Finno-Ugric World

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Semantic and Stylistic Features of Figurative Lexis in the Khanty Language (Based on Colloquial and Artistic Discourse)

А. D. Kaksin
Khakassian State University named after N. F. Katanov, Abakan, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. To date, in linguistics, the problem of separating figurative words from other expressive language units remains unresolved. The criteria according to which a given lexical unit is marked as figurative in an explanatory dictionary are unclear. The aim of the research is to identify and analyze the types of figurative words and expressions in the Khanty language.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted using texts in the Kazym dialect of the Khanty language, employing Wolfgang Steinitz’s “Dialektologisches und etymologisches Wörterbuch der Ostjakischen Sprache” (1966–1991). The author’s approach to the topic is based on an understanding of language as a complex, multi-level system, the individual elements of which are studied by linguists using various methods. The essence of the most important method for us lies in the systematization of concepts that describe units of the same nature and that stand in relations of variability to one another. In our case, figurative words and expressions are examined as expressive means, and their distinctive features are identified against the background of epithets, metaphors, and similes. In the course of textual analysis, all expressive means are first identified, followed by those linguistic units whose semantics contain an indication of the location of the source, the original. The semantics of words whose meanings imply the presence of a figurative component are verified using W. Steinitz’s dialectological and etymological dictionary. It is also assumed that many figurative words and expressions of the Khanty language are already recorded in this dictionary.

Results and Discussion. The analysis of speech samples in the Khanty language has revealed the possibility of distinguishing figurative words and expressions from other expressive means and of deriving a specific typology of figurative units in the language. Lexical figurative units include the majority of figurative meanings of words, compound words (including those formed through the transference of meaning of one of their components), and figurative phrases (including those that are part of proverbs and sayings). Contextual figurative units are words and combinations whose figurative component arises within a given specific context.

Conclusion. The practical significance of the study lies in the effectiveness of searching for figurative words and expressions in colloquial speech and literary works – that is, in those types of discourse where they are actively used. The prospects for further research are associated with accumulating sufficient material to compile a dictionary of figurative words and expressions in the Khanty language.

Keywords: functional styles, artwork, expressive means, figurative words and expressions, characterization, evaluation, Khanty language

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

For citation: Kaksin А.D. Semantic and Stylistic Features of Figurative Lexis in the Khanty Language (Based on Colloquial and Artistic Discourse). Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(4):388‒397. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.04.388-397

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Information about the author:

Andrey D. Kaksin, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Leading Researcher of Institute Humanities and Sayan-Altai Turkology, Khakassian State University named after N. F. Katanov (90 Lenin Prospekt, Abakan 655017, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9632-8286, SPIN-code: 7847-3348, adkaksin@yandex.ru

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 14.10.2025; revised 10.11.2025; accepted 14.11.2025.

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УДК / UDC 646.43:7.036.45(470.22)

Symbolic Functions of Traditional Karelian Travel Outfit

G. V. Ryvkina
Institute of Language, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. In contemporary scholarly literature, there are gaps in the study of the semantics of traditional Karelian clothing, particularly the symbolism of the travel costume, as the culture of mobility among the Karelians has long remained outside the interests of researchers. The aim of the study is to analyze the sign-symbolic functions of the Karelian travel costume, which will provide insights into the mythological beliefs and rituals of the people related to the road, as well as into Karelian spatial mythology as a whole.

Materials and Methods. The source base of the research comprises archival ethnographic collections and the author’s field materials recorded among southern Karelian groups between 2018 and 2024. In preparing the article, the analysis of the sign-symbolic functions of Karelian clothing was applied within the framework of the functional approach, which made it possible to identify the main components of the travel costume that served as an additional protective amulet.

Results and Discussion. As a travel outfit, the Karelians used everyday clothing, supplementing it with specialized types of outerwear. Analysis of the sign-symbolic functions of the costume identified the mandatory elements of a traveler’s clothing: a headdress, outerwear, a belt, mittens, and footwear. These components were endowed with symbolic meaning: they prevented the influence of hostile forces on the traveler, established a boundary between the person and the “foreign” world, creating a safe zone around the traveler in a potentially dangerous road environment, and served as a person’s road marker.

Conclusion. The research results contribute to the study of the traditional worldview of the Karelians and the national specifics of their material culture through the lens of movement. The materials presented in the article may be useful for researching the travel culture of related peoples. The prospects for further research are seen in the continued study of the symbolic function of Karelian travel footwear.

Keywords: Karelians, travel outfit, road culture, beliefs, mythology

Funding: The research was funded by the Federal Budget for the implementation of the state assignment of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (registration number 124022000029-0).

