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Home Editorial board Publication ethics Information Current Archive Rules for authors Contacts	DOI: 10.46698/VNC.2026.32.25.011 THE STATUS OF MICROTOPONYMY IN THE SYSTEM OF AVAR TOPONYMY Otsomieva-Tagirova, Zabikhat M. Kavkaz Forum. 2026. Issue 25. Abstract: The article discusses the problem of determining the place and role of microtoponymy in the hierarchical structure of the Avar toponymic system. The Avar toponymicon, which is a multi-tiered formation, includes names of various origins (Avar, Andean, Turkic, Russian) and requires a clear terminological differentiation of its constituent subsystems. The complexity of this distinction is due not only to the genetic heterogeneity of vocabulary, but also to the long-term historical interaction of languages in Dagestan, which led to the formation of hybrid and transitional forms in geographical names. The paper critically analyzes the existing definitions of the terms «toponymic system», «toponymy» and «microtoponymy». It is shown that in modern onomastics there remain discrepancies in understanding the scope of these concepts, which makes it difficult to create a unified classification scheme for regional material. Special attention is paid to identifying contradictions between the traditional division of geographical names into «toponyms» and «microtoponyms» based on the principle of the size or prominence of the object. This criterion, as demonstrated by the analysis of the field material, is subjective and linguistically insufficient, since in the linguistic consciousness of a native speaker the size of an object does not directly correlate with the way it is nominated or the stability of the name. The author substantiates the inconsistency of binary juxtaposition based on extralinguistic factors, and suggests considering the names of local objects as a special tier – dialectonymy. The concept of «dialectonym» is introduced to denote local geographical onyms that function in a narrowly local environment and form the lower, basic tier of the regional toponymic system. This solution makes it possible to remove the terminological contradiction and transfer the discussion from the plane of the «size of the object» to the plane of its linguistic and functional status. The analysis of the structural and semantic features of Avar microobjects confirms the boundary position of these units between the appellative vocabulary and the usual toponyms. The revealed patterns of word formation and semantics of dialectonyms indicate that this particular tier is the main reserve for replenishing the all-Swiss toponymic fund and requires further detailed fixation and study. Keywords: toponymic system, microtoponymy, microtoponym status, dialectonym, toponymic nomination, regional onomastics, local geographical terms. Language: Russian Download the full text For citation: Otsomieva-Tagirova, Z.M. The status of microtoponymy in the system of avar toponymy. KAVKAZ-FORUM. 2026, iss. 25 (32), pp. 54-68. (In Russian). DOI 10.46698/VNC.2026.32.25.011 + References 1. Vorob’eva, I.A. Toponimicheskaya sistema Zapadnoi Sibiri [Toponymic system of Western Siberia]. Voprosy yazykoznaniya [Voprosy yazykoznaniya]. 1972, no. 4, pp. 22-32. 2. Frolov, N.K. Statut mikrotoponimii v sisteme toponimii [Statute of microtoponymy in the system of toponymy]. Voprosy onomastiki [Problems of Onomastics]. 1982, no. 15, pp. 22. 3. Popova, V.N. K voprosu o mikrotoponimakh [On the issue of microtoponyms]. Onomastika Povolzh’ya [Onomastics of the Volga region]. Ul’yanovsk, [b. i.], 1969, pp. 44-49. 4. Karpenko, Yu.A. Svoistva i istochniki mikrotoponimii [Properties and sources of microtoponymy]. Mikrotoponimiya [Microtoponymy]. Moscow, Moscow State University, 1967, pp. 15-22. 5. Blinokhvatova, R.I. Iz nablyudenii nad mikrotoponimiei odnogo raiona [From observations on the microtoponymy of one region]. Mikrotoponimiya [Microtoponymy]. Moscow, Moscow State University, 1967, pp. 88-92. 6. Murzaev, Eh.M. Ocherki toponimiki [Essays on toponymy]. Moscow, Mysl’, 1974. 382 p. 7. Nikonov, V.A. Vvedenie v toponimiku [Introduction to toponymy]. Moscow, Nauka, 1965. 179 p. 8. Podol’skaya, N.V. Slovar’ russkoi onomasticheskoi terminologii [Dictionary of Russian onomastic terminology]. Moscow, Nauka, 1978. 198 p. 9. Tagirova, Z.M. Sposoby obrazovaniya toponimicheskikh konstruktsii v avarskom yazyke [Methods of formation of toponymic constructions in the Avar language]. Filologiya: nauchnye issledovaniya [Philology: scientific researches]. 2017, no. 4, pp. 82-87. DOI: 10.7256/2454-0749.2017.4.24907 10. Pospelov, E.M. Toponimika i kartografiya [Toponymy and cartography]. Moscow, Mysl’, 1971. 256 p. 11. Saidova, P.A. Dialektologicheskii slovar’ avarskogo yazyka [Dialectological dictionary of the Avar language]. Makhachkala, G.Tsadasa Institute of Language, Literature and Art of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2008. 472 p. 12. Belen’kaya, V.D. Toponimy v sostave leksicheskoi sistemy yazyka [Toponyms as part of the lexical system of the language]. Moscow, Moscow State University, 1969. 168 p. 13. Otsomieva, Z.M. Rol’ mestnykh geograficheskikh terminov v toponimii [The Role of Local Geographical Terms in Toponymy]. Kavkazskie yazyki: genetiko-tipologicheskie obshchnosti i areal’nye svyazi: Tezisy dokladov 2-i Mezhdunarodnoi konferentsii (Makhachkala, 17–18 iyunya 2010 g.) [Caucasian Languages: Genetic and Typological Commonalities and Areal Connections: Abstracts of the 2nd International Conference (Makhachkala, June 17–18, 2010)]. Makhachkala, G.Tsadasa Institute of Language, Literature and Art of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2010, pp. 184-186. ← Contents of issue


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