Finno-Ugric World

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.241-252
https://elibrary.ru/nwohcj
УДК / UDC 2-183.5(=511.152)

The Concept of Human Soul in Traditional Worldview of the Mordovians

S. S. Panfilova

National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

T. P. Devyatkina

Mordovian State Pedagogical University named after M. E. Evseviev, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, there is a growing relevance in the study of animism within the traditional cultures of Finno-Ugric ethnic groups in the academic sphere. In this regard, a number of scientific gaps concerning the Mordovian people have been identified, necessitating further scholarly attention. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive description of the concept of the “human soul” in the traditional worldview of the Mordva. Based on this, the authors propose their own model of the “human soul” within traditional Mordovian culture.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted based on published folklore-ethnographic materials, the authors’ field materials, and their own observations. The following research methods were employed in the work: the descriptive method, which allowed for the generalization of folklore and field materials; the systemic method, applied for the comprehensive analysis of folklore materials in their interconnection with ethnographic facts and cultural-historical processes; and the structural-typological method, which helped construct a comprehensive model of the concept of the “human soul” in the traditional culture of the Mordovians.

Results and Discussion. A comprehensive model of the concept of the “human soul” in the traditional culture of the Mordovians has been proposed, integrating structural, functional, and substantive components. For the first time, the soul of a living person was examined: its acquisition, location within the body, and external appearance. Additionally, information was supplemented regarding the transition of the soul to the afterlife, its existence there, and its interaction with the world of the living. A hypothesis was put forward about the possible belief among the Mordovians in the reincarnation of the soul among relatives. The authors concluded that in modern Mordovian culture, the rituals of commemorating the deceased’s soul have undergone significant transformation and exhibit similarities with those of Orthodox Finno-Ugric peoples and Russians.

Conclusion. The conclusions drawn by the authors contribute to the development of research on the traditional worldview of the Mordovian people. The proposed comprehensive model of the concept of the “human soul” can be applied to the study of animistic beliefs in the traditional cultures of other Finno-Ugric ethnic groups.

Keywords: Mordovians, folk beliefs, pre-Christian gods, human soul, funeral rites, memorial rites, deceased, reincarnation, folklore, myth, protective charms

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Panfilova S.S., Devyatkina T.P. The Concept of Human Soul in Traditional Worldview of the Mordovians. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(2):241–252. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.241-252

Information about the authors:

Serafima S. Panfilova, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of English Philology, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0445-1007, SPIN-code: 6971-9981, scully_ss@rambler.ru

Tatiana Р. Devyatkina, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Professor, Professor of the Department of Native Language and Literature, Mordovian State Pedagogical University named after M. E. Evseviev (11A Studencheskaya St., Saransk 430007, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5334-688X, SPIN-code: 3716-0620, tatyana_devyatki@mail.ru

Authors’ contribution:

S. S. Panfilova – development of methodology; conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the data; preparation and creation of the published work by those from the original research group, specifically critical review, commentary or revision – including pre- or post-publication stages; verification, whether as a part of the activity or separate, of the reproducibility of results and other research outputs and other research outputs; presentation of the published work, specifically data visualization.

T. P. Devyatkina – ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims; conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the data; preparation and creation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation); oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution, including mentorship external to the core team.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 03.02.2025; revised 25.03.2025; accepted 02.04.2025.

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Original article

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.216-228
https://elibrary.ru/hdlqdk
УДК / UDC 391.1(470.343)

Cultural Analysis of Belt-Making Traditions of the Ural Mari

A. V. Berezinaа

Ural State Forest Engineering University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation

T. V. Zharkovab

Sverdlovsk Regional Museum named after O. E. Kler, Polevskoy Branch, Polevskoy, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The tradition of belt-making among the Ural Mari people represents a unique element of cultural heritage, possessing both practical and symbolic significance. The research problem lies in the insufficient study of how these craft traditions have transformed under the influence of geographical, socio-economic, and spiritual factors. Existing literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of the Ural Mari’s craft practices, which underscores the relevance of research in this field. The aim of this study is to determine the extent of transformation in the belt-making craft traditions of the Ural Mari people under the influence of geographical, socio-economic, and spiritual factors.

Materials and Methods. In the course of the work, the ethnographic method was used in combination with a sociological survey technique, employed for data collection during field research. This included observation, interviews with practitioners of Mari craft traditions, photography, and video recording. The reconstructive and analytical approaches to the study made it possible to identify the distinctive features of weaving techniques among Mari artisans.

Results and Discussion. The study results show that the Ural Mari people, isolated from their Volga region kin, have managed to preserve unique craft practices that remain a symbol of their cultural identity and worldview to this day. Traditions such as tablet weaving and loom weaving carry not only utilitarian but also profound symbolic meanings, reflecting the Mari people’s life cycle and spiritual beliefs.

Conclusion. The article highlights the importance of preserving traditions in the context of globalization and cultural exchange, which pose risks to the survival of unique artisanal practices. Modern changes call for the integration of educational programs and community initiatives aimed at transmitting knowledge and engaging youth in traditional crafts. Recommendations are provided for organizing cultural events, workshops, and state support to ensure the sustainability of Mari cultural heritage. The study emphasizes the need to safeguard cultural constants, maintain ethnic identity, and preserve traditional crafts in the face of contemporary challenges.