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

For citation: Ryvkina G.V. Symbolic functions of traditional Karelian travel outfit. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(3):361–372. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.361-372

REFERENCES

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2. Ershov M.F. Perception of Travelers in the North of Tobolsk in the XIX ‒ the Beginning of the XX Centuries. The Surgut State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2020;(6):61–68. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.26105/SSPU.2020.69.6.008
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Information about the author:

Galina V. Ryvkina, Junior Researcher of the Ethnology Sector, 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/0000-0001-8278-0466, SPIN-code: 3933-1456, galryv@yandex.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 28.04.2025; revised 14.05.2025; accepted 29.05.2025.

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.349-360
https://elibrary.ru/unmoje
УДК / UDC 646.43(470.13)

Traditional Festive Attire of Izhma Komi Women: Contemporary Transformations

J. I. Boyko
Institute of Language, Literature and History of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The traditional costume complex, which occupies a distinctive place in the cultural heritage of any people, has long attracted the attention of researchers across a broad range of humanities. The folk festive women’s clothing of the Izhma Komi, a local variant whose specific characteristics remain insufficiently studied to this day, ranks among the most vivid and sought-after elements of their ethnic culture. The aim of this study is to examine the current state of the traditional festive attire of Izhma Komi women residing in the Izhma District of the Komi Republic.

Materials and Methods. The foundation of this article is built upon materials gathered during field research conducted in the Izhma District of the Komi Republic (specifically in the villages of Izhma, Sizyabsk, Mokhcha, and Mosh’yuga). Data collection methods employed included interviews, participant observation, and photographic documentation. The analysis and interpretation of the material were conducted within the framework of empirical description, comparative-historical, and retrospective methods. These approaches enabled the identification of variations and local specificities in the festive costume of Izhma Komi women, the documentation of contemporary practices related to its preservation, and the determination of the costume’s functions.

Results and Discussion. The foundation of the Izhma Komi festive women’s attire is the North Russian sarafan ensemble, the variability of which continues to be defined by socio-age characteristics to the present day, distinguishing between maidens’ and women’s garments. Field research materials document that informants typically possess traditional clothing inherited from previous generations, manufactured approximately a century ago, as well as attire sewn from contemporary fabrics according to historical patterns. A common practice involves acquiring well-preserved costume components from fellow villagers or commissioning the sewing of an Izhma outfit from local craftswomen who specialize in the production of folk costumes. The investigation has revealed that the traditional women’s costume, though no longer in active daily use, remains in demand; it is preserved as a family heirloom, serves as festive outfit, and functions as stage costume for performers in folk ensembles.

Conclusion. New materials, obtained during field research, have been introduced into scholarly discourse; these materials serve to supplement existing information on the traditional costume complex of the Izhma Komi and to elucidate the specificities of its contemporary state.

Keywords: Izhma Komi, traditional women’s costume, traditional sarafan costume complex, girls and women’s festive attire, family heirloom, ethnocultural heritage

Funding: The article was prepared within the framework of the planned topic of the ethnography sector of the Institute of Language, Literature and History of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Ethnocultural processes and ethnocultural traditions in the European north of Russia: the dynamics of social and cultural changes”. Registration number 121042600207-7.

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

For citation: Boyko J.I. Traditional Festive Attire of Izhma Komi Women: Contemporary Transformations. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(3):349‒360. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.349-360

REFERENCES

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Information about the author:

Julia I. Boyko, Cand.Sci. (Hist.), Researcher of the Department of Ethnography, Institute of Language, Literature and History of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (26 Kommunisticheskay St., Syktyvkar 167982, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2260-3825, SPIN-code: 2822-0112, boyko_yulia@mail.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 06.09.2024; revised 28.04.2025; accepted 05.05.2025.

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УДК / UDC 316.1(=511.1)

The Social and Existential Determinants of the Traditional Mari Mentality

V. G. Tokpulatov
Mari Research Institute of Language, Literature and History named after V. M. Vasiliev, Yoshkar-Ola, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. Of current academic concern is the scarcity of research on Mari folklore, particularly proverbs, from the perspective of neoclassical determinism. The objective of this study is to identify and analyse the mechanisms and specific nature of the influence exerted by objective (external/social) and subjective (internal/existential) determinants on the formation and functioning of the traditional Mari mentality, as expressed within folklore texts.

Materials and Methods. The subject of this research comprises proverbs (kalaykmut) and ethnographic sources that reflect conceptions of the category of sociality and causality within Mari culture. The methodological foundation is constructed upon the theory of neoclassical determinism. This study employs methods of comparativism to juxtapose archaic and contemporary texts, hermeneutic analysis aimed at interpreting sacred meanings, and the method of generalisation to identify universal patterns within the folklore heritage.

Results and Discussion. Existential determinants, articulated through the concepts of ‘Yumo’ (deity) and ‘chon’ (soul), play a predominant role in the Mari mentality. Social conditions are mediated through spiritual practices, and the Mari worldview is characterized by properties of fractality and heterarchy, which indicates a recurrence of cultural patterns across different levels of being.

