The article considers regional issues of the Kazakh transtoposystem. There are a number of problematic issues related to cross-border Kazakh toponymy. The article analyzes only one aspect – the status of binary names in the cross-border toposystem. The goal is to study how obvious the binary opposition is there, considering the etymology of toponyms based on semantic opposition. The toposystem of the Northern and Western regions bordering Russia was used as the empirical material for the study. According to the border (...) administrative-regional division, a number of districts of such regions of the country as North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Kostanay, Western Kazakhstan, Aktobe, and Atyrau border with Russia. In the article, a series of binary names along the toponyms of this cross-border zone is formed. In particular, Úlken-Kіshі (Big-Small), Aq-Qara (Black-White), Qara-Sary (Black-Yellow), Jaqsy-Jaman (Good-Bad), Jyly-Sýyq (Warm-Cold), and Ashy-Tushy (Bitter-Fresh) are analyzed. The difference between toponymic binary names and lexical antonyms is considered. We discuss the fact that the contradiction in lexical antonyms is clearly expressed, but in binary opposition along toponyms, the contradiction may not be complete. It is reported that the contradiction of toponyms is recognized only in the toponymic context, and sometimes it is even possible to form a related pair, rather than a semantic contradiction. (shrink)

Jewels in the Sea! If Minos’ jewel brings about the probationary dive of young Theseus , the green-stoned signet-ring of Polycrates is the subject of quite a paradoxical ordeal. Syloson’s coat and Gyges’ ring can be seen through it, although without any reference to the sea.Si le bijou de Minos provoque le plongeon probatoire du jeune Thésée , la bague-cachet à pierre verte de Polycrate est l’objet, pour sa part, d’une bien paradoxale ordalie. Apparaissent en filigrane, bien que sans référence (...) thalassale, le manteau de Syloson et la bague de Gygès. (shrink)