Etymology of the Toponyms of Abai’s Sacred Birthplace

Abstract

The article provides a scholarly analysis of the etymological foundations of the toponyms in the native land of Abai Kunanbayuly. The research involves a linguistic examination of the place names in the sacred Shyngystau region, which gave birth to three great thinkers - Abai, Shakarim, and Mukhtar. The origins and semantic meanings of these toponyms are identified and interpreted. Drawing on the data from Mahmud al-Kashgari’s dictionary, the authors explore the historical and linguistic nature of the toponyms located at the foothills of Shyngystau.

The study establishes that some of the geographical names originated from the Mongolian language, and this phenomenon is regarded as significant linguistic evidence supporting the historical kinship between the Turkic and Mongolian languages. The findings demonstrate that many of the region’s

This article was prepared within the framework of the targeted program project No. AP26199899, “Regional Integration of Literary and Linguistic Tourism in East Kazakhstan: Digitalization of the Etymology of Toponyms and Local Legends,” approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.