Conclusion. The obtained findings indicate the necessity of revising the classical conception of social determinism by incorporating the intrinsic freedom of the individual and the spiritual components of culture. The practical significance of the study is demonstrated by the potential application of its conclusions within the realms of ethno-cultural education and interdisciplinary research pertaining to Finno-Ugric peoples.

Keywords: determinism, ethnicity, Mari folklore, existentiality, social determination, cultural consciousness, traditional mentality

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

For citation: Tokpulatov V.G. The Social and Existential Determinants of the Traditional Mari Mentality. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(3):338‒348. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.338-348

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Information about the author:

Vladimir G. Tokpulatov, Cand.Sci. (Philos.), Senior Researcher of the Scientific Field “Ethnology”, Mari Research Institute of Language, Literature and History named after V. M. Vasiliev (44 Krasnoarmeyskaya St., Yoshkar-Ola 424036, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0249-3242, SPIN-code: 4620-1789, vladimir.tokpulatov@ya.ru

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 31.03.2025; revised 21.04.2025; accepted 28.04.2025.

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УДК / UDC 94:371.13“18/19”

Professional Trajectories and Social Adaptation of Teachers in Russian Lapland in the Late 19th – Early 20th Century

K. S. Kazakova
Barents Centre of the Humanities of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The research problematique encompasses issues pertaining to the functioning of the cultural milieu under ‘borderland’ conditions and the adaptation of ethnic cultures and their representatives to both the North and to one another throughout the period under consideration. This work examines the process of the formation of the socio-professional group of teachers within the European Arctic region from the late 19th to the early 20th century, alongside the nature of interethnic interaction with the Sámi population. The study aims to analyse the variability of individual teacher trajectories and to identify the specific characteristics of the teachers’ social adaptation within the Sámi pogosts of Russian Lapland.

Materials and Methods. This article is based on previously unstudied documents introduced into the scholarly domain for the first time, including service records of teaching personnel, reports from district school inspectors, and personal petitions from teachers. Engaging with this specific corpus of sources is complicated by the fragmented nature of the archival base. The materials do not constitute a unified collection but are instead dispersed fragmentarily across several repositories: the State Archive of Arkhangelsk Oblast, the National Archive of the Republic of Karelia, and the State Archive of Murmansk Oblast. The research methodology employed both general scientific and established historical methods, including analysis, synthesis, comparative typology, and a problem-chronological examination of issues. To investigate professional trajectories, the study utilises the historical-biographical method.

Results and Discussion. Within contemporary historiography, the professional biography is increasingly incorporated as a distinct methodological lens for gauging sociocultural processes. This article reconstructs the professional trajectories of instructors within parish schools located in the Sami pogosts of Russian Lapland, providing data pertaining to their social origins and educational attainment. Biographical evidence indicates that the majority of these teachers were young, unmarried individuals for whom the Kola North constituted their first appointment following their formal education. In their professional capacity, these educators were compelled to adapt to the specificities inherent to an “allogenous” school system, notably the abbreviated academic year, irregular attendance of children engaged in the economic activities of the adult community, and the necessity of reciprocal bilingual communication. Successful adaptation within a Sami pogost facilitated an expansion of the social functions delegated to the teacher. Furthermore, the article analyses behavioural models that precipitated confrontation with the local populace and resulted in the individual’s compelled relocation.

Conclusion. Social practices of interaction with the Sami population influenced both the professional and domestic spheres of a teacher’s life. The findings of the study indicate that a teacher’s understanding of local cultural specificities was a determinant of their successful adaptation and aligned with the expectations of the local community. The attitude towards the teacher was projected onto the school as a whole and was formally recorded in the resolutions of village assemblies. The obtained results hold significance for historical, cultural, and social inquiries and can be applied to the study of intercultural communications in the Arctic regions of Russia.

Keywords: Russian Lapland, Sámi, pogost, intercultural contacts, parish school, teaching

Funding: The research was carried out within the framework of the state task on the topic of research FMEZ-2024-002 “Dynamics of the socio-cultural appearance of the Kola North in the context of the history of the development of the Arctic frontier of Russia”.

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

For citation: Kazakova K.S. Professional Trajectories and Social Adaptation of Teachers in Russian Lapland in the Late 19th – Early 20th Century. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(3):325‒337. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.325-337

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Information about the аuthor:

Ksenia S. Kazakova, Cand.Sci. (Hist.), Senior Researcher, Barents Centre of the Humanities, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (40A Akademgorodok, Apatity 184209, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5071-4947, SPIN-code: 7201-7509, k.kazakova@ksc.ru

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 12.05.2025; revised 23.06.2025; accepted 30.06.2025.