Keywords: Ural Mari, traditional crafts, belt-making, cultural heritage, ethnic identity, cultural transformation, costume symbolism, geographical factors, socio-economic influences, tradition preservation

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Berezina A.V., Zharkova T.V. Cultural Analysis of Belt-Making Traditions of the Ural Mari. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(2):216‒228. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.216-228

Information about the authors:

Anna V. Berezina, Associate Professor of the Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines of the Socio-Economic Institute, Ural State Forest Engineering University (37 Sibirsky Trakt, Ekaterinburg 620100, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6490-408X, SPIN-code: 2878-7201, berezinanna@mail.ru

Tatyana V. Zharkova, Research Fellow, Sverdlovsk Regional Museum named after O. E. Kler, Polevskoy Branch (93 Ilyicha St., Polevskoy 623391, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6443-9467, tat.sem-1982@yandex.ru

Authors’ contribution:

A. V. Berezina – formulation of the research idea, objectives, and tasks; manuscript creation and preparation: drafting the manuscript, including translation into a foreign language; development of the research methodology; critical review of the manuscript draft, including comments and revisions before and after publication.

T. V. Zharkova – formulation of the research idea, objectives, and tasks; supervision, leadership, and mentoring during research planning and implementation; conducting the research process, including data collection; visualization of research results and obtained data.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 03.01.2025; revised 25.02.2025; accepted 03.03.2025.

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Expressions of Creative Ethnic Identity in Podlesnaya Tavla

N. I. Voronina, I. L. Sirotina

National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The article explores the phenomenon of the ethnocultural identity space in the Erzya village of Podlesnaya Tavla, located in the Kochkurovsky District of the Republic of Mordovia. The village’s natives have embodied their “Tavlian identity” in various forms and types of artistic practices. While the works of individual Tavlians have been featured in exhibition reports and occasional publications, no comprehensive study has yet been produced to holistically present the cultural layer of creative endeavors by Tavlian artists, musicians, and woodcarvers. The aim of this research is to examine the uniqueness of Podlesnaya Tavla as an Erzya village, which lies in its preservation of ethnic cultural traditions and meanings.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted at the intersection of cultural studies and art history (incorporating data from ethnography and psychology). The research follows a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, examining the “Tavlinsky color” in the realm of folk art through cultural paradigms and categories, employing a semiotic framework. The article is based on the principle of systematicity, which determined the selection of relevant research methods (descriptive and explanatory, methods of systemic analysis and comparison in working with ethnographic sources and artifacts). The study also employed general scientific methods, including phenomenological, integrative, comparative-historical, and axiological approaches.

Results and Discussion. As part of the study on the forms of creative activity among the natives of Podlesnaya Tavla, markers of their ethnocultural identity were identified. The research revealed the forms of artistic products, materials, manufacturing techniques, and foundational principles in wood carving; melodic and genre features of Mordovian songs performed by the ensemble Torama were determined; and the distinctive style and artistic works of painters living in Podlesnaya Tavla were analyzed. Their art is rooted in the poetic representation of Tavla culture and their native Erzya ethnicity. For the first time, the article highlights the diversity of Tavla’s cultural color within the broader Mordovian region and traces the transcriptions of ethno-identity in the works of Tavla artisans.

Conclusion. In the works of contemporary Tavla artists, a transition from a folkloric worldview to a professional mindset is evident, which is reflected in the emergence of new creative trends – ethnosymbolism and ethnofuturism. The conclusions drawn by the authors contribute to the development of national humanitarian thought and to the understanding of ethno-identity and the unique character of artistic ethnoculture. The materials of the article can be used in conducting semiotic research across various fields of visual and decorative-applied arts.

Keywords: Republic of Mordovia, village of Podlesnaya Tavla, ethnos, erzya, culture, wood carving, Tavli identity, Tavli flavor, transcriptions of ethnoidentity

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Voronina N.I., Sirotina I.L. Expressions of Creative Ethnic Identity in Podlesnaya Tavla. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(2):202–215. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.202-215

Information about the authors:

Natalya I. Voronina, Dr.Sci. (Philos.), Professor, Director of the M. M. Bakhtin Center, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6821-828X, SPIN-code: 1783-1554, kafkmgu@mail.ru

Irina L. Sirotina, Dr.Sci. (Philos.), Professor, Professor of the Department of Design and Advertising, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4498-5529, SPIN-code: 4034-0766, sirotinail@mail.ru

Authors’ contribution:

N. I. Voronina – ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims; development of methodology; conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the data; preparation and creation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation).

I. L. Sirotina – Manuscript creation and preparation: critical analysis of the manuscript draft, incorporation of comments and revisions by members of the research team, including at both pre-publication and post-publication stages.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 20.01.2025; revised 26.03.2025; accepted 31.03.2025.

