Article

Name: Representatives of the family Felidae in the linguoculture and mythology of the Altaians

Authors: N. R. Oinotkinova

Gorno-Altaisk State University, Gorno-Altaisk, Russian Federation

In the section Повествовательный фольклор

Abstract:

The study focuses on the lexical-semantic and linguistic-cultural features of zoonyms denoting the representatives of the family Felidae in the Altai language. The study sources are various folklore texts and dictionaries of the Altai and other Turkic and Mongolian languages. The main research methods include descriptive, lexical-semantic, contextual, and component analysis. The novelty is a comprehensive description of the lexical-semantic features of zoolexemes shülüzin (lynx), maany (manul, wild cat), irbis (snow leopard), arslan/karakula (lion), and bar (tiger) in the context of Altai language and folklore. The Altai Mountains are inhabited by only three feline animals: manul, lynx, and snow leopard. The Altai language zoonyms for these species, maan, shülüzin, and irbis, were borrowed from the Mongolian language. The differences have been found in the designations of lynx: the southern dialects of Altai and in the Altai literary language feature the Mongolism shülüzin and Chalkan, Kumandin, and Tubalar have the Siberian word üüs/üs. The Türkic zoonyms bar and arslan/karakula have been preserved in the language and folklore of the Altai people, despite these animals do not live in the Altai Mountains. These animals are depicted in Scythian archaeological monuments, the 12-year eastern calendar, and Altai myths. Belonging to the category of “black (dark)” animals created by the deity of the underworld, the manul, lynx, and snow leopard are mythologized. While hunting these animals te Altaians would follow specific prohibitions and customs. The depictions of these predators in myths and legends have come to symbolize power and might.

Keywords: Altai language, Altai folklore; Altai language; zoonym, zoolexeme, manul, lynx, leopard, fauna of the Altai Mountains, cultural stereotype

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