SEMANTICS OF COLORONYMS IN THE TOPONYMIC SYSTEM (BASED ON TOPONYMS OF MANGISTAU)

Bibatpa Koshimova, Ainur Z. Kenbayeva, Sharapat Abisheva, Р. О. Жуманбаева

2026

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DOI 10.48081/btouph3.2026/473-487
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

The article discusses the semantic and structural features of colour designations in the toponymy of the Mangistau region. The aim of the study is to identify the peculiarities of usage, semantic functions and the place of colour components found in the geographical names of the region in the toponymic system. Colour designations are one of the most widespread lexical-semantic models in Kazakh toponymy and play an important role in reflecting the characteristics of the natural environment. During the study, toponymic materials from the Mangistau region were collected and systematised. The analysis was conducted using semasiological, onomasiological, comparative-historical, and quantitative-statistical methods. The data obtained showed that the main components denoting colour in the toponymy of the region are the words aқ, қара, сары, қызыл, көк, қоңыр and ала. These components mainly form an attributive model consisting of a defining and a defined component and are found in the names of various geographical objects. The results of the analysis showed that colour components are not limited to indicating the external colour of an object. They also reflect the natural landscape features of a geographical object, its hydrological properties, geological composition and spatial-dimensional characteristics. In addition, some colour designations have acquired a terminological character in the course of historical development and have formed as stable elements of the toponymic system. In the composition of individual toponyms, there are also cases of sacred and historical-ideological significance of colour components. The results of the study allow us to systematise the semantic structure of colour designations in the toponymy of the Mangistau region and determine their role in reflecting the natural environment and historical development of the region. The presented materials can serve as a basis for further research into regional toponymy and a more in-depth study of the functions of colour designations in Kazakh onomastics.