Micro toponyms As Knowledge Structures And Conceptual Metaphors: A Cognitive-Linguistic Approach

Abstract

This article examines microtoponyms as cognitively grounded knowledge structures and conceptual metaphors within the framework of cognitive linguistics and cognitive onomastics. It argues that place names function not merely as referential labels but as compressed cognitive frames that encode complex, culturally embedded knowledge about geographical space. According to D.U. Ashurova, M.R. Galiyeva frames represent a complex knowledge structure including a group of related words and concepts1. Drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory and frame semantics, the study explores how metaphorical mappings—such as Place IS Person, Place IS Animal, and Place IS Natural Object—structure the conceptualization and evaluation of places. Using examples primarily from Uzbek and broader Turkic toponymy, with comparative references to English naming traditions, the research demonstrates that microtoponyms activate both core and peripheral frames, encompassing geographical, historical, cultural, and evaluative dimensions. Particular attention is given to the role of image schemas (e.g., CONTAINER, PATH, CENTER–PERIPHERY) in organizing spatial cognition and to the distinction between descriptive and evaluative metaphorical models. The findings reveal that metaphorical toponyms exhibit a bidirectional relationship with reality: while physical and cultural features motivate naming, the resulting metaphors simultaneously shape perception, emotional attitudes, and collective memory. Furthermore, the study identifies both universal cognitive patterns and culture-specific preferences, highlighting the prominence of nature-based and spiritually motivated metaphors in Uzbek and Turkic contexts. The article concludes that microtoponyms serve as dynamic instruments of cognition that contribute to the construction of the national worldview, reinforcing cultural identity and structuring mental representations of space