Chuvash folk pathonyms: A lexicographical perspective

The work is dedicated to the development of a dictionary of disease names (pathonyms) functioning within the Chuvash linguistic environment. Pathonyms represent a unique body of material, the scientific study of which has not only ethnographic, but also medical significance. They constitute an important part of the lexico-phraseological system of the Chuvash language and culture. The compilation of a specialized ethnolinguistic dictionary is necessary for the systematization of existing material for further in-depth research. The etymologies of pathonyms can be used to clarify the scenario of Chuvash and foreign cultural contacts, as well as milestones in Chuvash ethnic history. The research objective is the compilation of the macro- and microstructure of the dictionary as a starting point for the systematic study of Chuvash pathonyms. The scientific novelty of the work lies in determining the vocabulary composition and developing the microstructure of the dictionary entry. The research established that the best method for the initial structuring of units in the lexico-semantic group “Pathonyms of Chuvash Folk Medicine” is the lexicographical processing of the material, which is crucial for subsequent comprehensive linguistic study of pathonyms within the framework of linguistic ethnology and contactology.