Article

Name: Comparisons regarding the parameter of “shine, glow” in the heroic epics of Altai and Khakass

Authors: Elena V. Tyuntesheva

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

This paper considers the semantic structure of figurative comparisons with the parameter “shine, glow” in Altai and Khakass epic tales, revealing both commonalities and specificities in the epics of these two peoples. Altai epics exhibit a broader spectrum of constructions, compositional complexity, and semantic reinterpretations regarding the parameter of “brilliance, radiance” when compared to those of Khakass. The comparisons found within Khakass tales exhibit unique traits, for example, likening the physiques of departed bogatyrs to lunar and solar luminescence, or the precious metals of gold and silver. The standards of brilliance and radiance in the Altai epic are objects-sources of light: celestial luminaries and natural phenomena (moon, sun, stars, lightning, dawn, rainbow), fire (flame, fire). Within Khakass folklore, the moon, sun, gold, silver, and stone constitute a limited set of objects serving this function. Special attention is paid to the parameter in question as a component of the semantic content of the comparative construction. The presence of the parameter of “shine, glow” at the formal level indicates the emergence of an additional parameter according to specific ethnocultural representations and transfer from physical to emotional and other domains. The examples include the shining of celestial bodies or radiant faces to denote joy; a face of a bogatyr flaming like fire to represent anger, emotional tension; the shine of a horse, its mane, tail to indicate swiftness, and others. In these constructions, abstract nouns may be employed figuratively for comparative purposes: shining like a diamond speech to indicate eloquence.

Keywords: Altay language, Khakass language, epic, figurative comparisons, comparative constructions, components of comparison, standard of comparison, comparison parameter, metaphorical transformation

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