სოფელ ვაზისუბნის ტოპონიმების სტრუქტურა/ The Structure of Toponyms of Vazisubani Village

Abstract

The paper focuses on the structure of toponyms of Vazisubani village in Gurjaani Municipality (Georgia).2 The historical name of Vazisubani is Uriatubani, and even earlier name is Ortubani. According to contemporary data, there are 105 geographical names in Vazisubani. Their absolute majority are created on the Georgian lexical basis. There are no superstratum layers. Special mention should be made of toponyms based on plant names. The very toponym Vazisubani* is derived from a plant name (vazi means vine in Georgian). The attribute in the genitive case (vazis) is combined with the modified noun (ubani - district). Another toponym based on the same principle is Verkhvisubani* (the district where a large asp tree used to stand. Verkhvi means asp in Georgian). In such toponyms, the root morphemes are written together (Apridonidze, 1983, p. 49). The toponymic nature of the noun will enhance if the consonantal part of the affix (-s) is lost, for instance: Shvindi[s]qeli (a place where cornelian cherries grow. Shvindi means cornelian cherries in Georgian). Bardalos Akho*. According to one version, this toponym is derived from shrubs (thorns). Yet, in my opinion, the toponym appeared earlier, before the initial cultivation of land. On the given territory, a granular plant “bardalo” (cow vetch) was widespread (for the definition of cow vetch, see Maqashvili, 1961, p. 260). This plant is still found on the given area, and the toponym is, most probably, related to this plant. Zimartli lands* - ploughlands at the beginning of the village. In Kiziqi dialect, Zimartli is a variantt name of Zghmartli - medlar (Ghlonti, 1974, p. 127) which was widespread in this area. Khurmis Mitsebi* - is a name of a vineyard, derived from a large persimmon tree which stood here (khurma is a Georgian name for persimmon). Tkhilis Tskaro (nut spring), Tkhilis Khevi (nut ravine). In such toponyms, the semantics of the modifier is strong, and the modifier is not morphologically weakened. Based on Sh. Apridonidze, (Apridonidze, 1983, p. 58), like geographical names derived from anthroponyms and toponyms (cf: Gomebis Tsqaro – stall spring), the microtoponyms derived from plant names are given separately in the paper (in case the noun in the genitive is represented in its full form in the syntagm, e.g. Zimartlis Mitsebi). It should also be mentioned, that such place names rarely turn into macrotoponyms. The majority of Vazisubani toponyms are patronymic oeconyms, consisting of two roots. They mostly represent surnames obtained from nicknames and denote the residence of people under this or that surname or a territory belonging to the family having this or that surname: Abazaanubani, Bragvadzian(t)ubani, Gognaanubani, Datunaanubani, Tadiaanubani//Tadiantubani, Kanaanubani, Londriaan(t)ubani, Mananiaanubani, Mekokiaanubani, Mghebriaan(t)ubani, Revaziaanubani, Rostiaanubani, Solomniaanubani, Gharibaan(t)ubani, Shakaraanubani, Charakaanubani, Khechoaanubani. On the initial stage of formation of toponyms, names and surnames are given in the form of a modifier in the genitive case, denoting possession. Therefore, the modifier and the modified are written separately, for instance: Kakulaant Akho. However, as we have seen, the syntagms of patronymic toponyms derived from names and surnames show a tendency to be written together (cf: Abazaanubani). The syntagms are rarely combined in case of toponyms of possession derived from anthroponyms (nicknames): Anakalo Lands* (the lands that used to belong to Ana) and so on. Some toponyms of the village under analysis (microtoponyms) denote possession of the geographical name (macrotoponym) itself: Vazisubnis Khevi* (Vazisubani ravine) etc. In the proper names of this type, the appellative, e.g.: Khevi (ravine) shows an attitude to the macrotoponym. Hence, the function of a toponym is expressed by the modifier (Vazisubani). Thus, the superstratum layers are not found in the toponyms of Vazisubani village. The function of toponyms is usually expressed by patronyms, plant names and geographical names. Patronyms are mostly represented by nicknames, which have turned into names and surnames. Unlike the toponyms expressed by means of real names and surnames (personal names), the toponyms based on nicknames are usually written together. Some microtoponyms derived from plant names are given in the form of a syntagm.