TOPONYMS DERIVED FROM THE GEOGRAPHICAL TERM "TASH" (STONE) AND ASSOCIATED CULT OF STONES OF THE BASHKIRS
The study of local geographical terminology is of great interest not only from linguistical perspective but also within ethnolinguistics, which deals with the problems of ethnogenesis and ethnic history as well as with issues of connections between language and material and spiritual culture of people. In the article, Bashkir toponyms derived from the geographical term “tash” (stone) are analyzed. As it is shown by the analysis, “tash” in the Bashkir language is used in the meaning of “stone”, “rock, “hill”, “mountain”. The composite “tau-tash” is used as a collective name “mountains”. As a part of the place name, this geographical term characterizes the environment and specifies features of the terrain as hilly or rocky place. As a part of oronym, “tash” is used in the meaning “mountain”, “rock”. As part of hydronym, it indicates a feature of the river - “rocky”. In the southern dialect of the Bashkir language (in Kizilsky, Ik-Sakmarian dialects) the geographical term “tash” is involved in formation of a speleonym: “tashөy”, “tashөң” - “cave”. In the Bashkir toponomastics, the names with the basis “tash” are connected not only with the natural environment, the features of a mountain landscape, water networks, and economic activities of the people, but many of them have a connection with the spiritual culture of the people. The author examines place names dating back to the cult of stones and ancestors of the Bashkirs, the cult of their sacred land, and many other ancient beliefs of the Bashkirs associated with stones.