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.316-324
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УДК / UDC 316.353(=511.152)(470.40)

Local Groups within the Mordvian Population of the Penza Region

G. А. Kornishina
National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. One of the pressing problems of modern ethnological science is the development of a generally accepted view of the ethnographic structure of the peoples of our country. This also applies to the Mordvin ethnic group, the structure of which covers a number of hierarchical taxa. Of considerable interest in this regard is the structure of the Mordvin population of the modern Penza region. The purpose of this study is to study the features of the formation of individual local or, more precisely, small local groups that formed in its composition as a result of migration processes.

Materials and Methods. The sources for writing the article were the data of the First General Population Census of the Russian Empire in 1897, the population censuses of the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. Scientific publications on the topic under consideration were also used. The methodological basis of the study is complex. It includes general logical and theoretical methods that made it possible to reveal the temporal and spatial changes occurring among local groups.

Results and Discussion. As a result of the study, it was revealed that among the Mordvin population of the modern Penza region, several small local groups can be distinguished, which combine elements of culture inherent in both Moksha and Erza. Their formation occurred mainly in the 17–18th centuries as a result of the migration of Moksha and Erza both across the territory of the Penza region itself and from the territories of neighboring regions. The structure of the Mordvin population of the modern Penza region includes several hierarchical taxa. Undoubtedly, this community is an integral part of the Mordvin ethnic group. Representatives of both its subethnic groups, Moksha and Erza, live in this region. The Mordvins of the Penza region are also an integral part of two ethnoterritorial groups – the northwestern Moksha group and the Penza-Saratov ethnoterritorial group. In addition, smaller local groups are distinguished in the Mordvin population of the region in question.

Conclusion. The author’s conclusions contribute to the study of the problem of the structure of the Mordvin ethnic group and the existence of a certain hierarchy of ethnic and ethnocultural taxa in its structure.

Keywords: Mordvin ethnic group, Moksha, Erzya, Penza region, ethnoterritorial groups, small local groups, demographic processes

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

For citation: Kornishina G.А. Local Groups within the Mordvian Population of the Penza Region. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(3):316–324. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.316-324

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1. Artemova S.N., Pervushkin V.I., Alekseeva N.S. Natural and Historical Heritage in the Cultural Landscapes of the Penza Region. Advances in Current Natural Sciences. 2022;(3):36‒41. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.17513/use.37789
2. Kornishina G.A. Ethnic Structure and Features of Ethno-cultural Functioning of the Mordovian Population of the Ulyanovsk Region. Finno-Ugric World. 2018;(2):77‒89. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.010.2018.02.077-089
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Information about the author:

Galina A. Kornishina, Dr.Sci. (Hist.), Professor of the Department of History of Russia, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5680-5041, SPIN-code: 5356-3213, G.Kornihina@mail.ru

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 04.04.2025; revised 12.05.2025; accepted 19.05.2025.

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.307-315
https://elibrary.ru/rhpdcu
УДК / UDC 351.853.1

The 18th-Century Monument “Description of the Siberian Kingdom…” by G. F. Miller: A Historical and Cultural Overview of the Life of the Ostyaks

M. S. Vykhrystyuk
D. I. Mendeleev Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute, branch of the University of Tyumen, Tobolsk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. In recent decades, researchers have been actively studying written sources of the past stored in central and regional archives across the country. G. F. Miller’s work “Description of the Siberian Kingdom…” presents a portrayal of the life of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, based on the author’s personal observations. Particular attention in the source is given to information about the Ostyaks – descriptions of their culture, daily life, religion, and interactions with other peoples inhabiting Siberia. The analysis of the scholar’s work is of great importance in the context of preserving the country’s cultural heritage, which underscores the relevance of this study. The aim of the research is to conduct a historical and cultural overview of the life of the Ostyaks in Siberia based on the chronicle source.

Materials and Methods. The material for the study was the first comprehensive work on the history of Siberia from the late 18th century – “Description of the Siberian Kingdom and All Events That Occurred Therefrom the Beginning, Especially Since Its Conquest by the Russian State to the Present Times” by G. F. Miller. The study integrates linguistic source studies and functional-stylistic approaches, which together constitute a linguo-textological analysis of historical documents. In accordance with these directions, the descriptive method and the method of continuous sampling were applied to conduct the analysis and address the research tasks. In examining the structure of the source, the method of componential analysis was employed to identify the lexical meaning of each lexeme in the text of the document, the totality of which defines its content.

Results and Discussion. The author has conducted a historical and cultural analysis of the ethnography of the Ostyaks, historically inhabiting the territories of Siberia, their culture, religion, daily life, settlement patterns, and interactions with other peoples. By describing the life of the indigenous population of Siberia with reliable accuracy, the scholar has made a significant contribution to the development of Russian historical science.

Conclusion. The research materials contribute to the development of a specific branch of linguistics – linguistic source studies. The most valuable aspect is the analysis of the encyclopedic information presented in the article about the life of the indigenous people of Siberia, described based on the scientist’s personal observations. Furthermore, it has been proven that the scientist’s work can indeed form the source basis for studying the history of Siberia’s formation as an important territory of Russia and deserves special attention from philologists, historians, geographers, ethnographers, and cultural experts.