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.188-201
https://elibrary.ru/nzttxh
УДК / UDC 392.71:008

Everyday Ethnicity in the Urban Environment of the Finno-Ugric Republic Capitals of the Russian Federation (Izhevsk and Saransk)

O. A. Bogatova

National Research Mordovia State University,Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The article employs qualitative and quantitative research data to examine the key manifestations of ethnicity in everyday communication and its institutionalization within the urban environments of the Finno-Ugric republics of the Russian Federation, focusing on the capital cities of the Udmurt Republic and Mordovia – Izhevsk and Saransk. The study addresses the pressing social issue of how ethnicity among the populations of Russia’s republics transforms amid the modernization of regional societies, yet the forms and expressions of ethnicity within the polyethnic urban settings of contemporary cities remain underexplored. The research aims to characterize the principal manifestations of ethnicity in the urban contexts of these Finno-Ugric regional capitals, both at the level of interpersonal interactions and in its institutionalized forms.

Materials and Methods. The field study conducted under the author’s supervision in 2020–2022 employed sociological methods, including large-scale questionnaire surveys and focus groups, as well as the “anthropological genealogy” approach to examine the city as both space and place through in-depth expert interviews. The research comprised four focus groups with residents of the surveyed cities (2020), large-scale questionnaire surveys of urban populations in Saransk (November – December 2020) and Izhevsk (2021), and an expert survey using in-depth interviews.

Results and Discussion. In the capital cities of ethnic republics, ethnicity manifests itself at the interpersonal level through micro-practices of everyday communication, including linguistic markers that signal group affiliation. At the level of mass consciousness, the ethnonational components of identity in these regional capitals are characterized by an association of the republic with its titular ethnic group, an identification of the capital city with republican state symbols and institutions, and an acceptance of official bilingualism as a symbolic attribute of the republic – despite the absence of mandatory participation in corresponding language practices. In ethnocultural terms, this is reflected in the acknowledgment of the urban environment’s multiethnic and multicultural nature.

Conclusion. The conclusions drawn by the author contribute to the advancement of such fields as urban anthropology, ethnosociology, and regional studies, particularly in the examination of ethnicity within urban environments. This includes identifying the social preconditions for the development of tolerant interethnic relations and analyzing the transformation of capital cities in republics into “transnational cities”.

Keywords: ethnicity, everyday ethnicity, republics in structure of Russian Federation, Finno-Ugric peoples, interethnic relations, sociology of the region, urban studies, large city, urban environment.

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Bogatova O.A. Everyday Ethnicity in the Urban Environment of the Finno-Ugric Republic Capitals of the Russian Federation (Izhevsk and Saransk). Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(2)188–201. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.188-201

Information about the author:

Olga A. Bogatova, Dr.Sci. (Sociol.), Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-7910, Scopus ID: 57193241831, SPIN-code: 4533-7204, bogatovaoa@gmail.com

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 30.01.2025; revised 10.03.2025; accepted 17.03.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.179-187
https://elibrary.ru/rzxfcm
УДК / UDC 726.84(059)(=511.152)

Lunar Calendar from the Mordovian Starosotensky Burial Ground

V. V. Stavitsky

Penza State University, Penza, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The lunar calendar is one of the oldest methods of counting the days of the year. In the Mordovian language, the lexeme ‘‘kov’’ denotes both the moon and a calendar month. Consequently, the medieval Mordovians had a lunar calendar, but no material evidence of this has been previously presented. The problem of this study lies in the insufficient informativeness of available ethnographic and linguistic sources, which lack chronological data. The aim of the research is to identify material evidence of the existence of a lunar calendar among the medieval Mordovians and to clarify the chronology of its usage.

Materials and Methods. The article examines materials from a female burial at the Starosotensky Mordovian cemetery, which contained a medallion depicting a lunar calendar. Through planigraphic analysis of burial structures and comparative study of grave goods, the chronology of the burial is established, along with its ethno-cultural and religious affiliation. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of the lunar calendar in medieval Mordovian culture.

Results and Discussion. The discovered calendar was attributed by researchers to the Golden Horde period, with the conclusion that it was of Islamic origin. However, analysis of the burial assemblage indicates that the grave in which it was found dates to no later than the mid-13th century – a time when the Golden Horde settlement at the site of present-day Narovchat village had not yet been established, and the local Mordovian population had no documented contact with Muslim communities. Furthermore, the burial was conducted in accordance with pagan funerary practices. Notably, the Islamic calendar comprises 12 lunar months, whereas the medallion features 13. The medallion itself is crafted from a silver-hued alloy, which held symbolic associations with moonlight among the Mordovian population.

Conclusion. The discovery of a lunar calendar depiction in a 13th-century Mordovian pagan burial confirms the persistence of lunar timekeeping among the Mordovians into the late Middle Ages. The calendar was likely produced by local craftsmen, possibly modeled after Vyatich coin-shaped pendants. By clarifying the ethnocultural and religious identity of the burial containing the calendar, this finding contributes to the growing body of material evidence for the use of lunar calendars in medieval pagan Finno-Ugric cultures.

