Representation of Nature, Climatic and Geographical Features in Mazandarani Anthroponymy and Toponyms: A Cognitive Morphology Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in Linguistics, Faculty of Languages and Literature, Islamic Azad University (Science and Research Branch), Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Linguistics at Islamic Azad University, Science and research branch of Tehran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30473/il.2026.77624.1750

Abstract

In any language, proper names (onyms) and toponyms not only facilitate communication but also reflect the interactions between humans, mind, and environment. This study investigates how climatic elements are conceptualized by Mazandarani speakers and how the metaphorical and symbolic structure of these words is reflected in their cognition. A descriptive-analytical method was used to examine the relationship between lexicon and environment. The statistical population comprised Mazandarani anthroponym and toponyms. The sample included 110 purposefully selected items containing names of plants, climate, natural elements, and animals. Data were drawn from the book Farhang-e Namhā-ye Mazandarāni and field recordings from speakers in Sari. Morphological analysis followed the cognitive morphology framework of Hamawand (2011). The results reveal a pattern of "multi-layered competition in the construction of compounds." Accordingly, Mazandarani speakers employ two distinct cognitive patterns for conceptualizing natural elements: in Anthroponym, the "metaphorical-simile" pattern dominates, characterized by the domain of "comparison"; in toponyms, the "objective-referential" approach prevails, characterized by the domain of "place."

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References

 
 
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Journal of Sociolinguistics
Volume 9, Issue 3 - Serial Number 35
September 2026
Pages 61-87

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