COGNITIVE FEATURES OF THE STUDY OF GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
Toponymy has made great strides in the 21st century. Even prior to the turn of the millennium, many countries had already begun to systematically examine place-names. Over a decade into the new century, much larger areas are covered with systematically researched place-names. Toponymic vocabulary of any language is an internally structured and coherent system. The study of this subsystem of language has exceptional relevance both for onomastics and for linguistics as a whole. Geographical names, despite their denotative character, until recently, were not the subject of close attention of cognitive scientists. Recent studies in the field of cognitive linguistics have given impetus to the development of toponymic research in this aspect. The appropriateness of introducing the terms ‘cognitive toponymy’ and ‘cognitive toponym’ is being evaluated in the article, possible objectives of cognitive toponymy as a science are being considered. The close connection between the scientific and cognitive approach and toponymy is supported by examples.