Keywords: Middle Ages, pre-Mongolian period, Mokhshi town, paganism, lunar calendar

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Stavitsky V.V. Lunar Calendar from the Mordovian Starosotensky Burial Ground. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(2):179–187. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.179-187

Information about the аuthor:

Vladimir V. Stavitsky, Dr.Sci. (Hist.), Professor of the Department of General History and Social Sciences, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya St., Penza 440026, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5957-3781, SPIN-code: 6740-3240, stawiczky.v@yandex.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 03.09.2024; revised 10.03.2025; accepted 17.03.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.165-178
https://elibrary.ru/txwujg
УДК / UDC 312(=511.1)(470.40/.43)(470.55/.58)

The Finno-Ugric Peoples of the Middle Volga and Southern Urals Based on the 1920 All-Russian Census: New Data

L. F. Sayfullina

Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the research is conditioned by the introduction into scientific use of a previously unused set of archival sources – farmstead cards of the 1920 agricultural census in Little Bashkiria, stored in the National Archive of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which have a significant potential for studying the history of the peasantry and ethno-demography of the region. The aim of the study is to clarify the number and determine the geographical areas of compact residence of the Finno-Ugric peoples (Mordovians, Mari, Udmurts) of the Middle Volga region on the territory of Little Bashkiria as of 1920 on the basis of a critical analysis of the primary census materials.

Materials and Methods. The study is based on the analysis of the collection of farmstead cards of the agricultural census of 1920. The historical-systemic, historical-comparative and statistical methods were applied, which allowed, on the basis of the farmstead cards of 1920, to specify the number and compare the previously unknown data with the published results of the census, to determine the geographical areas of residence of the Finno-Ugric peoples of the Middle East.

Results and Discussion. Significant discrepancies between the data from the household cards and the official results of the 1920 census were revealed. It was found that the number of Mordovians (16,713 people) was underestimated by official statistics by 26% (22,603 people), while the number of Mari (9,311 people) and Udmurts (531 people) was higher than the official data (7,894 people and 440 people, respectively). The discrepancies between the primary data and the published totals are explained by possible loss of some cards and/or errors in their summarization. Geographical areas of settlement were determined: the Mordovians lived compactly in the central and southern regions of Little Bashkiria, with a maximum concentration in the Sterlitamak canton (9,069 people). The main part of Mari and Udmurts settled in the north-east of the region, mainly in the territory of the former Krasnoufimsk county of Perm province.

Conclusion. The study of the primary source of the 1920 census allowed us to reveal in detail the issues of the number and geographical areas of residence of the Finno-Ugric peoples of the Middle Volga region on the territory of Little Bashkiria. Because of the insufficient source base of the Civil War period in the country, further study of the materials of the statistical research of 1920 will allow us to open new horizons in analyzing both the composition of the peasant family and the peculiarities of the economy (including the specifics of the introduction of agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry farming, etc.) of different ethnic groups of variable geographical areas of residence, as well as to determine the common and special features of each group of the population.

Keywords: Malaya Bashkiria, Civil War, Middle Volga region, agricultural census, household cards, Southern Urals, Finno-Ugric peoples, Mari, Mordovians, Udmurts

Funding: This study was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences № GZ 075-00571-25-00 dated 27.12.2024 for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027.

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Sayfullina L.F. The Finno-Ugric Peoples of the Middle Volga and Southern Urals Based on the 1920 All-Russian Census: New Data. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(2):165–178. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.165-178

Information about author:

Leyla F. Sayfullina, Cand.Sci. (Hist.), Researcher of the Department of History and Cultural History of Bashkortostan, Institute of History, Language and Literature, Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (71 Oktyabrya Prospekt, Ufa 450054, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5967-2694, SPIN-code: 3738-1319, Sleila.83@mail.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 10.02.2025; revised 17.03.2025; accepted 21.03.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.152-164
https://elibrary.ru/wjjfxs
УДК / UDC 741:81’42 Туве Янссон

Drawing as a Paralinguistic Phenomenon in Literary Texts (a Case Study of Tove Jansson’s Works)

S. P. Cherkashina

Synergy University, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The uniqueness of Tove Jansson’s persona lies in her dual role as both a writer and an artist who personally illustrated her own literary works, particularly the Moomin stories examined in this study. While Russian scholarship has so far focused solely on textual analysis of Jansson’s narratives, no dedicated studies have explored her illustrations. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between the verbal component (expressed through occasionalisms) and iconic signs (represented by illustrations). The scholarly novelty of this work consists in investigating illustrations as elements of iconic code within the Moomin narratives. The article presents a methodological framework for analyzing drawings as iconic signs.

Materials and Methods. The research material comprises Tove Jansson’s illustrations for the novellas from the Moomin series. The rationale for selecting this material lies in the opportunity to examine the methods of nominating fictional characters created by a writer from a distinct linguistic reality, as well as to determine the semantic peculiarities, functions, and nature of the interrelation between the illustrations and the verbal component. To analyze extratextual structures, the study employs a structural-semiotic method, alongside a distributional method, which enables the investigation of semantic relationships between words. The application of the phenomenological-hermeneutic method has made it possible to reveal the specifics of the author’s consciousness and objectively examine the meaning of the literary text.

Results and Discussion. The analysis of Tove Jansson’s illustrations depicting the Moomin family characters was conducted using an original model designed to reveal the interrelation between nonverbal and verbal components at the levels of expression (linguistic component), content (semantic dimension of the linguistic component), and representation (visual manifestation of the linguistic component) within a creolized text. The study revealed that the illustrations in the narratives lack semantic and structural autonomy, as they exist in complementary (mutually reinforcing) relations with the verbal component – specifically, nominative occasionalisms. The illustrations concretize their meaning, resolving the issue of ambiguous interpretation and contributing to textual conciseness.