Keywords: Siberia, the life of the Ostyaks, G.F. Miller, “Description of the Siberian Kingdom …”, historical, cultural and ethnocultural significance of the source

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

Funding: The article was prepared with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation dated December 29, 2023 No. 24-28-01085 “Manuscript and printed sources of Western Siberia of the 17th–18th centuries in the aspect of linguoculturology” Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “Tyumen State University”.

For citation: Vykhrystyuk M.S. The 18th-Century Monument “Description of the Siberian Kingdom…” by G. F. Miller: A Historical and Cultural Overview of the Life of the Ostyaks. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(3):307–315. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.307-315

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Information about the author:

Margarita S. Vykhrystyuk, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Professor of the Department of Philological Education, D. I. Mendeleev Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute, branch of the University of Tyumen (58 Znamensky St., Tobolsk 626150, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7955-7351, SPIN-code: 350-9414, m.s.vykhrystyuk@utmn.ru

Author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 24.10.2024; revised 21.03.2025; accepted 28.03.2025.

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.293-306
https://elibrary.ru/qptmbi
УДК / UDC 81’367.622.13:811.511.152.1

Noun Verbalization in the Erzya Dialects of the Prisurye Region

I. N. Ryabov, N. A. Agafonova, G. V. Ryabova
National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The lexicalization of various parts of speech in the Mordovian languages remains a complex and understudied phenomenon within Finno-Ugric studies. This process is determined by the specific morphological structure of these languages, which is characterized by the presence of declension and conjugation paradigms in the majority of parts of speech, thereby creating preconditions for shifts in their grammatical status. The aim of this study is to examine verbalized nouns using dialectal material from the Erzya subdialects of the Sura region and to identify the distinctive features of the functioning of these word forms.

Materials and Methods. The research material comprised dialectal records compiled by the authors during linguistic expeditions conducted in 2022, 2023, and 2024 to Erzya villages in the Prisurye region of the Republic of Mordovia, Penza Oblast, and the Chuvash Republic. The collection of field material was carried out using a questionnaire-based methodology. The following research methods were employed in the study: the descriptive method, which enabled the tracing of the use of verbalized nouns in the dialectal speech of Erzya language speakers; and the comparative and structural methods, which facilitated the identification and illustration of the specific features governing the formation and functioning of the analyzed word forms within the examined linguistic area.

Results and Discussion. In the Erzya dialects of the Prisurye region, as in the literary Erzya language, the process of lexicalization is widely prevalent. One of its forms is the verbalization of significant and auxiliary parts of speech. Through verbalization, all non-verbs can adopt predicative suffixes and inflect for person, number, and tense, much like verbs. Regarding nouns, however, not all undergo the process of verbalization, but only those with specific semantics that are contextually and situationally determined. Word forms functioning as syntactic wholes are extensively represented in the speech of native speakers. These neologisms are not uniform in their phonetic and morphological characteristics: in the dialects of Chuvash Prisurye, unlike other dialects of the Prisurye landscape, the consonant -j-, an interfix, appears before -a-, the present tense suffix, in the formation of verbalized noun forms. The functioning of these neologisms in the Erzya dialects of the Sur region reflects the specificity of the area under consideration.

Conclusion. An analysis of the linguistic material from the studied area has demonstrated that nouns of the primary declension actively adopt predicative suffixes and exhibit conjugation paradigms. The conducted research has revealed that verbalized forms in the nominative and oblique cases partially retain both their lexical and case meanings, while the verbal morpheme indicates the person, number, and tense of the action. A dialectological study of the verbalization of other parts of speech would provide an opportunity to elucidate the specific features and tendencies in the lexicalization of the Mordovinian languages.

Keywords: the Erzya language, dialect, dialect, noun, case forms, predicate suffix, lexicalization, verbalization

Funding: The publication was prepared as part of the implementation of the Russian Science Foundation grant 24-28-00534 “Digital description of the Mordovia dialects of the Prisursky region”.

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

For citation: Ryabov I.N., Agafonova N.A., Ryabova G.V. Noun Verbalization in the Erzya Dialects of the Prisurye Region. Finno-Ugric World. 2025;17(3):293–306. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.293-306

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2. Agafonova N.A. Case Forms of Names and Their Pronominalization (on Basis of the Erzya Dialects of the Transvolga Region and the Southern Urals). Bulletin of the Research Institute of Humanities by the Government of the Republic of Mordovia. 2013;(4):133‒139. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://vestnikniign.ru/2013-№4 (accessed 12.05.2025).

