Resorting to semantico-structural and etimological analysis of several Sughdian geographical names (toponyms) of Tsintsyan-Uygur autonomous area of China the author determines a historic territory of habitation of the Iranian-speaking tribes in this region. He substantiates the Sughdian origin of many toponyms. In the geographical dictionary of Sin-Tsyan there are a number of toponyms which sprang up in the Zeravshan valley: Samarkand, Yerkand, Kharasshkat, Chinankat, Zeravshan, Kashgar, Artuch, Kashgar, Kichin Artuch. Topoformant or toponym-forming suffix –kat and its variants –kand, -kant, -kent, -kata, -kada, - gand contained in more than hundred toponyms has ancient Iranian historic roots and variant -kat in the Sughdian language.
geographical names (toponyms), Xinjiang, Samarkand, Khashakat, Koshgar, Artuch
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