Spatial and temporal motives of naming in the microtoponymy of the Irkutsk region

The study aims to identify the features of naming of highly local geographical objects of the Irkutsk region, which, based on their motivations, can form the lexico-semantic groups “Space” and “Time”. The article analyzes geographical objects important for rural residents and productive motives for their naming, identifies types of microtoponyms that explicate the motivational features of space and time, and determines the linguocultural features of these toponymic lexemes. This allows us to gain understanding of their evaluative components. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the introduction of new factual material, which is considered an important component of regional culture: a source of information about the way of life, axiological attitudes, and preferences of Siberians. The semantic analysis of microtoponyms helps to determine the interpretative-semantic features of naming of geographical objects. The study found that the microtoponymy of the region is represented by diverse classes of toponymic lexemes, which reflect the specifics of regional naming and the values of rural residents of the Irkutsk region. The widespread toponymic metaphorization demonstrates people’s figurative perception of individual geographical objects and their emotional and expressive designation.