Conclusion. The findings obtained from the analysis of creolized texts by T. Jansson can be applied in teaching such disciplines as “Foreign Philology: Finnish Language and Literature” and “Literature of Scandinavia and Finland”.

Keywords: Finnish literature, Tove Jansson, paralinguistics, paralanguage, creolized text, iconic signs, picture

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Cherkashina S.P. Drawing as a Paralinguistic Phenomenon in a Literary Text (a Case Study of Tove Jansson’s Works). Finno–Ugric World. 2026;17(2):152–164. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.152-164

Information about the author:

Svetlana P. Cherkashina, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor of the Philology Department, Synergy University (80В, bld. 5 Leningradsky Prospekt, Moscow 125315, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1816-2452, SPIN-code: 8218-1084, svechka8@mail.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 27.01.2025; revised 31.03.2025; accepted 04.04.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.140-151
https://elibrary.ru/hpfqlc
УДК / UDC 2:39(470.343)

The Prayer Invocations of Adherents of the Mari Ethnic Religion: Forms and Meanings

L. A. Abukayeva
Mari State University, Yoshkar-Ola, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The spiritual quest of humanity and the reevaluation of the role of religious factors in society, driven by global transformations, necessitate an examination of the distinctive features of religious worldviews. Interdisciplinary research conducted within the frameworks of linguistic culturology, theolinguistics, and religious conceptology enables the analysis of language as a means of recording, preserving, and transmitting the most significant aspects of culture, thereby revealing the essential characteristics of such a unique phenomenon as the Mari ethnic religion. The texts of Mari prayers have not previously been examined as objects of linguistic and culturological inquiry by scholars. The aim of this study is to identify the semantic content of words and constructions expressing devotional invocations in the prayer texts of the Mari ethnic religion.
Materials and Methods. The study used prayer texts recorded and published between the 19th and 21st centuries. A linguocultural analysis comparing the Mari people’s religious and linguistic worldviews revealed that lexical units and syntactic structures representing ritual practices reflect the distinctiveness of their ethnic religion. The application of comparative-historical and contrastive methods to a corpus of prayer texts enabled the identification of linguistic elements demonstrating the influence of Islamic and Christian traditions on the Mari religious system.

Results and Discussion. For adherents of the Mari ethnic religion, who continue to observe ancient religious rites, it is essential to use indigenous linguistic structures and forms to express their prayerful supplications, gratitude to the gods, and to experience a sense of connection with acts of the divine. A comprehensive analysis of sacred texts within the Mari traditional religion has revealed that when articulating requests in prayer texts, a categorical tone is avoided: imperative mood forms function in conjunction with linguistic devices that soften their meaning. Such forms include verbs in the subjunctive mood and compound verbs. Semantically, this emphasizes the absolute free will of the gods, underscores the enduring connection between the celestial and the earthly, and consequently, in the Mari worldview, affirms the unchanging support of individuals, families, clans, and the people by higher powers. Borrowed verbs and their modifiers serve as indicators of Mari-Turkic linguistic and cultural contacts, demonstrating that the Mari ethnic religion is an open system characterized by syncretism.

Conclusion. The findings of the study contribute to a deeper understanding of the meaning of religious rituals, as well as the role and significance of linguistic structures functioning within Mari sacred texts, while also helping to eliminate distorted interpretations of the foundational tenets of the Mari traditional religion. This, in turn, make a meaningful contribution to the fields of religious studies, theolinguistics, and linguoculturology, as well as to the strengthening of interethnic and interfaith harmony. The conclusions regarding the specific features of linguistic forms’ functioning should be taken into account when translating texts from Mari into Russian and other languages, which represents one of the prospective directions for further research.

Keywords: Mari language, Mari ethnic religion, prayer, petitionary prayer, prayer of thanks, verbs and verb phrases

Funding: The publication was prepared within the framework of the implementation of the RSF grant 25-28-00064 “Sacral texts of the Mari ethnic religion as a linguistic and cultural phenomenon”.

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Abukayeva L.A. The Prayer Invocations of Adherents of the Mari Ethnic Religion: Forms and Meanings. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(2):140‒151. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.02.140-151

Information about the author:
Lyubov А. Abukayeva, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor, Head of the Research Center for the Study of Uralic Languages, Mari State University (1 Lenin Sq., Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9622-6770, SPIN-code: 2749-3625, sylne@mail.ru

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 30.01.2025; revised 08.04.2025; accepted 14.04.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.112-125
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/qflgds
УДК / UDC 52:392

Why Are There Spots on the Moon? ‒ On the Issue of the Astronomical Codes of the Udmurt People

T. R. Dushenkova, N. V. Kondratieva
Udmurt Federal Research Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Izhevsk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The term tolëz ‘moon’ is one of the key elements in the cosmological system of the Udmurt people. However, there is a lack of sufficient scholarly work in the literature addressing the specifics of the functioning of this semiotic sign. The aim of this study is to identify the conventional and unconventional characteristics of the cultural code of tolëz (‘moon/month’) in both traditional and contemporary Udmurt culture.

Materials and Methods. The empirical foundation of the study consists of prose texts from minor folklore genres, literary works, lexicographic studies, linguistic data extracted from the National Corpus of the Udmurt Language, as well as albums on the decorative and applied arts of the Udmurt people. The methodological basis of the research includes the methods of random sampling, contextual analysis, lexicographic, and descriptive approaches, which facilitated the identification of contexts in which the examined symbol is used in both traditional and contemporary Udmurt culture.

