Article

Name: Euphemisms representing the meaning ‘to die’ in Tuvan and Mongolian languages

Authors: Nachyn M. Mongush

Institute of Linguistic Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

This paper presents a comparative study of euphemisms with the meaning “to die” in the Tuvan and Mongolian languages, specifically Khalkha-Mongolian, Buryat, and Kalmyk, with a focus also on the Tsengel dialect of the Tuvan language in the North-West of Mongolia. The euphemisms that have been identified are categorized into three distinct stylistic groups. The first group consists of euphemisms of the sublime style associated with religious (Buddhist) beliefs regarding human existence and mortality. The latter is often seen as a passage to rebirth, embodying traits like burkhan/burgan, or signifying the pathway to the realm of burkhan/burgan (heaven, paradise, nirvana, and the true world). Furthermore, it symbolizes the journey back to one’s place of residency, the eradication of suffering, and the attainment of serenity. The second category includes neutral-style euphemisms that demonstrate similarities with the concept of “non-being” formed using the negative component of Tuvan chok, Khalkha-Mongolian uguy, Buryat ugy, Kalmyk uga. Also, death means reaching the allotted time for life, passing away, lack of breath, or loss of the ability to see. The third group includes the euphemisms of substandard style used in rough speech, mainly with no direct parallels in the languages under analysis. They are defined as dysphemisms. Parallel euphemisms in the languages considered can result from shared origins, historical and cultural interactions, spiritual connections, similarities in lifestyle, and similar governance systems. Consequently, there is a shared understanding of concepts related to the world, life, and death, with distinct variations specific to each language.

Keywords: verbal euphemisms, meaning ‘to die’, stylistic affiliation of euphemisms, Tuvan language, Khalkha-Mongolian language, Buryat language, Kalmyk language, Tsengel dialect of the Tuvan language

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