LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL FEATURES OF ANTHROPONYMS

Аннотация

This article is dedicated to the study of the linguistic characteristics of anthroponyms, their cultural and social significance in society, and current research issues in Uzbek anthroponymy. As an essential branch of onomastics, anthroponymy analyzes the structure, classification, and functional properties of personal names. The article examines the linguistic, communicative, and encyclopedic types of information conveyed by anthroponyms, their historical development, and dialectal variations. The distinctive features of Uzbek anthroponymy and research directions are elucidated based on scholarly sources. The article is intended for researchers in thefields of linguistics, linguoculturology, and onomastics. Keywords: anthroponym, anthroponymy, onomastics, linguistic features, cultural significance, Uzbek anthroponymy. Introduction: Anthroponyms -linguistic units encompassing personal names, surnames, nicknames, and pseudonyms - hold significant importance in studying the connections between language and society. As a branch of onomastics focused on personal names, anthroponymy occupies a distinct place in linguistics and linguoculturology. Anthroponyms serve not only as tools for identifying individuals but also as a crucial source reflecting the cultural, historical, and social experiences of a society. This article is devoted to analyzing the linguistic characteristics of anthroponyms, their cultural and social significance, and current research issues in Uzbek anthroponymy. Main part: An anthroponym is a proper nounrepresenting a person’s name, surname, nickname, or pseudonym, holding a significant place in a language’s lexical system. Anthroponymy, as a branch of onomastics studying personal names, intersects with lexicology and semantics in linguistics. Like other lexical units, anthroponyms possess both general and specific features, reflecting the systemic structural properties of a language. Therefore, anthroponyms are analyzed from both synchronic (contemporary state) and diachronic (historical development) perspectives. Systemic structural and historical comparative methods enable a deep exploration of their linguisticcharacteristics. According to A.V. Superanskaya, the linguistic features of anthroponyms are based on the followingtypes of information: Linguistic information: The phonetic, morphological, and syntactic structure of an anthroponym (e.g., phoneticvariants ofthename “Abdusalom”: Abduusalom, Abdusaloom). Communicative information: The speaker’s attitude toward the name and its emotional impact (e.g., “Hearing the nameHitler makes meuneasy”). https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue3,2025 700 Encyclopedic information: The semantic content of an anthroponym, reflecting cultural or social meanings (e.g., “Gulnora”evokes thedelicacy andcharm ofa flower). Anthroponyms areclassified based onvarious criteria: Simpleanthroponyms (e.g., “Ali”). Complexanthroponyms (e.g., “Muhammadali”). Personal names. Surnames. Nicknames and pseudonyms. Anthroponyms derived from Turkic, Arabic, Persian, or other languages (e.g., “Timur” – Turkic, “Said” –Arabic). Thelinguisticclassification ofanthroponyms is based onthefollowing criteria: Phonetic:Differences in pronunciation and regional accents. Morphological: Derivational forms andsuffixes (e.g., ov/ev, zoda,o‘g‘li). Semantic:The meaning of names (e.g., “Zulfiya” –delicacy, “Shamsiddin” –sunofthefaith). Stylistic: Usage in literature and poetry. Pragmatic: Social status and communicativecontext. Anthroponyms have existed throughout human history, playing a significant role in sociocultural development. Each anthroponym carries its own historical and cultural “biography” and forms part of a society’s information system. Their primary function is to identify and distinguish individuals. Anthroponyms hold spiritual and social significance, providing information about a person’s lineage, social status, or origin. For example, in Uzbek, suffixes like “o‘g‘li” or “qizi” (e.g., Alisher o‘g‘li, Gulnor qizi) indicate lineage, while in Russian anthroponyms, forms like “ev” or “ova” (e.g., Ivanov, Ivanova) are common. Recent trends show Uzbek anthroponyms being influenced by Russian models, reflecting the language’s adaptation to socioeconomic changes. Anthroponyms are key linguocultural units that reflect a society’s cultural and social life. They provide insights into a people’s historical experiences, religious values, and social structure. In Uzbek anthroponymy, Islamic influence (e.g., “Abdulla”, “Fatima”) coexists with Turkic names (e.g., “Alpomish”,“Gulnor”), highlighting thesyncretic nature oftheculture. Thecultural significanceof anthroponyms is evident in thefollowing aspects: Historical Heritage: Names reference a people’s mythological and historical values (e.g., “Rustam” –ahero from Alisher Navoi’s *Khamsa*). Social Marker: Anthroponyms indicate social status or origin (e.g., “Qo‘qoniy” – related to the cityof Qo‘qon). EmotionalImpact: The pronunci