3. Agafonova N.A., Ryabova G.V., Tsyganova M.V. Features of Vocalism of the Erzya Dialects in the Sura Region. Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2024;14(2):207‒218. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.30624/2220-4156-2024-14-2-207-218

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5. Klementyeva E.F. About the Grammatical Status of the Word-Forms with the Suffix -nek in the Erzya Language. Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2018;8(4):625‒630. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://vestnik-ugrovedenia.ru/sites/default/files/vu/e._f._klementeva.pdf (accessed 12.05.2025).

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7. Nekrasova G.A. Adaptive Features of the Russian Noun Pluralia Tantum in the Komi-Permian Language. Finno-Ugric World. 2024;16(2):136‒145. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.016.2024.02.136-145

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10. Ryabov I.N., Agafonova N.A., Ryabova G.V. A Comparative Analysis of the Expression of Possessive Relations in the Erzya Dialects of the Kochkurovo District, Republic of Mordovia. Finno-Ugric World. 2024;16(4):392‒407. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.016.2024.04.392-407

11. Agafonova N.A., Ryabov I.N. Morphological Marking of an Object in the Erzya Language Dialects. Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2025;18(1):34‒44. Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/morphological-marking-of-an-object-in-the-erzya-language-dialects (accessed 12.05.2025).

Information about the authors:

Ivan N. Ryabov, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Dean of the Philological Faculty, Associate Professor of the Department of the Mordovian Languages, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6760-4376, SPIN-код: 2034-0552, ryabov.74@bk.ru

Nina A. Agafonova, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor of the Department of the Mordovian Languages, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8751-2751, SPIN-код: 6385-2918, ohanina@rambler.ru

Galina V. Ryabova, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor of the Department of the Mordovian Languages, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9789-9187, SPIN-код: 4616-6660, ryabova.gv@bk.ru

Authors’ contribution:

I. N. Ryabov – development of the research structure; systematic analysis of sources; analysis and interpretation of research results.

N. A. Agafonova – development of the research structure; theoretical analysis of sources; identification and generalization of the studied dialect material; analysis and interpretation of research results; design of the manuscript.

G. V. Ryabova – collection, processing and classification of dialect material; analysis and interpretation of research results; manuscript design.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 05.06.2025; revised 24.06.2025; accepted 07.07.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.280-292
https://elibrary.ru/qnfxzx
УДК / UDC 811.161.1’37:811.111:811.511.111

Structural and Semantic Analysis of English and Finnish Idioms with a Coloronym Component: Comparative Aspect

N. M. Mosina, N. G. Komissarova
National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. The article presents a comparative study of the structural and semantic properties of idiomatic expressions containing a color component (coloronym) in English and Finnish. The relevance of the work is determined by the insufficient study of color perception in cognitive linguistics with respect to this pair of unrelated languages. The aim of the research is to describe the structural and semantic properties and to identify the common features and distinctive characteristics of idiomatic constructions in the English and Finnish languages.

Materials and Methods. The object of the study consists of idiomatic expressions with a coloronym component in the English and Finnish languages. Both general scientific methods (description, classification, systematization, and analysis) and specialized linguistic methods of structural and semantic, componential, and comparative analysis were applied in the work, which made it possible to describe the structural and semantic characteristics of idioms; identify the frequency of coloronyms; determine the basic color categories; and construct a classification according to semantic category groups.

Results and Discussion. The article presents the analysis of the structural and semantic characteristics of idiomatic expressions with a color component in English and Finnish containing a color feature. A total of 283 English and 149 Finnish idiomatic units with a color-related component have been identified. A predominance of achromatic (black, white) and primary chromatic (red, green) color components has been established. A classification of idioms based on the categorical characteristics of a noun, verb, adjective, adverb as well as modality has been developed showing the dominance of nominal groups in both languages. The main function of color idioms is to describe people, objects, phenomena, and abstract concepts.

Conclusion. The results demonstrate both symmetry (the universal perception of basic colors) and asymmetry of the lexical systems under study, contributing to the theory of phraseology and cross-cultural research in color semantics. The research materials may be useful in the compilation of comparative phraseological dictionaries of English and Finnish, as well as in the preparation of scholarly works on the lexicology of the languages studied.

Keywords: the English language, the Finnish language, coloronym, idiom, color designation, structure, semantics

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

For citation: Mosina N.M., Komissarova N.G. Structural and Semantic Analysis of English and Finnish Idioms with a Coloronym Component: Comparative Aspect. Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(3):280‒292. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.280-292

