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LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PHYTONYMS
Ozoda Sharipova
Master student of the University of Uzbek language and literature named after
Alisher Navo’ITashkent
Abstract
: This article discusses the linguistic and cultural characteristics of
phytonyms which are a component of the field of onomastics in linguistics. The field
of linguacultural field related to the concepts of language and culture; viewpoints
currently being studied by many linguists. In this regard, this article is notable for its
focus on the new area of linguistics, linguoculturology and the linguistic and cultural
characteristics of phytonyms.
Key words
: linguoculturology, phytonym, language, culture, onomastics,
phytonymic lexicon, botanical terms.
Абстракт:
В этой статье рассматриваются лингвистические и культурные
особенности фитонимов, которые являются компонентом области ономастики в
лингвистике. Область лингвокультурологии, связанная с концепциями языка и
культуры, в настоящее время активно изучается многими лингвистами. В связи
с этим данная статья примечательна своим фокусом на новой области
лингвистики — лингвокультурологии, а также лингвистическими и
культурными особенностями фитонимов.
Ключевые слова:
лингвокультурология, фитоним, язык, культура,
ономастика, фитонимическая лексика, ботанические термины.
As we initiated studying the Uzbek language, we aimed to explore the roles of
proper names in culture and language. In reality, language develops and exists closely
intertwined with culture. During this research process, we turned to the field of
linguistic culturology to address theoretical issues and challenges.
Linguistic culturology is a branch of linguistics that arises at the intersection of
linguistic and cultural studies, focusing on how national culture is reflected and
firmly established in language. This field scientifically investigates the relationship
between language and culture, as well as cross-cultural communication, because
“language is deeply connected with culture, reaching it, developing within it, and
expressing it”. This area of study does not only focus on culture but also examines
national customs, religious phenomena, national concepts, and the tools through
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which people perceive the world via language. The linguistic map of the world
generally corresponds with the logical expression in the minds of people. Studying
this issue in depth is closely related to linguistic culturology and linguistic
cognitology.
We conducted research on the role, significance, and linguistic-cultural features
of phytonyms in the Uzbek language and culture. At this point, we would like to
focus on the definition of the term “phytonym”. The prefix phyto- (from Greek
phyton meaning “plant”) is a component of international loanwords, indicating a
connection to plants or the science of plants, such as in fitobar (plant-based) or
fitopatologiya (phytopathology).
Phytonyms refer to the names of plants. The role of plants in culture is
unparalleled. Nature serves as a powerful source of inspiration, and all living beings
interact with plants in some way. Since the emergence of humanity, people have
relied on plants for food, medicine, and various products. Plants also play a
significant role in our ancient culture, national beliefs, and traditional medicine. In
various folk rituals, plants and their fruits and branches take on symbolic meanings.
Thus, plants are studied across different aspects of culture.
Phytonyms are the names given to plants, while fitonimiya refers to the
collection of plant names, and fitonimika is the branch of linguistics that studies
phytonyms. Phytonimics has both general and specific forms. General phytonimics is
the field that scientifically researches the plant world on Earth through established
norms. A specific form of phytonimics can be represented by the study of the names
of plants in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, referred to as “Uzbek
nomshunosligi” and “Nomshunoslik masalalari” (Issues of onomastics) through
scientific-theoretical principles, known as “O‘zbekiston fitomikasi” (Phytomycology
of Uzbekistan).
Scientists have studied all the characteristics of the plants in our country. Many
phytonyms are distinguished by their medicinal properties. In Abu Rayhon Beruni’s
work “Saydana”, nearly seven hundred medicinal plants are classified. Although
these works focus on the plants themselves and their uses, they do not conduct
research specifically on the names of the phytonyms, despite considering them to
some extent. Therefore, studying the names of phytonyms involves addressing two
objects of research, which is beneficial.
1. To directly study the names of plants, one method is to inquire from the
people living in areas where these plants grow.
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2. Another approach is to examine books, textbooks, and dictionaries dedicated
to plants, prepared by biologists, and to record the plant names used in them without
alteration.
