TOPONYMS OF THE FERGHANA REGION IN “DEVONI LUG‘ATIT TURK”:HISTORICAL–GEOGRAPHICAL AND LINGUISTIC INTERPRETATION

Abstract

This study investigates a set of toponyms related to the Ferghana Valley recorded in Mahmud al-Kashgari’s 11th-century lexicographical masterpiece “Devoni lug‘atit-turk”. Based on linguistic, historical, and geographic analysis, the article interprets the semantic structure of terms such as jig‘ach, Ala jig‘ach, and Aruq turuq, examining their connection to the natural environment, socio-economic landscape, and ethno-political processes of medieval Central Asia. The findings demonstrate that Kashgari’s records provide direct evidence of environmental diversity, settlement patterns, and economic specialization in the region, offering invaluable data for the reconstruction of medieval Turkic geography. The article concludes that toponyms found in “Devoni lug‘atit-turk” are not merely linguistic elements but functional markers reflecting the cultural memory, ecological features, and historical interactions that shaped the Ferghana Valley.