Asian Social Science; Vol. 11, No. 19; 2015 ISSN 1911-2017 E-ISSN 1911-2025 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Problems of Meaning in Toponym Formation of Kazakh Language Zhanna Bugybaykyzy Bugybayeva1, Aigul Kazkenovna Zhumabekova1, Lyazzat Bostanovna Ibrayeva2, Nazira Aitbolatovna Kabosheva3 & Nursaule Kakimzhanovna Akhatova3 1 Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abai, Kazakhstan 2 International Humanitarian Technical University, Shymkent, Kazakhstan 3 West Kazakhstan State university named after M. Utemisov, Uralsk, Kazakhstan Correspondence: Zhanna Bugybaykyzy Bugybayeva, Dostyk Street, 13, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan. Received: February 12, 2015 Accepted: April 27, 2015 Online Published: July 30, 2015 doi:10.5539/ass.v11n19p106 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ass.v11n19p106 Abstract The article deals with the problems of meaning in formation of land-sea in the Kazakh language, dependent on extra linguistic situation. Also, types of meanings in the language, the features of lexical meaning and importance of word formation are discussed. Analyzes the opinions of scientists Novikov L. A, Kubryakova E. S, Zemsky E. A, Oralbai N., Kasim B. about word-formation relating to the basic concept of the derivative semantics. Keywords: toponyms, word formation, word formational semantics, derivative meaning, modified derivative meaning, equal derivative meaning 1. Introduction Proper nouns present a subject of special science - onomastics (from Greek onomastike - an art to denominate), studying their nominative properties, functioning in the language and society, and their formation pattern. They were studied in the works of such linguists, as A. V. Superanskaya, V. A. Nikonov, E. M. Murzaev, V. D. Bondaletov, L. A. Vvedenskaya, A. A. Ufimtseva, T. D. Dzhanuzakov, E. A. Kerimbaev, L. R. Kontsevich, V. N. Popova, V. U. Makhpirov, S. E. Isabekov, L. K. Zhanalina, G. B. Madieva, Li Ji Rin, Hon Ge Mun and others. Separate section of this science - toponymy - studies the origin of geographical names (toponyms). Toponyms constitute a significant layer of lexicology of any language, including the Kazakh one. The term "toponym" (from Greek topos "place" and onyma "name") means the proper noun, the name of any geographical object: rivers, lakes, seas, cities, villages, mountains, islands, streets, squares etc. They appear and function in close connection with nation's geography, history and ethnography. That is why toponymy presents the valuable material for linguistics, as it is not only the reflection of language, but also a reliable source for its history. Toponyms provide us with the data about former migrations of one or another nation, about contacts with other nations, and about the pattern of human settlement on new territory, about geographical peculiarities of this territory. The toponyms themselves are the evidence of the historical past; they reflect time, area, historical situations of the toponym origin (Kim, 2001, p. 323). On the other hand, the toponym history frequently helps to reveal the history of the nation itself. According to the vivid expression of T. Dzhanuzakov "The history of any land becomes unreal without tangled skein of human fates, where each thread, joining into one, constitutes the genealogical tree of separate generation or tribe. All this together is a history of the whole nation of several dozens of thousand years long; it is a cultural heritage, passing from generation to generation, as if the flare, which personifies the eternal wisdom, approved within centuries, the inner state of the nation's soul, its character and natural existence" (Djanuzakov, 1988, p. 221). The toponyms reflect national identity of the nation, its history, conditions of its life, psychic behavior, which is reflected in traditions, customs, folklore, material and spiritual culture. Toponyms synthesize the richest culture and psychology of the nation, the unique way of its visual thinking. A basis for such conclusion is the semantic content of the communicated name, influencing on human consciousness in its fullness and multidimensionality, shown in special eurhythmy of all involved linguistic means. The linguistic means reveal its potential possibilities in its content, participate in production of special toponymic structures, play an important role in acquisition of their construction laws. 2. Importance of the Problem Toponyms, being the language vocabulary, attract more and more attention of the researchers, as the study of 106 www.ccsenet.org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 11, No. 19; 2015 geographical names casts light upon many problems of history, culture, language of nations, including the ancient ones. The language vocabulary constantly develops and changes. That is why it provides the communicative need and practical use of the definite period. The vocabulary of the language is being filled in two ways: the words from the other languages and the words from the language itself. The first way is frequently connected with the historical events. It is mainly met in the toponyms. The second way is