Results and Discussion. The astronomical code toléz ‘moon’ occupies a special place in the structure of the small genres of Udmurt folklore. It is widely represented in texts of a spell-binding and fideistic nature, as well as in superstitions, beliefs, and riddles. As the research materials demonstrate, the astronomical code toléz ‘moon’ has been preserved primarily in those folkloric genres and forms that were directly associated with ritual practices. It is characterized by conventional features that contribute to the realization of the mythopoetic representation of the people regarding the structure of the world and the universe. In the modern context, there is a transformation in both the semiotic content and the conditions under which the examined code functions.

Conclusion. The use of the studied cultural code in contemporary contexts stimulates the emergence of a new, complex system of unconventional relationships, leading to the enhancement of the value of the new subject of the “contract” (artistic work, brand, or ideology) and the erasure of archaic representations of the semiotic sign. The investigation of the contexts in which the astronomical code toléz ‘moon’ is used will enable the application of the acquired knowledge to the study of a wide range of issues in folklore studies, ethnography, and cultural studies.

Keywords: verbal culture of the Udmurts, astronomical code, Udmurt riddles, Udmurt signs and beliefs, incantatory traditions

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Dushenkova T.R., Kondratieva N.V. Why Are There Spots on the Moon? ‒ On the Issue of the Astronomical Codes of the Udmurt People Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(1):112‒125. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.112-125

Information about the authors:

Tatiana R. Dushenkova, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Udmurt Federal Research Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (4 Lomonosov St., Izhevsk 426034, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-002-2514-7143, SPIN-код: 6447-5384, dushenkovatr@mail.ru

Natalia V. Kondratieva, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Udmurt Federal Research Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (4 Lomonosov St., Izhevsk 426034, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3632-503X, SPIN-code: 5206-9109, nataljakondratjeva@yandex.ru

Authors’ contribution:

T. R. Dushenkova – ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims; preparation and creation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation); verification, whether as a part of the activity or separate, of the reproducibility of results and other research outputs and other research outputs.

N. V. Kondratyeva – ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims; preparation and creation of the published work by those from the original research group, specifically critical review, commentary or revision – including pre- or post-publication stages.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 27.01.2025; revised 10.20.2025; accepted 17.02.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.099-111
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/tljlas
УДК / UDC 81’25:070:811.511.1

The Mordovian Translation Process in the Context of Literature and Print Media from the Late 18th to the 20th Century

E. M. Pyreskina, S. V. Pivkina, K. V. Dementieva
National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. For national researchers, the translation of media and literary texts holds significant scholarly interest; however, the study of translation techniques has not been a primary focus within Finno-Ugric studies. This article specifically examines the translation process as its central subject. The objective of the study is to explore scholars’ perspectives on the concept of “translation” and to analyze the dynamics of translational equivalence in Mordovia within the context of literature and printed media from the late 18th to the 20th century.

Materials and Methods. The study is based on the works of domestic researchers dedicated to examining the origins and development of Mordovian literature and the translation process. The practical section of the article focuses on analyzing publications related to translation activity, aiming to reconstruct a comprehensive picture of translation craftsmanship in the Mordovian region. The research employs traditional analytical methods, including retrospective, textological, and comparative-historical approaches, to identify transformations within the literary and translation processes.

Results and Discussion. The authors have conducted a pioneering comprehensive study of the Mordovian translation process within the context of literature and print media at the turn of the century. The research examines theoretical works on translation studies, identifies the stages of formation and development of the Mordovian translation process, and presents a comparative analysis of literary and journalistic texts from periodicals. The authors conclude that translation plays a crucial role in the dissemination and popularization of the language within the informational space.

Conclusion. The practical significance of this article lies in its potential application in the teaching of philological disciplines at the university level, as well as in the work of regional journalists. Future research prospects are associated with the study of the contemporary period and the analysis of methods for presenting translated information across various types of media.

Keywords: Republic of Mordovia, literature, print media, periodicals, translation activities, translation process

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Pyreskina E.M., Pivkina S.V., Dementieva K.V. The Mordovian Translation Process in the Context of Literature and Print Media from the Late 18th to the 20th Century. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(1):99–111. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.099-111

Information about the authors:

Elena M. Pyreskinа, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor of the Department of Journalism, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4371-7450, SPIN-code: 9405-9602, pireskina.elena@yandex.ru

Svetlana V. Pivkina, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Lecturer, Department of Journalism, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5221-0017, SPIN-code: 4559-2441, sve-pivkina@yandex.ru

Kseniya V. Dementieva, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Head of the Department of Journalism, National Research Mordovia State University, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6484-9594, SPIN-code: 9365-4480, dementievakv@gmail.com

Authors’ contribution:

E. M. Pyreskina – ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims; preparation and creation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation); oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution, including mentorship external to the core team.

