Alexander I. Iliadi
Doctor of Philological Sciences, Full Professor at the Chair
of Translation, Theoretical and Applied Linguistics
State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
Odessa, Ukraine
e-mail: alexandr.iliadi@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5078-8316
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24195/2616-5317-2025-41.1
SUMMARY
The objective of this paper is to test the hypothesis about Alanian language affinity of some hydronyms in the area of Slavonic toponymy. With high probability they are explained by appealing to Ossetian lexis, which is the result of historical evolution of Alanian vocabulary. The important morphological feature of the hydronyms under consideration for their Alanian attribution is the sum of formatives, exact genetic analogue of which are detected in Ossetian vocabulary. The etymological analysis enables to single out the six Alanisms, the form and likely semantics of which are confidently restored like *ana-tak[ā] or *ana-tax[ā] ʻstagnant waterʼ, *arši-l- or *arš-il- ʻsmall streamʼ, *māl-arš-ā ʻstream from pool, swamp, marshʼ, *māli weni ʻstream from poolʼ, *mār-ud ʻstream/river with weirʼ, *mez-ur ʻjet (stream)ʼ or *meʒ-ur ʻrunning (flow, stream)ʼ.
Key words: etymology, Alanian, reconstruction, prototype, derivative, suffix, hydronym.
REFERENCES
Abaev V. I. (1958–1989). Historical-Etymological Dictionary of Ossetic. T. I–IV. URL: https://www.twirpx.com/file/260445/
Bailey H. W. (1979). Dictionary of Khotan Saka. Cambridge ; London etc. : Cambridge University Press.
Dickenmann E. (1966). Studien zur Hydronymie des Savesystems. Heidelberg : Carl Winter, Bd I–ІІ [in German].
Dzitstsoity Y. A. (2018). Types of Word Formation in the Ossetian Toponymy. Bulletin of NOIHSS, 27 (66), pp. 94–111.
Emmerick R. E., Skjærvø P. O. (1982). Studies in the Vocabulary of Khotanese. I. Wien : Verlag der Österreichischen Academie der Wissenschaften.
Etymological Dictionary of the Slavonic Languages. Proto-Slavonic Lexical Stratum (1999). Edited by O. N. Trubachev. Vol. 25. URL: https://www.twirpx.com/files/science/languages/linguistics/comparison/ieuro/slavyan/
Gabaraev N. J. (1977). Morphological Structure of Word and Word Formation in the Modern Ossetian Language. Tbilisi : Metsniereba.
Iliadi A. I. (2008). Slovʼjansʼki movni relicty v toponimiji Balkan [The Slavonic Language Relicts in the Toponymy of Balkans]. Kyiv ; Kirovograd : KOD [in Ukrainian].
Iliadi A. I. (2009). Praslovʼjansʼka toponimija balkansʼkogo arealu [Proto- Slavonic Toponymy of Balkan Area: Doctoral Thesis in Philological Sciences : 10.02.03]. Kyiv [in Ukrainian].
Iliadi A. I. (2025). Varia Onomastica: Sarmato-Alanica (Danapria, Bohus). Acta Linguistica Lithuanica, № 92, pp. 1–28.
Mayrhofer M. (1992). Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen. I Band. Heidelberg : Carl Winter [in German].
Orel V. E. (1986). To the Issue of Iranian Hydronymy Relicts in the Dnieper, Dniester and Southern Bug Rivers Basins. Topics in the Study of Language, №5, pp. 107–113.
Rastorgueva V. S., Edelman D. I. (2000–2020). Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Languages. T. 1–6.
Shaposhnikov A. K. (2007). Sarmatian and Turanian Language Relicts of the Northern Black Sea Region. Etymology. 2003–2005, pp. 255–322.
Shaposhnikov A. K. (2007а). Language Antiquities of the Nothern Sea Region (https://www.academia.edu/8949716).
Slovnyk gidronimiv Ukrajiny (1979). [Dictionary of Hydronyms of Ukraine]. Kyiv : Naukova dumka [in Ukrainian].
Smolitskaja G. P. (1976). Hydronymy of the Oka River Basin (List of the Rivers and Lakes). URL: https://www.twirpx.com/file/1004131/
Toporov V. N., Trubachev O. N. (1962). Linguistic Analysis of the Upper
Dnieper River Region Hydronyms. URL: https://www.twirpx.com/file/1794406/
Tskhuyrbaty Z. D., Dzitstsoity Y. A. (2015). Toponymy of South Ossetia. T. II: Znauri District; Tskhinvali District. Naukæ [in Ossetian].
Vasmer M. (ed.) (1961–1969). Wörterbuch der russischen Gewässernamen. Bd I–V. Berlin ; Wiesbaden : Otto Harrassowitz [in German].