LINGUOCULTURAL FEATURES OF THE ZOOMORPHIC CODE IN THE TOPONYMY OF KASHKADARYA REGION

Abstract

This article analyzes the concept of the zoomorphic code from linguocultural and ethnolinguistic perspectives based on the toponymic materials of the Kashkadarya region. The study examines the semantic, etymological, and cultural foundations of toponyms associated with the names of animals and birds. The zoomorphic components embedded in these toponyms are investigated in connection with the totemistic beliefs, mythological perceptions, and spatial worldview of ancient Turkic peoples. Furthermore, the role of the zoomorphic code in the formation of ethnonyms and toponyms is explored, and its developmental process is analyzed through the model zoonym → totem → ethnonym → toponym. The findings demonstrate that the zoomorphic code in the toponymy of the Kashkadarya region represents an important linguocultural phenomenon reflecting the historical memory, ethnocultural values, and spatial perceptions of the local people.