PROBLEMS OF TRANSLITERATION AND TRANSLATION OF KAZAKH GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

The article addresses the challenges associated with standardizing and unifying the spelling of toponyms in Kazakhstan. The authors conduct an analysis of the linguistic variability of toponyms, exploring methods for their transcription into Kazakh, Russian, and English languages. The study's findings reveal that a majority of the country's geographical names undergo various modifications. The authors identify and scrutinize several types of transformations, including transliteration, phonetic adjustments, morphological changes, lexical transformations, reduction (pollination), translation or calquing, reinterpretation, and renaming (denomination). The study establishes that these modifications adhere to general language laws and are influenced by differences in the typological characteristics of Turkic and Slavic languages. The article argues that the intensification of toponym renaming processes necessitates coordination and control by state administration bodies. This involves systematic organization and standardization of geographical names. The issue of standardizing geographical names in Kazakhstan is particularly pertinent, especially amid ongoing discussions about the country's potential shift to the Latin script.