UNDERSTUDIED PHASES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEK ONOMASTICS: TRANSFORMATION STAGES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

Onomastics, the linguistic discipline concerned with the study of proper names, emerged as an independent field in Uzbekistan during the second half of the twentieth century. This article examines several understudied phases in its development, with particular attention to the integration of linguostatistical methods and the movement toward disciplinary autonomy between the 1960s and 1990s. Employing a comparative-historical and descriptive approach, the study analyzes 25 rare and underutilized sources, including archival conference proceedings and unpublished dissertations. The findings reveal a two- to threefold increase in onomastic dictionaries between 1970 and 1990, alongside significant specialization within subfields such as anthroponymy and toponymy. However, dialectal name systems and international influences remain insufficiently explored. The study highlights key research gaps and offers directions for future investigation.