THE ROLE OF ORAL TRADITIONS IN THE FORMATION OF ETHNIC TOPONYMS IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH

This article explores the role of oral traditions in the formation and preservation of ethnic toponyms in Uzbek and English linguistic cultures. The research examines how myths, legends, epic narratives, folklore traditions, and collective memory influence the emergence and semantic development of geographical names connected with ethnic identity. Oral traditions are interpreted as important cultural mechanisms that preserve historical knowledge, territorial consciousness, and social values across generations. The study focuses on the comparative analysis of Uzbek and English ethnic toponyms shaped through oral storytelling and ethnocultural memory. Special attention is devoted to the influence of migration, tribal history, heroic narratives, and folklore symbolism on the evolution of place names.