USE OF TOPONYMS OF THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PODILLIA IN EXCURSION ACTIVITIES (TERNOPIL REGION)

The article emphasizes the importance of awakening national consciousness and patriotism through the organization and provision of excursion services based on local history material. It is important to involve the young generation in researching and learning about the region, for the sake of expanding its national memory and outlook, awakening pride in its past and future, and understanding Ukrainian identity. The geographical and historical features of the origin of the names of selected settlements of the Ternopil region, their meaning, development, current state, spelling and pronunciation have been studied. The toponymy of the Ternopil region is extremely rich and unexplored at the same time and has many prospects for its use for the implementation of excursion activities. For toponymic research, tourism workers can use a geographical map, archival and literary materials, and official reference sources. In the course of this study, the origin of the names of the most interesting for tourist and excursion activities, settlements of the Ternopil region, which are located directly on excursion routes or close to their passage, is described. Also, an important criterion for the selection of these settlements was the interesting features of historical, natural or human factors that influenced the formation of their names, which makes it possible to acquaint the users of excursion services with the history of Ternopil Oblast through its reflection of the geography and history of the region in these names. This information makes it possible to fill the tour guide's story, as an important component of the tour, with interesting material along the entire tour route and makes it possible to implement various methods of the tour method. Recommendations are given for improving the methodology of conducting any excursion using the research material. The article emphasizes the relevance of such local history and toponymic research in modern society, which makes it possible to get acquainted with the history of settlements in the Ternopil region, to study the peculiarities of the formation of the names of cities and villages of the region due to many factors, among which geographical and historical factors take the main position. Motivating and involving young people in such knowledge of the region for the sake of expanding their national memory and outlook is also relevant. Keywords: toponymic studies; toponyms; settlement; origin of the name of the village; history of the city; organization of excursion services; road excursion information; methodological techniques; method of conducting excursions.