SOCIO-LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVES ON ETHNIC TOPONYMS IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH: LANGUAGE, IDENTITY, AND TERRITORY

This article explores ethnic toponyms in Uzbek and English from a sociolinguistic perspective, focusing on the interrelationship between language, identity, and territory. The study examines how place names reflect ethnic affiliation, social structure, and historical processes, and how they function as markers of collective identity. Drawing on sociolinguistic theory, onomastics, and linguocultural analysis, the research investigates the formation, transformation, and interpretation of ethnic toponyms in both linguistic contexts. The findings reveal that Uzbek toponyms are closely tied to tribal identity, geographical features, and historical memory, whereas English toponyms reflect patterns of migration, colonization, and social hierarchy. The study demonstrates that toponyms serve as linguistic evidence of social and cultural dynamics, providing insight into how communities conceptualize space and belonging.