The naming of phytonyms in Uzbekistan has not yet been seriously studied from
both scientific and practical perspectives. For example, during the Soviet era, plants
were named in Russian, and today, their Russian names are still used, while attention
to their Uzbek names has been relatively limited. Several phytonyms like Tol (willow
tree), Terak (poplar tree), Chinor (Plane tree), O‘rik (Apricot tree) are more
commonly encountered, leading to their transformation into toponyms and
fitotoponyms. Examples of these include Qo‘shtol, Qatortol, Qo‘shterak, Terakli,
Chinor, Chinorli, O‘rikkapa, O‘rikzor, O‘rikli, and others. In these names, tol, terak,
chinor, o‘rik serve as the base words, fulfilling the role of toponyms.
“O‘zbek fitonimikasi” (Uzbek Phytonymics), as a form of general phytonimics,
has gone through the following developmental stages:
1. The history of “Uzbek Phytonymics”;
2. The current state of “Uzbek Phytonymics”. Currently, an Uzbek phytonym
dictionary has been developed, but it needs to be refined to a more comprehensive
form. Phytonyms are formed from words, but not all words are phytonyms. Based on
the lexical units from which they are derived, phytonyms can be divided into two
major groups: a) phytonyms formed from common Turkic and Uzbek language
words, and b) phytonyms formed from borrowed words. Studying them on scientific
grounds helps reveal the naming conventions specific to them. In linguistic research,
various terms are used to refer to lexical units expressing plant names, including plant
names, lexemes expressing plants, plant nouns, terms referring to plants, botanical
terms, phytonyms, phytonymic lexicon, and floristic lexicon. Some of the meanings
of these units have been analyzed in G. Nematova’s dissertation.
The term phytonym (from Greek phyton meaning “plant” + onoma meaning
“name”) is related to bionims (from Greek bios meaning “life” + onoma meaning
“name”). The term phytonym emerged as a scientific neologism in Russian
linguistics in the 1970s, and later became integrated into Uzbek onomastics.
For example, in Uzbekistan, the apricot has names like Oqorik, Shalax, Ruhi
Juvanon, Mohtobi Ahroriy, Subhoniy, Gulungi, Ko‘rsodiq, Xurmoi, Asfdak, and
Javpazak. These names are phytonyms, as they refer to specific varieties of apricot,
unlike the generic term “apricot” (which is an appellative).
In scientific sources related to onomastics in Uzbek linguistics, the scope of
issues studied within the field of phytonymics has not been clearly defined. In our
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view, the scientific-theoretical and practical issues that phytonymics addresses are
broad. Phytonymics explores the following topics related to phytonyms:
1. The emergence and formation of plant names (phytonyms), considering
linguistic and non-linguistic factors;
2. Historical and folk traditions related to plant naming;
3. The linguistic properties and functions of phytonymic indicators within
phytonyms;
4. The principles behind the naming of plants;
5. The historical and modern forms of phytonyms and linguistic changes within
them;
6. The lexical and semantic features of phytonyms;
7. The morphemic and formation models of phytonyms;
8. The relationship between the appellative lexicon of the language and its
phytonymic lexicon;
9. The relationship between phytonyms and other types of bionims—
anthroponyms, zoonyms, ornitonyms—and the functional transitions within these
categories;
10. Information related to the creation of phytonyms in folklore, historical
botanical works, and ancient manuscripts;
11. The characteristics of phytonyms in regional dialects and accents;
12. The etymology of phytonyms;
13. Scientific and practical issues related to the classification of phytonyms;
14. The principles for creating phytonymic maps and dictionaries.
Based on research in the field of botany and the meaning and essence of plant
names, phytonyms can initially be divided into the following semantic groups:
1. Tree names: for example, varieties of xurmo (date palm), such as Sharq
xurmosi and Vaxsh Xiakume;
2. Herbaceous plant names: for example, varieties of beda (leguminous plant)
such as Yettisuv, Xiva, O‘zgan, Toshkent-1, Vaxsh-233;
3. Vegetable crop names: for example, varieties of bodring (cucumber) such as
Marg‘ilon-822, Gulnoz, Navro‘z, Omad;
4. Flower and shrub names: for example, varieties of qalampir (pepper) such as
guli achciq, Marg‘ilon 330, Nafis, Kelin tili.
