Finno-Ugric World

Functioning of the Russian borrowings in the vocabulary of Moksha subdialects

Introduction. The article analyzes the borrowed vocabulary from the Russian language in the dialects of the modern Republic of Mordovia and beyond. The subject of the analysis is the quantitative composition and dimorphism of the Russian borrowings in the subdialects of the Moksha language.
Materials and Methods. The authors used various research methods, with the main one being descriptive. Additionally, the elements of the distributional and component analysis methods were applied. The linguistic material consisted of the Russian borrowings extracted from the authors’ field observations, the Moksha-Russian dictionary, and the Mordovian dictionary by H. Paasonen.
Results and Discussion. The structural and semantic features of the Russian borrowings in the subdialects of the Moksha language functioning on the territory of Mordovia and beyond are identified and analyzed. During the research, the reasons were identified, and the main ways of semantic development of individual meanings of words (narrowing and widening) were considered. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that, for the first time, a lexical-semantic analysis of about 100 lexical units functioning in the Moksha dialects’ speech has been conducted. The systematization of the analyzed language units, belonging to various lexical-semantic groups, allowed documenting previously undescribed linguistic phenomena associated with the expressive capabilities of the Moksha dialectal lexicon.
Conclusion. The research has practical significance, and its results can be used in the development of educational and methodological materials on Moksha dialectology, University teaching practices for courses such as “Moksha Dialectology”, “Russian Dialectology”, and related special courses designed for students majoring in humanities.

Keywords: vocabulary, language, synonymy, semantics, subdialects, borrowing, dimorphism

For citation: Grishunina VP, Yershova NI. Functioning of the Russian borrowings in the vocabulary of Moksha subdialects. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;4:392–400. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.04.392-400.

Introduction. The article deals with the semantic content of the Udmurt words osto and kozma, which are recorded in written sources of the late XIX and early XX centuries. The analysis of the materials has shown that establishing the exact meaning of these lexemes during that period presented considerable complexity. This research is undertaken with the aim of approaching the determination of the true meanings of the mentioned words, using extensive material found in the sources as examples.
Materials and Methods. The research materials consist of written sources from the late XIX and early XX century, primarily based on fieldwork data. The examination of the Udmurt words osto and kozma as recorded in written sources from this period is conducted using a semantic analysis method, with a connection to the historical and cultural aspect.
Results and Discussion. It is revealed that the lexemes under consideration are mainly interpreted within the framework of the theological paradigm and are most often found in traditional prayers and in texts of Orthodox content. The article describes various interpretations of the semantics of the words osto and kozma, providing variants of their translation and explanations proposed by foreign and Russian scholars, as well as church historians. These lexemes continue to remain within the scope of current attention and еру interest of researchers. Some authors are inclined to classify them as words of unclear etymology, while others put forth assumptions regarding their semantic context.
Conclusion. Based on the materials studied at the end of the XIX – beginning of the XX century, the author determined that the word kozma exists mainly in prayers and incantations. Its true meaning is currently difficult to determine, but in most cases, it is used as a proper name, or in the meaning of “bless”. The word osto is used as an epithet and primarily applied to God.

Keywords: Udmurt words, written documents, semantics, meaning of the word, prayer practice

For citation: Kamitova AV. The semantic content of the Udmurt words osto and kozma in written sources of the late XIX and early XX centuries. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;3:274–286. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.03.274-286.

S. V. Nagurnaya – Candidate Sc. {Philology}, Academic Secretary, Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, kov@krc.karelia.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6233-8045

Introduction. The article traces the dynamics of trends in the key elements of the family-marriage structure of the Mordovian population over an extended historical period (XVIII century – early XXI century). It examines the types of families, their quantitative and generational composition, as well as marriage and birth rates.
Materials and Methods. The research materials included the works providing insight into the discussed issue, as well as statistical data that enabled the analysis of the fundamental elements of the family structure of the Mordovian population. The research employed historical-structural methods and quantitative analysis methods.
Results and Discussion. The family structure among the Mordovians has undergone a complex evolution. Up until the 1930s, both small and large family forms were observed. In the 1920s and 1930s, due to the disintegration of large family collectives, simple (nuclear) families became predominant. Throughout the XX to the early XXI century, there has been a noticeable reduction in quantitative indicators of Mordovian families: their population, the number of generations, as well as a decline in birth rates and marriage rates.
Conclusion. Currently, the situation in the family sphere has somewhat stabilized. In Mordovia, the number of marriages is increasing, although this does not lead to an increase in birth rates. The current situation is driven by the fact that young people primarily seek to achieve a certain social status, build their careers, and a non-family lifestyle becomes increasingly important. To address the demographic situation and enhance the prestige of the family, special importance is given to social measures taken in the Republic as part of the national project “Demography”.

Keywords: large undivided family, small nuclear family, population, generational composition, marriage, divorce, fertility, migration

For citation: Kornishina GA, Novoslov AE. Family and marriage structure of the Mordovian population in a historical context. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;3:310–320. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.03.310-320.

