SEMANTIC EXPANSION OF TOPOLEXEMES IN OLD TURKIC TEXTS: THE CASE OF yär AND sub

Abstract

This article examines the semantic development and expansion of meaning of topolexemes occurring in Old Turkic texts, particularly through the examples of yär and sub. Based on materials from historical texts, the study elucidates the initial cosmological and geographical meanings of these topolexemes and their subsequent enrichment with political, social, and mythological semes. The research identifies the multifaceted meanings of the lexeme yär, including “earth,” “territory,” “state domain,” “homeland,” and “borderland,” and reveals its conceptual significance within the Old Turkic worldview. Furthermore, the article analyzes the meanings of the lexeme sub, such as “water,” “river,” “water basin,” “land and water,” and “homeland,” as well as the historical-semantic characteristics of other geographical terms associated with these lexical units, including ïlaγ, tarïγlaγ, kögmän, bältir, baš, köl, ögüz, özäk, and özän. The study also demonstrates the processes of metaphorical and metonymic expansion of topolexemes, their continuity throughout the history of Turkic languages, and the preservation of certain lexical units in modern Turkic languages and toponyms. The findings serve as an important source for understanding the semantic evolution of Old Turkic vocabulary and the spatial perceptions of Turkic peoples.