LEXICOGRAPHIC SUPPORT FOR THE COURSE “RUSSIAN AND KAZAKH ONOMASTICS”

Abstract

The article is devoted to the integration of the research findings of the Kazakhstani onomastic scholar, Doctor of Philology V.N. Popova, into the educational process of the university. Her research strategies and methodological approaches make a significant contribution to understanding the historical and cultural context of the native region. The relevance of the topic is determined by the necessity of incorporating the onomastic heritage of contemporary Kazakhstan into the educational environment through the elective course “Russian and Kazakh Onomastics”, offered to students of the educational program 6B01705 “Training Teachers of Russian Language and Literature for Schools with Non-Russian Language of Instruction.”

The research aim is to investigate Kazakh and Russian geographical names as a basis for developing students’ onomastic knowledge of the region’s toponymy. In accordance with this aim, the study addresses the following objectives: to substantiate the principles of geographical name nomination; to describe organoleptic toponyms; and to characterize toponyms containing a chromatic (color) component. The source base includes lexicographic data extracted from dictionaries of geographical names, reference works on onomastics and toponymy, as well as archival documents of V.N. Popova. The novelty of the research lies in the linguocultural description of toponyms and in identifying the phenomena of metaphorization and symbolism. The functional-typological method makes it possible not only to reveal the nominative and descriptive functions of the names, determine their semantics, typology, and etymology, but also to systematize the substantive toponymic content with regard to its area of functioning. A comprehensive approach to the analysis of empirical material is ensured through the integration of historical, linguistic, statistical, and sociological methods.

The authors emphasize the theoretical significance of the processes involved in the nomination of geographical objects and their role within the cultural and historical context. They also highlight the importance of integrating the proposed material into the educational process and formulate the expected learning outcomes aimed at developing students’ professional competencies in ethnolinguistics, enhancing research skills, conducting fieldwork, compiling card indexes, and performing accurate comparative descriptions of toponyms. The practical relevance of the study may likewise be associated with the development of methodological materials from case studies to scientific projects, which characterizes onomastics not only in terms of its subject-oriented dimension but also as a regionally oriented and scientifically grounded field.