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14. Tsybina L.V., Komissarova N.G., Zinovev Y.V. Structural and Semantic Types of Phraseological Units with a Body Part Component. Russian Linguistic Bulletin. 2023;(4):1‒7. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://elibrary.ru/ildppc
15. Vodyasova L.P. [Phraseological Symbols with the Meaning of “Parts of the Human Body” in Russian and Erzya]. NovaInfo. 2016;(54):146–150. (In Russ.) Available at: https://novainfo.ru/article/8524 (accessed 02.03.2025).
16. Drigalova E.D., Mosina N.M. Phraseological Units with Somatism “Pää” / “Head” in Finnish and Russian Languages: A Comparative Analysis. Ogarev-online. 2017;5(8):1‒5. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://ogarev-online.ru/2311-2468/article/view/283210 (accessed 02.03.2025).
17. Mosina N.M., Kazaeva N.V. Semantic Characteristics and Features of Phraseological Units with Component-Somatism fej / pää / пря ‘Head’ in the Hungarian, Finnish and Moksha Languages. Finno-Ugric World. 2017;(3):39–46. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://csfu.mrsu.ru/ru/archives/2023 (accessed 02.03.2025).
18. Alieva P.G. Color Code of Culture in Phraseological Units of Different Languages. The World of Science, Culture and Education. 2023;(3):344–346. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.24412/1991-5497-2023-3100-344-346
19. Baluyan S.R., Tsys A.A. Achromatic Colour Terms in Ideomatic Expressions: A Comparative Survey of Russian, English and German. Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Ser.: Linguistics and Intercultural Communication. 2023;(3):57–67. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://journals.vsu.ru/lic/article/view/11456 (accessed 04.03.2025).
20. Shumbasova S.S. [Phraseological Units with the Component Coloronym “Black” and “White” in English and German: A Typological Study]. Kazanskaya nauka. 2024;(6):224–226. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/iofdlc
21. Zolnikova Yu.V. [Color Designations in the Phraseological Worldview of the German and Russian Languages]. Bulletin of Chelyabinsk State University. 2009;(30):88–93. (In Russ.) Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/tsvetooboznacheniya-vo-frazeologicheskoy-kartine-mira-nemetskogo-i-russkogo-yazykov (accessed 02.03.2025).

Information about the authors:

Natalya M. Mosina, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Professor of the Department of English for Professional Communication, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1742-5438, SPIN-code: 2575-6811, natamish@rambler.ru

Natalya G. Komissarova, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor of the Department of the English language for Professional Communication, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7236-4530, SPIN-code: 4214-9203, natakomis@mail.ru

Authors’ contribution:

N. M. Mosina – 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).

N. G. Komissarova – 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 30.04.2025; revised 14.07.2025; accepted 21.07.2025.

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Original article

https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.268-279
https://elibrary.ru/pspdxk
УДК / UDC 81’25:008

Stage Translation as a Means of Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Pre-Revolutionary St. Petersburg (on the Example of Martti Wuori’s Play)

N. S. Bratchikova
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation

 Abstract

Introduction. The multinational environment of pre-revolutionary St. Petersburg was characterized by the activity of diasporic theatrical ensembles. Their performances in native languages, adapting both national and global repertoires, played a key role in preserving cultural identity, developing educational connections, and shaping the urban social milieu. The Finno-Ugric language ensembles, by creating plays of various levels, laid the foundations of the Finnish dramatic school. The stage translation of such plays represents a variant implementation of the author’s intent, preserving culturally significant elements of Russian and Finnish realities of that era. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the stage translation of a play based on Finnish-language material has been carried out, with special attention to the transmission of linguistic interference. The study is motivated by the necessity of developing translation strategies for 19^thcentury literary works intended for a modern audience, which require a profound understanding of the historical-linguistic context and bygone cultural realities for their adequate rendering. The aim of the research is to identify and characterize the strategies for conveying culturally specific elements of 19^th century Petersburg society into Russian.

Materials and Methods. The material of the study consisted of M. Wuori’s play “The Matchmaking, or How Mother and Father Gave Their Daughter in Marriage” (Naimiskauppa, 1895) and its Russian translation. A linguistic and comparative-contrastive analysis of the translation with the original was applied, including pre-translation, cultural, contextual, semantic, and stylistic analyses aimed at identifying differences and assessing translation losses.

Results and Discussion. The analysis of the genre and stylistic features of the play determined its architectonic-verbal forms and translation strategy. The author proposes the following translation solutions: rendering the heroine’s bilingualism through archaic and colloquial vocabulary, phraseological units, and distorted forms of the Russian language; retaining foreign words in the characters’ lines as a reflection of the phenomenon of foreignomania; translating proper names with consideration of the national culture of the target audience. Generalizations for the theory and practice of stage translation are formulated: mandatory consideration of stage action (naturalness of delivery, possible text reductions or rearrangements), the necessity of cultural adaptation while preserving the author’s style and ensuring accessibility for a new audience.

