THE PLACE AND CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF MICROTOPONYMS AMONG THE ONOMASTIC UNITS (Based on the materials of the Karabakh region)

Abstract

Among the onomastic units, toponyms - place names have an important place
and are divided into two groups according to the size and smallness of the land: macrotoponyms
and microtoponyms. Macrotoponyms are geographical names covering a large area (name -
special name). Microtoponyms are the names of small geographical objects located in a certain
area. The term "microtoponym" is derived from the combination of words of Greek origin:
"mikros" - small, "topos" - place and "onim" - name. Microtoponyms include small mountain,
river, ark, pond, stream, small hill, kishlak, meadow, yurt, hearth, descent, hill, slope, grave, pir,
visitation, field, plain, writing, depression, hole, canyon (ravine), dwelling, neighborhood, place,
etc. names belong. Learning microtoponyms is important in researching the local people's naming
tradition. Such place names are not exposed to foreign influences and are more efficient in the
naming process. However, microtoponyms are forgotten for various reasons. No one can know the
microtoponyms of this land as detailed and clearly as the people who live in any village. It is not
easy to determine macro and micro toponyms. Because these terms express opposite concepts and
it is difficult to determine their boundaries. So, this means that the work done by the researcher in
the village will not be the same as the work in the district: the scope of the research will vary due
to the large and small size of the land in question. For example, the Gargar river in Aghdam
district can be characterized as both a macro- and a micro-toponym during the study: this special
name is a micro-toponym for the Karabakh region, and a macro-toponym in Aghdam district. It is
understood from the council that the system of microtoponyms of the Karabakh region and the
districts included in it are not the same.
In toponymic studies, such macrotoponyms attract the attention of researchers.
Microtoponyms, which are used in the speech of a smaller number of people, are often left out of
research. Social, economic and demographic changes, collective disappearance of small villages
cause fragmentation of names in the toponymic system, i.e. differentiation of meaning or complete
disappearance. Therefore, it is very important to research and compile relevant geographical
names. The development process of the microtoponyms of the Karabakh region, their role in the
macro- and microtoponym system, the determination of their structure, and the period of their
creation vary depending on the structure-semantic type of the lexical level, that is, the lexical
meaning groups.