Cognitive Linguistic Perspectives on Hydronyms: A Comparative Study OF English AND Uzbek Place Names

This paper explores the cognitive linguistic dimensions of hydronyms, focusing on English and Uzbek place names related to water bodies. Drawing upon a corpus-based methodology, the study analyzes semantic patterns, conceptual metaphors, and cultural models embedded in river, lake, and stream names. The comparative approach highlights how both languages encode physical, cultural, and metaphorical aspects of water into naming practices. While English hydronyms often reflect descriptive physical attributes and historical settlement patterns, Uzbek hydronyms convey rich cultural, ecological, and symbolic values tied to nomadic traditions and environmental worldview. The findings demonstrate that hydronyms, beyond being geographical markers, also serve as cognitive artifacts reflecting collective memory and ethnocultural identity.