Female image in the Avar toponymy

Abstract

This article examines the female image within the national linguistic worldview based on the Avar toponymic lexicon. The subject of this research is the semantics of toponymic units with the content “characteristic of a woman”, methods of their formation and ability to reflect perception of the world of the Avar dialect speakers. The author explores the following aspect: 1) determination of the reasons for toponymization of female anthroponyms; 2) establishment of the role of the Avar anthroponymy in toponymic research; 3) clarification of the role of unit, which reflects different aspects of woman’s personality, that  determine behavior and lifestyle within the toponymy of Gergebilsky, Gumbetovsky, Kazbekovsky and Khunzakhsky districts of Dagestan. The conclusion is made that the experience of combining obtained and systematizing toponymic units for describing the representations on the female image contributes to the formation of geographical proper names. It emerged that toponymic lexemes reflect the transition from immanent linguistics, which studies language within and for itself, towards anthropocentric (or anthropophilic) linguistics, which focuses on the study of human with all the characteristics. The article examines the linguistic aspects of toponymy; analyzes and classifies toponymic units that contain female names, taking into account the semantics and peculiarities of their use. The acquired linguistic conclusions can be valuable for further research within the framework of studying female image in different aspects.