produced through the word formative language system. It also participates in formation of toponyms. As compared with the other language levels, with other linguistic systems, the word formation participates in manifestation of changes and events, taking place in surrounding environment. The peculiarity of word formation is that it depends on extra linguistic situations. It shall meet the practical need, that lies outside the language. As the word formation presents the new field of language science, many problems are waiting for being studied. Despite the fact, that the Kazakh language defines the main scientific notions, positions and principles of word formation, there are still a lot of problems that deserve to be studied. One of them is the explanation of meaning in toponyms formation. Taking into consideration the role of toponyms, as the means, influencing on the development of the person, formation of his general culture in whole, and the preservation of history of his motherland, the study of meaning in toponyms formation becomes essential. In reference to the problem of meaning in toponyms formation, the scientists have contradictory opinions. The reason is that the lexical units, as a part of land-sea names, as used as a basis for toponyms formation. Here is the problem of meaning in theoretical principles of the proper name. Since the proper names do not have commonness, as in common names, and the common names do not bear identity, individuality. The scientists Superanskaya A. V. and Nikonov V. A. state, that, despite the fact, that the semantic content of the proper name from the phonetic and morphological part complies with the main word, they cannot be considered in single meaning (Superanskaya, 1973, p. 257; Nikonov, 1980, p. 95). In the opinion of Superanskaya A. V., the meaning of proper names is determined by social and historical factors. The proper names are included to the definite lexical field and create a system. The members of this system are connected with each other by territorial, temporal, thematic and other types of forms (Superanskaya, 1973, pp. 280-281). According to Belenkaya V. D., taking into account that the object in different time gets the names in connection with different events, it is difficult to speak about grouping of proper names from the semantic point of view (Belenkaya, 1969, p. 167). However, many scientists state, that there are differences between the proper name and the common name (Voroveva, 1977, p. 22; Starostin, 1971, p. 347). Some researchers (L. V. Shcherba, E. Kurilovich, A. Gardiner) put the proper names and the common names opposite to each other. Such scientists, as V. Tashitsky, Zh. Vandries, A. L. Reformatsky deny the differences between two abovementioned lexical groups. Actually, there are common problems between the proper names and appellatives. Since they are the nouns, and they are connected with each other genetically. According to Zhukovich, it is "...the quantitative redistribution of its main features and, finally, its qualitative change in whole" (Zhuchkeyevich, 1980, p. 19). Two different views are named: 1) the toponyms are the words without lexical meaning (they are fully asemantic) and 2) despite the fact, that the toponyms meanings are vague, as compared to the appellatives, they have the semantic structure; there are difficulties in determination of toponyms semantics. The first opinion was mentioned in the works of such outstanding scientists, as A. A. Reformatsky, O. S. Akhmanova, A. A. Ufimtseva, A. A. Bulakhovsky, E. M. Galkina-Fedoruk and others. The second opinion can be found in A. A. Potebnya, F. I. Buslaeva, M. V. Sherba, S. D. Katsnelson, T. N. Kondratyeva, N. M. Shansky, I. I. Kovalina, V. F. Nikolayzen. All abovementioned theories of toponyms are nominative (named), that is why they do not have the semantics of the derived words, even if they have, they are considered to be insignificant. All toponyms lack their initial meanings, they have only sound (graphical) shape. They serve only to denote definite, specific object. If to analyze as per present-day paradigm of linguistics research, i.e. as per the principles of linguistics, the study, connected with the person: "Any name is used to denote the definite notion, consequently, further is the cognition. A Person, the Earth, the Nature are the notions of three units. In such case, the name has become the basis in cognition, hearing and presentation of these natural phenomena" (Kasym, 2010, p. 195). 107 www.ccsenet.org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 11, No. 19; 2015 3. Hypotheses and Their Correspondence to Research Design Many toponyms of the Kazakh language are mainly referred to the compound names. Compound names are proper names. The famous scientist Kasym B. told about it the following: "Compound names, the same as all other lexical units of the language, denote the strict structural and semantic integrity. Thank to this denomination in the form of word, the lexemes are included to the language system" (Kasym, 2010, p. 210). Then, any compound name, being formed on the basis of word formation, constitutes its inner semantic structure.