FINNO-UGRIC TOPONYMY IN THE TAMBOV REGION (WORDFORMATION ANALYSIS)

Abstract

Purpose. The article is the initial stage of our research that is devoted to solving a number of problems in the field of studying Tambov toponyms. Identifying the areas of Finno-Ugric languages in the region in the past, combining the identified toponymic areas with the areas of archaeological cultures will allow us to define a possible chronology of the development of toponymic types. Basic word-forming types of substratum hydronyms are selected. A comparison with the data of toponymy on the territory of the ancient Mordvins and the modern distribution of the Mordovian languages was made. Some features of the Mordvin substrate hydronymy on the territory of the Tambov region and Mordvin hydronymy on the territory of the Republic of Mordovia are highlighted. It is supposed that the word-formation model “Russian adjective + Mordvin hydronym” is typical for a later stage of development of the substrate toponymy. Methodology. The method of textual analysis, the synchronous one (study of onomastics of one time period), as well as the structural, formant, etymological, areal, descriptive methods are used. Results. Having analyzed the structure of Finno-Ugric substrate toponyms on the territory of the Tambov region, the author suggests their etymologies. The selected word-formation models are compared with the results of researches on toponymic material of the Republic of Mordovia. Practical implications. The results of the study can be applied in linguistics, archeology, history, ethnography, geography and can be used to study the oldest stages of society (social formations, ethnic communities, material cultures, etc.).

Keywords

• топонимика
• топоним
• гидроним
• мордовские языки
• мокшанский язык, эрзянский язык, субстрат