In scientific and popular scientific sources related to viticulture, grape varieties
are often divided into three groups:
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1. Table varieties: For example, Nimrang, Parkent, Kattaqo‘rg‘on, Sultoniy,
Charos, Kitob, Surxaki, Husayni, Qorajanjal, Chillaki, Daroyi, Xo‘ja Ahroriy,
Rizamat, etc.
2. Raisin varieties: For example, Oqkishmish, Shakarangur, Sultoniy,
Kattaqo‘rg‘on, Nimrang etc.
3. Wine varieties: For example, Baxtiyoriy, Tarnov, Risling, Bihishti, etc.
As a part of onomastics, phytonymics has its own objects and subjects of study.
Thus, phytonymics is one of the important branches of theoretical and practical
linguistics. The names of plants, known as phytonyms, and their collective study,
referred to as fitonimiya, are key components of this field.
In literary works, plants are often used as allegorical symbols to depict the
internal psychological states of characters, as well as to reflect character relationships
and personal dynamics.
In the Uzbek language, there are many phytonyms derived from place names,
ethnic groups, birds, and animals that are associated with one or more characteristics
of plants. For example, terms like kampirchopon (old woman’s herb), bo‘rikalla
(spiky plant), etc.
When comparing words related to plant names, we see that in Russian and
Adyghe languages, not only do they differ structurally, but the same words or designs
are used differently across languages. The ways these words or structures are used in
different languages are shaped by unique linguistic rules and traditions.
The analysis of the origin of plant names in the Uzbek language led to the
following conclusions:
There is great diversity in the structure of plant names.
In modern Uzbek, there are various types of phytonyms, which can be divided
into two main lexical layers: native and borrowed words.
Along with native words, the names of plants are also borrowed from Russian
and other languages.
Many borrowed plant names play an important role in enriching the lexical
system of the Uzbek language.
The etymological analysis of plant names allows for determining their origin
and identifying the process of their entry into the language.
The etymological analysis of plant names also helps trace the path of their
introduction into the language and determine the initial motivations behind
phytonyms.
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A linguistic analysis of the specific characteristics of plant names in the Adyghe
language revealed the following:
From a morphological perspective, words referring to plants are divided into two
groups: non-Latin and Latin-based.
The primary means of enriching the plant naming system is through word
combination. Plant names with complex structures are mostly formed by combining
words in the following models: noun + noun, noun + adjective, adjective + noun,
noun + verb. In the field of phytonyms, words formed with affixes occupy a
significant place. Phrases are rare in the system of plant names in the Adyghe
language.
In both Russian and Uzbek languages, plant nominations are mainly based on
various motivational attributes such as geographical and natural location, growth,
color, size, shape, taste, smell, as well as general and pragmatic characteristics. The
analysis of the material shows that the names of plants are motivational attributes that
carry different associative characteristics, driving the process of naming.
Anthroponymic and toponymic names related to the plant world form a broad
layer of Adyghe toponymy. Phytonyms created based on them often use pseudonyms,
personal names, and surnames, with many acting as anthroponyms. In the Adyghe
language, the main sources of development for phytonyms and anthroponyms are
native and borrowed words.
The analysis of phyto-toponymic word combinations provides us with valuable
insights into the lost characteristics of certain places and the migration of names. The
reflection of the plant world in toponyms, hydronyms, and oikonyms can be
examined to understand the migration and characteristics of these names.
From a linguistic-geographical perspective, plant names vary. Different plants in
different locations may be called by the same word, or a single plant may have
several different names. The nature described by Uzbek writers is an expression of
the nation’s spiritual life. Creative thought is shaped by the natural environment for
many writers. Descriptions of nature are skillfully conveyed to the authors, accepted
organically and naturally. Writers use their knowledge of plant life to explain the
social-psychological foundations of their linguistic creativity.
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