A geographical evaluation of the Aktobe oblast's toponym changing and elimination dynamics from soviet names

Abstract

One significant component of cultural heritage is represented by regional toponymy. In post-Soviet nations like Kazakhstan, the decommunization – the process of dropping Soviet names – is a dynamic process now underway. Old names for geographical features and settlements are accepted and then given new ones as part of this process. The nation's historical and cultural legacy must be preserved, and this procedure is crucial to that goal. An examination of oikonyms in the Aktobe oblast demonstrates that decommunization brought about modifications linked to historical events in addition to affecting names connected to revolutionary and Soviet personalities. This is a continuous process that is built upon the creation of geographic databases. It is essential to remember that place name modifications are taken into account in relation to their frequency and sociolinguistic characteristics. A semantic categorization of place names in the Aktobe oblast was done using data analysis, and the changes in these names throughout the time under consideration were examined. The structure of renaming types in the post-Soviet era is analysed, and two major phases of transition are recognised. A considerable portion of toponyms were discovered to have had their names changed, which suggests that the cultural landscape of the area has changed. First and foremost, changes in the republic's geopolitical and socioeconomic landscape are to blame for the renaming. The post-Soviet era saw particularly notable developments, mostly related to the de-Sovietization process. Previous cultural strata underwent changes, which were reflected in the compression of old toponyms. The research examines the factors leading to recent alterations in the names of rural villages in the Aktobe oblast, as well as matters like the frequency of name recurrence. The research looks closely at how the Soviet names of the city of Aktobe were cleared of oikonyms and urbanonyms. Undertaken with student engagement, this field of study offers a comprehensive grasp of the dynamics and importance of the decommunization-desovetization process. The survey was completed by 76 students in the geography educational programme. A sociolinguistic study involving pupils was carried out to discern the current onomastic condition in the region.