Vodyasova L.P., Ivanova G.S. Possessive Suffixes as a Means of Expressing the Category of Possession in the Dialects of the Ruzaevka Area of the Republic of Mordovia

Posted on 30.03.2026 by editor

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.018.2026.01.008-021
https://elibrary.ru/dkqhqi
УДК / UDC 81’373:81’282.2(470.345)

Possessive Suffixes as a Means of Expressing the Category of Possession in the Dialects of the Ruzaevka Area of the Republic of Mordovia

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

G. S. Ivanova
National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The dialects of the Ruzaevsky District of the Republic of Mordovia (the Ruzaevsky area) are characterized by a well-developed system of possessive suffixes, which constitute the main means of expressing the category of possession. The absence of studies devoted to the system of suffixes of this type in this area determines the relevance of the present research, aimed at describing their specific features within the paradigms of noun declension. The aim of the study is to identify similarities and differences in the system of possessive suffixes in the dialects of the Ruzaevsky area.

Materials and Methods. The study, based on materials collected during dialectological expeditions to villages of the Ruzaevsky District of the Republic of Mordovia, relied on the synchronic-descriptive method (for analyzing the current state of the suffixal paradigm) and the structural method (for identifying patterns of variation and relationships between elements of the system). The processing of field data was carried out using methods of quantitative analysis and participant observation, which made it possible to minimize the observer’s influence and to record the natural spontaneous speech of dialect speakers.

Results and Discussion. The dialects of the Ruzaevka area are heterogeneous: one group exhibits features of the central dialect, the second shows characteristics of a transitional dialect, and the third reflects features of the south-eastern dialect as well as the north-western group of the western dialect. This heterogeneity is caused by synchronic as well as historical phonetic processes that have operated in the dialects of the Moksha language at different stages of their development. The heterogeneity of the phonetic system is also reflected in morphological markers. As a result of the study, interdialectal variants of possessive formants in the dialects of the Ruzaevsky District were identified. In Mordovian linguistics, the system of possessive suffixes in this area is examined for the first time.

Conclusion. The collected dialectal material, which will subsequently be incorporated into the cross-platform system Lingvodoc, enabled the authors to analyze the forms of nouns expressing possessive relations, to identify the variants of possessive suffixes within the case paradigms of possessive declension, and to describe their morphological properties. As a result of the study, data were obtained that refine the specific features of the dialectal category of possession and broaden scholarly understanding of this universal linguistic category.

Keywords: dialect, the Ruzaevka dialect area, possessiveness, possessive suffix, agglutination, allomorph

Funding: The publication was prepared within the framework of the implementation of the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 25-28-00193 “Digital description of Moksha dialects of the Ruzaevsky district of the Republic of Mordovia”.

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

For citation: Vodyasova L.P., Ivanova G.S. Possessive Suffixes as a Means of Expressing the Category of Possession in the Dialects of the Ruzaevka Area of the Republic of Mordovia. Finno–Ugric World. 2026;18(1):8‒21. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.018.2026.01.008-021

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Information about the authors:

Lyubov P. Vodyasova, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Professor, Professor of the Department of the Native Language and Literature, Mordovian State Pedagogical University named after M. E. Evseviev (11A Studencheskaya St., Saransk 430007, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-6337, SPIN-code: 8388-6461, LVodjasova@yandex.ru

Galina S. Ivanova, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Professor of the Department of Mordovian Languages and Literature, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7717-543X, SPIN-code: 9672-5363, galina17-05@yandex.ru

Authors’ contribution:

L. P. Vodyasova – 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); conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the data; verification of the reproducibility of the research results within the framework of the objectives of the research.

G. S. Ivanova – development of methodology; conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the data; verification of the reproducibility of the research results within the framework of the objectives of the research.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 08.11.2025; revised 12.01.2026; accepted 19.01.2026.

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