits
6.
Vegetables
7.
Mushrooms
8.
Names based on plant parts
9.
Color-based names
However, a definitive classification of plant names has not yet been established. Some
scholars consider plant names as simple terms (Merkulova, 1961, 1965; Bobrova,
1976; Borisova, 1989; Itunina, 1999), while others view them as nomenclature
(Zakarevskaya, 1970; Ivanov, 1985). A third group of scholars believes that plant
names should be considered nomenclature while also exhibiting certain
terminological characteristics, such as a clear connection with the denotatum, precise
lexical meaning, and the presence or absence of a generalizing term within a plant
group (Aryanova, 1989) [8, 13]. It is important to note that these features apply to
many lexical-semantic groups.
In the lexical-semantic system of language, phytonyms express not only nominative
but also pragmatic, evaluative, and expressive functions. Sometimes, a single
phytonym can have multiple names among speakers of the same language [9, 67-75].
Therefore, folk names for plants exhibit great diversity and can sometimes cause
confusion. This is particularly significant when considering plant names in the Uzbek
language and their dialectal variations.
The Earth cannot sustain itself without the plant world. For this reason, numerous
international publications, newspapers, books, and legal projects have been dedicated
to the protection of plants. For instance, the journal "Economic Botany" provides
information on economically important plants, "Plant Science" publishes articles on
plant sciences, including new plant species and their significance in agriculture, and
the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" explores the medicinal properties of plants and
their traditional uses.
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Additionally, the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 was enacted to "preserve
plants and ensure that their conservation is key to sustainable economic growth and
development." This law aims to protect endangered plant and animal species.
In Uzbekistan, significant efforts have been made to conserve flora. The "Botanical
Journal" of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan publishes scientific articles on
plants, while the "Ecology and Nature Protection" journal focuses on ecology and
conservation issues. The "Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan," last updated
in 2009, is a crucial reference.
Conclusion.
Phytonymic names are not only crucial for botanical nomenclature but
also hold deep cultural, historical, and linguistic significance. The study of phytonyms
facilitates scientific classification, standardization, and cross-disciplinary research,
enhancing our understanding of both language and the natural world.
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