S. V. Pivkina – development of methodology; conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the data.

K. V. Dementyeva – preparation and creation of the published work by those from the original research group, specifically critical review, commentary or revision – including pre- or post-publication stages.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 22.09.2024; revised 19.11.2024; accepted 27.11.2024.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.090-098
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/pxfjue
УДК / UDC 316.74.2

Exploring the Developmental Trajectory of the Institution of Clergy in the Mari Traditional Religion in the 1950s–1960s (Based on Materials from the Mari Research Institute of Language, Literature, and History)

R. A. Saberov
National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The late 1990s and early 2000s marked a new phase in the development of the Mari traditional religion and its clergy. At present, sacred grove prayers are held annually in the Republic of Mari El, with Mari kartas (priests) playing a pivotal role in sustaining this tradition. Analyzing the current ethno-religious landscape from an evolutionary perspective (tradition) or a revolutionary one (New Age) necessitates an examination of historical narratives. Scholarly works addressing the activities of the clergy within the Mari traditional religion in the 20th century remain scarce, particularly concerning the several decades following the end of World War II. The aim of this study is to identify the distinctive features of the institutional development of the Mari traditional religious clergy in the 1950s–1960s.

Materials and Methods. The research object is the ritual component of Mari ethno-religion, while the subject is its institutional framework – the priesthood – encompassing the nomenclature of religious officiants, hierarchical structure, functional responsibilities, and the specific features of ceremonial attire. The study is based on materials from the scholarly manuscript collection of the Scientific Library of the V. M. Vasilyev Mari Research Institute of Language, History, and Literature. In the course of the research, the author adhered to the principle of historicism and employed source analysis of documentary materials. The study also utilized general scientific methods, including analysis, synthesis, and comparison.

Results and Discussion. The source material documents atypical designations for priests, instances of replacing traditional customs with civil holidays and their subsequent entrenchment in village life, as well as the incorporation of new celebrations into Mari culture, accompanied by transformations of older ritual practices. At the same time, while traditional religious rites were still preserved during the studied period, their execution began to undergo significant modifications. These included the absence of ceremonial vestments among priests, the performance of ritual sacrifices not by clergy but by lay participants, and the delegation of sacred functions to women. Despite the continued presence of ritual practices within the autochthonous Mari religion in the 1950s–1960s, a pronounced crisis within the traditional religious system emerged during this period and intensified in subsequent decades. This crisis manifested in the weakening of the institutional foundations of the clergy, including the degradation of mechanisms ensuring the transmission of sacred knowledge and the partial alteration of prayer rituals.

Conclusion. The work clarified the data on the peculiarities of the development of the institute of ministers of cult of the traditional Mari religion; the processes that influenced the change of the ethno-religious situation in the Mari ASSR in 1950–1960s.

Keywords: ХХ century, Middle Volga region, Mari Research Institute, Mari traditional religion, priesthood

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Saberov R.A. Exploring the Developmental Trajectory of the Institution of Clergy in the Mari Traditional Religion in the 1950s–1960s (Based on Materials from the Mari Research Institute of Language, Literature, and History). Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(1):90‒98. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.090-098

Information about the аuthor:

Rushan А. Saberov, Senior Lecturer, Departments of Social Sciences and Technologies, Deputy Director of PhD Office, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS” (4 Leninsky Prospekt, Moscow 119049, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1502-3718, SPIN-код: 3600-9212, saberow@yandex.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 14.10.2024; revised 27.11.2024; accepted 02.12.2024.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.080-089
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/rwldew
УДК / UDC 94:398.3(=511.152)

The Traditional Culture of the Mordovians in the Kazan Province: A Historical and Ethnographic Perspective

E. N. Bikeуkin, T. M. Guseva, G. A. Kursheva
Research Institute of the Humanities by the Government of the Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The wide settlement area of the Mordovian people presents a significant challenge for researchers studying traditional culture. The culture of the Mordovians, residing in various regions of our country, has evolved under the influence of multiple factors, primarily the cultures of different ethnic groups. This interaction led to mutual influence, cultural enrichment, and the development of distinctive features. In modern ethnographic studies, many aspects of these transformations in traditional culture remain insufficiently explored. Scholars face the task of tracing the cultural transformations of the Mordovian people. This study aims to identify the cultural characteristics of the Mordovian population residing in the Kazan Province during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Materials and Methods. The study is based on expedition materials collected by researchers in the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as works by scholars from that period, which characterized the key features of the traditional culture of the Mordovian people living in the Kazan Province. The expedition participants used the method of direct observation when gathering information. The comparative-historical method was the primary approach in analyzing these materials.

Results and Discussion. Scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries, tracing the population dynamics, identified a gradual increase in the Mordovian population in the Kazan Province. The traditional culture of the Mordovian population was significantly influenced by the ethnic groups living in close proximity, such as the Tatars, Chuvash, and Russians. By the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the traditional culture of the Mordovians in the Kazan Province had become a unique blend, still fundamentally rooted in the traditional culture of the Mordovian people, while preserving national identity.

Conclusion. The materials of the study contribute to the development of regional historical and ethnographic scien- ces and will be valuable to researchers studying the material culture, rituals, and religious beliefs of the Mordovian ethnic group.