Conclusion. The conclusions drawn by the author, namely the identified obligatory subordination of the linguistic system to the non-linguistic system within the framework of their joint functioning, the consideration of the audience’s experience alongside the national experience embodied in the original text, contribute to the development of the theory of theatrical translation. A promising direction is the study of artistic and expressive means for conveying the everyday life and morals of the socio-cultural environment of St. Petersburg at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Keywords: stage translation, linguistic interference,  finnish theatre, pre-revolutionary Petersburg, the language game, M. Wuori, bilingualism

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

For citation: Bratchikova N.S. Stage Translation as a Means of Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Pre-Revolutionary St. Petersburg (on the Example of Martti Wuori’s Play). Finno–Ugric World. 2025;17(3):268‒279. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.017.2025.03.268-279

REFERENCES

1. Norenkova I. [“Finlyandchiki” on the Neva River]. Motherland. 2021;(10). (In Russ.) Available at: https://rodina-history.ru/2021/10/15/v-konce-xix-veka-rossijskaia-stolica-stala-mestom-palomnichestva-finnov.html (accessed 09.03.2025).
2. Norenkova I.D. Russian Residents in the Territory of the Vyborg Province (Guberniya) at the Early 20th Century. Moscow University Bulletin. Ser. 8: History. 2021;(1):65–78. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: http://vestnikhist.ru/articles/article/4612/ (accessed 09.03.2025).
3. Slutskaya E.A. The Merchantile Theatre in Russia Provincia before Revolution. Arhivarius. 2020;(7):9–13. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://www.elibrary.ru/qcjemy
4. Zagora M.G. Governor-General of the Grand Duchy of Finland Nikolai Adlerberg as the Representative of Russian Elite in Helsingfors (1866–81). Nordic and Baltic Studies Review. 2018;(3):353–365. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.15393/j103.art.2018.1052
5. Paloposki O. Suomentaja kansanvalistajana: Karl Gustaf Samuli Suomalainen ja Suuret Keksinnöt. Kasvatus & Aika. 2015;9(1):26–40. (In Finn.) Available at: https://journal.fi/kasvatusjaaika/article/view/68507/29730 (accessed 17.06.2025).
6. Blinova O.A. Methods of Transmitting Reported Speech in a Literary Text (Mimetic Classification). Russian Linguistic Bulletin. 2021;(4):153‒157. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.18454/RULB.2021.28.4.37
7. Malek M. To the Issue of Drama Translation. In: Prazhskaya Rusistika. Prague; 2020. p. 112–119. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.14712/9788076032088.12
8. Olitskaya D.A. [Drama Translation: Specifics, Problems, and Approaches]. Tomsk State University Journal. 2012;(357):19–24. (In Russ.) Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/perevod-dramy-spetsifika-problemy-podhody (accessed 14.03.2025).
9. Tsyrempilon A.O., Taraskina Ya.V. Evolution of Views on Scenic Translation in the XX and XXI Centuries: By the Example of W. Shakespeare’s Plays Staging in the Buryat Drama Theatre. Philology. Theory & Practice. 2018;(6–1):186‒190. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.30853/filnauki.2018-6-1.41
10. Zhatkin D.N. Some Historical Notes about the Evolution of Russian Poetic Translation. International Journal of Applied and Fundamental Research. 2015;(10–3):573–576. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://applied-research.ru/ru/article/view?id=7546 (accessed 14.03.2025).
11. Orishev A.B. Finns: Sociocultural Portrait. Journal of Experimental Education. 2020;(2). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/finny-sotsiokulturnyy-portret (accessed 14.03.2025).
12. Busyreva E.V. National Material Culture in Life of Finnish Migrants of the Kola Peninsula. Transactions Kola Science Centre. 2014;(2):77‒88. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/natsionalnaya-materialnaya-kultura-v-zhizni-finskih-pereselentsev-kolskogo-poluostrova (accessed 14.03.2025).
13. Martynov V L., Balabeykin O.A., Korolyov L.A., Sazonovа I.E. Finns-Ingermanlanders and Cross-Cultural Dynamics of the Suburban Area of Saint Petersburg. Finno-Ugric World. 2024;16(4):444–458. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.016.2024.04.444-458
14. Erofeeva T.I. Culturaly Significant Componets in the Bilingual Text. Socio- and Psycholinguistic Studies. 2014;(2):136‒140. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kulturno-znachimye-komponenty-v-tekste-bilingva(accessed 09.03.2025).
15. Novikova Ia.V. Pushkin in Finnish Literature. Nordic and Baltic Studies Review. 2019;(4):179–204. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://nbsr.petrsu.ru/journal/article.php?id=1408 (accessed 23.03.2025).

Information about the author:

Nadezhda S. Bratchikova, Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Finno-Ugric Philology, Lomonosov Moscow State University (1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation), Professor of the Department of Linguistics and Professional Communication, Institute of International Relations and Social and Political Sciences, Moscow State Linguistic University (bld 1, 38 Ostozhenka St., Moscow 119034, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7402-8327, SPIN-code: 8159-6981, n.bratchikova@mail.ru

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 23.03.2025; revised 19.06.2025; accepted 23.06.2025.

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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

Download (pdf)

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.