Introduction. The article explores the representation of the juxtaposition between the mundane and the “otherworld” in Mari traditions and rituals.
Materials and Methods. The work is based on the author’s field materials collected in areas with a compact Mari population from 2017 to 2022 (Republic of Mari El, Republic of Bashkortostan, Kirov Oblast). The primary scientific approach employed by the researcher is the semiotic approach to the study of tradition. The author also draws upon M. Douglas’s concept of the “unclean” in culture and the symbolic boundary between the conventionally “normal” and the “unnatural”, as well as E. Durkheim’s sociocultural theory of the “sacred” and the “unclean” in myth and religious rituals.
Results and Discussion. Based on interviews, memorial-ritual practices, and non-fiction prose texts, the author examines the dichotomies “living – non living” and “pure – impure” in contemporary Mari culture. The focus of the study is on the models describing the “otherworld” and the semiotic characteristics of its folkloric inhabitants, as well as the perspectives on the differentiation and liminality of mythological spaces. As indicators marking folkloric characters as “unclean forces”, the author considers their visual characteristics. The researcher is also interested in the tradition bearers’ views on the interaction with chthonic space and its consequences.
Conclusion. Contemporary Mari folklore and ritual practices represent notions of the dichotomies “living – non-living” and “pure – impure”. Maintaining differentiation between “pure” and “impure” loci is ensured by the existence of normative prescriptions and restrictions within the local tradition. Violation of this distance, contact with the “otherworld”, marks a person as connected to the demonic, as a source and simultaneously a victim of dark mythological power.

Keywords: Mari people, funeral rites, “evil spirits”, iya, keremet, ideas about the “otherworld”

Acknowledgments: The research was conducted within the framework of the Development Program of the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow University “Preservation of the World Cultural and Historical Heritage”, track “Models of Analysis of Languages and Cultures of Indigenous Peoples of Russia”.

For citation: Ustyantsev HYu. Concepts of the “otherworld” in the texts and practices of Mari culture. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;3:321–333. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.03.321-333.

Introduction. In the proposed article, the authors delve into the meaning and symbolism of the color red in the linguistic worldview and ethnoculture of the Karelians. The focus is on lexemes that denote the color red. The authors also explore the linguistic color palette, including the linguistic symbolism of fire, blood, and descriptions of a person’s appearance. The relevance of the study is underscored by the need to examine various aspects of the language and culture of the Karelians, who are considered indigenous peoples facing the threat of extinction.
Materials and Methods. The material for the study was Karelian language dictionaries, samples of Karelian speech and folklore sources. Comparative-comparative, comparative-historical and ethnolinguistic research methods were used.
Results and Discussion. The collected and analyzed material has shown that the Karelians attributed significant importance to the color red. It was endowed with apotropaic properties and served as a talisman. In the linguo-cultural context, the naming of the color red is reflected in the formation of the Karelian linguistic worldview when denoting blood, human appearance, illnesses, and more. The practical significance of this research lies in the potential utilization of the presented material in courses on lexicology, the Karelian language, as well as in the teaching of regional studies and ethnography. The theoretical significance is defined by the fact that the obtained data can lay the foundation for further exploration of color symbolism, color codes, and related topics in the linguistic and ethnocultural worldview of the Karelians.
Conclusion. The collected and analyzed material has demonstrated that the color red held a distinct significance in the language and culture of all Karelian groups. This tendency is also observed among other Baltic-Finnic peoples, particularly the Veps and Finns.

Keywords: Karelians, Karelian language, red color, linguistic worldview, ethnoculture

For citation: Karakin JV, Pashkova TV. Red color in the linguo- and ethnoculture of the Karelians. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;3:334–342. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.03.334-342.

Information about the authors
E. N. Lomshina – Candidate Sc. {Philosophy}, Head of the Research Laboratory of Finno-Ugric Culture, National Research Mordovia State University, enlomshina@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7367-4685
E. N. Antipkina – Candidate Sc. {Philosophy}, Head of the Educational and Practical Laboratory of Multimedia Resources and Art Technologies, National Research Mordovia State University, elana19@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-0679
Yu. A. Kondratenko – Doctor of Arts, Professor, Head of the Department of Theater Arts and Folk Art Culture, National Research Mordovia State University, yurkondr@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9635-4466

Introduction. This article is dedicated to analyzing the dynamics of marital status among the Udmurts in Udmurtia from 1959 to 1989. The aim of this study is to examine the changes in marital status among the Udmurts, a crucial aspect of demographic shifts and a significant structural characteristic of the population when analyzing its reproduction.
Materials and Methods. The authors utilize data from the All-Union Population Censuses conducted in 1959, 1970, 1979, and 1989, enabling a comprehensive analysis of marital status among various ethnic groups. Various research methods have been applied, including historical-comparative, chronological, and statistical approaches.
Results and Discussion. Through this study, it was determined that the indicators of marital status among the Udmurts in Udmurtia were below the national average in 1959. However, the Udmurts exhibited a higher level of matrimonial behavior, despite the influence of urbanization processes and the consequences of the Great Patriotic War, which allowed them to compensate for these disparities by 1989.
Conclusion. This analysis provides insights into the dynamics and trends in the marriage rates of the Udmurt population in the Udmurt ASSR. It can be concluded that between 1959 and 1989, the proportion of married Udmurts in the region increased at a rate surpassing the national average. Census data from 1989 indicate compensatory demographic indicators among the Udmurts, achieved following the Great Patriotic War.

Keywords: Udmurts, marital status, population census, Udmurt ASSR, RSFSR, Udmurt Republic, Russia

Acknowledgments: The research was conducted with the support of the Russian Science Foundation Grant No. 23-28-01604, available at https://rscf.ru/project/23-28-01604/, at the Udmurt State Agricultural University.

For citation: Azhigulova AI, Chernysheva NV, Uvarov SN. Dynamics of marital status among the Udmurts in Udmurtia from 1959 to 1989. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;3:301–309. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.03.301-309.

Information about the author
Т. А. Shigurova – Doctor of Cultural Studies, Professor, Department of Cultural Studies and Library and Information Resources, National Research Mordovia State University, shigurova_tatyana@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5342-8471