Keywords: Mordovian people, transformation of traditional culture, Kazan province, ethnographic expeditions, dispersion of settlement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Bikeуkin E.N., Guseva T.M., Kursheva G.A. The Traditional Culture of the Mordovians in the Kazan Province: A Historical and Ethnographic Perspective. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(1):80‒89. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.080-089

Information about the authors:

Evgeny N. Bikeуkin, Deputy Director, Academic Secretary, Research Institute of the Humanities by the Government of the Republic of Mordovia (3 L. Tolstoy St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7301-0264, SPIN-code: 1732-1478, bikeykin1977@mail.ru

Tatyana M. Guseva, Chief Researcher, Head of the Department of History, Research Institute of the Humanities by the Government of the Republic of Mordovia (3 L. Tolstoy St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7417-6664, SPIN-code: 9915-3591, tatiana.guseva@mail.ru

Galina A. Kursheva, Director of the Research Institute of the Humanities by the Government of the Republic of Mordovia (3 L. Tolstoy St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6151-0977, SPIN-code: 4696-0040, kursheva_galina@mail.ru

Authors’ contribution:

E. N. Bikeуkin ‒ formulation of the research idea, objectives, and tasks; development of the research methodology.

T. M. Guseva ‒ creation and preparation of the manuscript: critical analysis of the draft manuscript$ making comments and corrections by the research team members, including at the stages before and after publication.

G. A. Kursheva ‒ oversight, leadership, and mentoring in the process of planning and conducting the research; conducting the research process, including data collection.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 22.01.2025; revised 10.02.2025; accepted 17.02.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.067-079
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/sjwiwc
УДК / UDC 332.1(470.22)

Religious Dynamics in Border Regions in the Context of Interfaith and External Relations (Based on Materials from the Republic of Karelia, 1940–1980s)

L. I. Vavulinskaya, S. E. Yalovitsyna
Institute of Language, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federаtion

Abstract

Introduction. The religious policy of the Soviet atheist state underwent several transformations between the 1940s and the 1980s. The religious “thaw” of the early post-war years was replaced by renewed pressure on the Church in the late 1950s. In Karelia, these processes had distinct characteristics shaped by its borderland position, proximity to Finland, and the presence of Finnish Lutherans within the republic’s population. At the same time, Karelia was traditionally regarded as a region with a predominance of Orthodox believers, which led researchers to focus primarily on the Orthodox history of the area. This article aims to examine the impact of Karelia’s borderland status on the region’s religious landscape.

Materials and Methods. The article is based on newly introduced archival documents from the State Archive of the Russian Federation and the National Archive of the Republic of Karelia. Additionally, it draws on materials from documentary collections and local literature addressing issues of religious life in the republic during the second half of the 20th century. These sources provide a well-substantiated perspective on state-church and interfaith relations in Karelia. The study’s methodological framework incorporates both general scientific methods (systems approach, the principle of historicism, analysis and synthesis, generalization) and specialized historical methods (historical-genetic, chronological, and historical-comparative approaches).

Results and Discussion. The interconnection between state-church relations and the republic’s border location was identified, which led to heightened vigilance by the authorities regarding the activities of various religious communities and a desire to use the church to shape a positive image of the USSR on the international stage. A distinctive feature of external relations with Finland was the involvement not only of Lutheran representatives but also of Orthodox clergy, which strengthened interfaith cooperation. The unified anti-religious orientation of policy during the 1940s to 1980s allowed different denominations to perceive each other more as allies than theological rivals, using their presence on the international stage as a means of exerting pressure on the domestic government.

Conclusion. The article explores the role of an external factor that significantly influenced the religious situation in a border region, offering a better understanding and evaluation of the outcomes of the state’s overall policy and its evolution during the 1940s to 1980s. The assessment of the impact of the growing influx of foreign tourists in the 1970s on the religious landscape appears to be especially relevant, as does the consideration of the topic within the context of the retrospective turn in Soviet culture (interest in church architecture, iconography, etc.). Further research into this issue could be pursued through a more in-depth study of the religious practices of the population and the internal dynamics of religious organizations, areas of increasing interest due to the upcoming 800th anniversary of the Christianization of the Karelians in 2027.

Keywords: Karelia, borderland, Russian Orthodox Church, Lutheranism, interfaith contacts, peacekeeping activities, atheistic state

Funding: The research was carried out within the framework of the state task of the ILLH KarRC RAS (№124022000029-0).

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Vavulinskaya L.I., Yalovitsyna S.E. Religious Dynamics in Border Regions in the Context of Interfaith and External Relations (Based on Materials from the Republic of Karelia, 1940–1980s). Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(1):67–79. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.01.067-079

Information about the authors:

Ljudmila I. Vavulinskaya, Cand.Sci. (Hist.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Language, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (11 Pushkinskaya St., Petrozavodsk 185910, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6404-7551, SPIN-код: 2326-9197, ludvav@mail.ru

Svetlana E. Yalovitsyna, Cand.Sci. (Hist.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Language, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences(11 Pushkinskaya St., Petrozavodsk 185910, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5024-6357, SPIN-код: 6690-1995, jalov@yandex.ru

Authors’ contribution:

L. I. Vavulinskaya ‒ conducting the research process, including collecting data; creating and preparing the manuscript: writing a draft of the manuscript, providing comments and corrections by members of the research team.

S. E. Yalovitsyna ‒ ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims; development of methodology; oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution, including mentorship external to the core team; preparation and creation of the published work by those from the original research group, specifically critical review, commentary or revision – including pre- or post-publication stages.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 04.09.2024; revised 27.11.2024; accepted 02.12.2024.