卷 17, 编号 4 (2025)

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.

Introduction. Currently, there is no verified basis for assessing the accuracy of early field recordings of the Izhma dialect of the Komi-Zyrian language or for determining the facts of phonetic changes that have actually occurred in the dialect over a nearly two-hundred-year period. Despite the existence of individual descriptions, the scientific literature on the Izhma dialect of the Komi language lacks systematic research based on a direct comparison of historical material with digital audio recordings, which provide more accurate documentation of speech parameters. A gap remains in understanding the dynamics of dialectal vocalism and consonantism, as well as the mechanisms of their evolution. This article seeks to fill this lacuna by integrating sources from different periods into a unified digital format, LingvoDoc, and creating a methodological foundation for future historical-phonetic reconstructions. The aim of the study is to identify phonetic correspondences and describe processes that may indicate both the preservation of archaic features and the gradual formation of new tendencies in the development of the dialect.

Materials and Methods. The research material comprised M. A. Castrén’s dictionary, presented in the book “Elementa grammatices Syrjaenae” (1844; critical edition 2022) – 1,146 lexical units, and the audio dictionary of the dialect of the village of Beloyarsk, Priuralsky District, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (2012) – 1,455 lexical entries, including phonological transcription and audio recordings. The comparison was carried out using the LingvoDoc digital platform, employing the tools “Inventory of Phonemes/Allophones,” “Spectrogram Analysis Results,” “Search for Cognates in Different Dialects of One Language,” and “Cognate Analysis”. The analysis was conducted in stages: first, regular correspondences between the 19^th and 21^st-century data were identified, followed by the clarification of positional patterns.

Results and Discussion. A comparison of the data from the experimental-phonetic analysis of the modern Beloyarsk dialect with the materials from M. A. Castren’s dictionary demonstrates the high accuracy of his documentation. Thus, the double vowel graphemes recorded by Castren, although not always corresponding to distinct phonemes in the modern dialect, in most cases correspond to longer vocalic realizations. Of particular interest is the grapheme ä: previously, it could have been considered an irregular notation with no direct parallels either in Proto-Komi or in modern dialects; however, the analysis has shown that its usage followed positional rules. The study also established the approximate timeframe for the development of labial harmony in the Izhem dialect (late 20^th – early 21^st century). Alongside general trends characteristic of many Komi-Zyrian dialects, specifically Izhem innovations such as ӧ > ɒ have been identified. The modern consonant inventory is supplemented by peripheral sounds [f], [x], [ɣ], found primarily in borrowed vocabulary.

Conclusion. A comparison of M. A. Castren’s dictionary with contemporary audio material of the Beloyarsk village dialect allows us to speak of regular phonetic correspondences and generally consistent directions of change in the vocalism and consonantism of the Izhma dialect. The integration of instrumental analysis using Praat and the digital environment LingvoDoc has proven effective for verifying historical recordings and clarifying positional patterns. The obtained results establish a foundation for further comparative studies within the area of Komi-Zyrian dialects and for a more detailed interpretation of the observed processes.

Introduction. The relevance of this study is determined by the limited scholarly attention given to the transitional dialects of the Udmurt language within Udmurt dialectology, coupled with the ongoing processes of assimilation and the levelling of dialectal features under contemporary conditions. Consequently, the task of conducting a comprehensive investigation of dialectal zones, including the delineation of the boundaries of these transitional dialects, is of paramount importance. The precise demarcation of their geographical distribution is essential not only for the description and comparison of dialectal idioms but also for the reconstruction of linguistic and historical processes characteristic of the Udmurt language. The aim of this research is to determine the southern boundary of the Middle Izh dialects, situated within the transitional area between the central dialects and the southern dialect of the Udmurt language, through the identification of their distinct phonetic and morphological features.

Materials and Methods. The empirical foundation of this study is comprised of dialectological texts collected by the author and by students of Udmurt State University across nine settlements in the Malopurginsky District of the Udmurt Republic. The methodological framework of the research incorporates synchronic-descriptive, comparative, and auditory-analytical methods. These approaches enabled the systematic recording and description of the dialects under investigation in their contemporary state, as well as a comparative analysis with other dialects of the Udmurt language. The collection of dialectological material was conducted utilizing the method of participant observation, which ensured the acquisition of representative data through the recording of speakers’ spontaneous speech in a naturalistic setting.

Results and Discussion. The analysis of dialectal data revealed that the vernaculars within the studied linguistic area generally possess a similar phonological system. However, it was established that the vernaculars of the villages of Aksakshur, Bagrash-Bigra, Gozhnya, and Kuregovo exhibit specific linguistic phenomena – such as the presence of a glottal stop and consonant voicing – which distinguish them from other dialects. These features provide a basis for their classification within the Southern dialect of the Udmurt language and allow for the demarcation of the southern boundary of the Middle Izh sub-dialects through the villages of Baysitovo, Minderovo, Kechur, and Kulaevo.

Conclusion. The author presents the first scientifically grounded delineation of the southern boundary of the Middle Izh dialects within Udmurt linguistics. This refinement of their geographical distribution provides a foundation for subsequent comprehensive study. The article constitutes a significant contribution to the field of Udmurt dialectology and, more broadly, to the general theory of Permic linguistics.

Introduction. The organizational and legal formalization of the Mari Traditional Religion’s administrative system, which began in the 20^th century, achieved legitimate status in the early 21^st century with the establishment of the Centralized Religious Organization of the Mari Traditional Religion in the Republic of Mari El. A key research problem is the absence in scholarly discourse of both legal and field-based sources that reflect the evolutionary mechanisms behind the formation of the Mari ethnic religion’s organizational structure during this period. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for preserving cultural identity, ensuring the legal protection of prayer leaders, developing effective governance models, and adapting traditional practices to contemporary social and legislative realities. The aim of this study is to define the trajectory of development for the organizational and legal forms of the Mari traditional priesthood in the 21^st century.

Materials and Methods. This study is based on archival records, field ethnographical materials, as well as the foundational documents of centralized organizations and local communities of the Mari traditional religion. In their work, the authors employed the principles of historicism, civilizational and systemic approaches, source analysis of documentary materials, the hermeneutic method, and the case-study method. This methodological framework enabled the identification of the specific characteristics in the development of the institution of clergy within the Mari traditional religion during the period under investigation.

Results and Discussion. The revival of the Mari traditional religion in the 1990s was accompanied by the establishment of an institutional structure and a hierarchical system of clergy. By the end of the second decade of the 21^st century, a stable, multi-level hierarchical system had taken shape. This system includes the legal formalization of the clergy’s status and mechanisms for interaction with state institutions. Currently, the search continues for legal models to support and legitimize the activities of clergy serving local religious communities within the Mari ethno-religion. The findings indicate a historical continuity in the evolution of the Mari ethnic tradition and its organizational-legal forms, aligned with the objectives of harmonizing state-confessional relations in the Russian Federation.

Conclusion. Since the beginning of the 21^st century, the revival of the Mari Traditional Religion in the Republic of Mari El has been characterized by a significant strengthening of its institutional structures and organizational components. By the end of the 2010s, a stable hierarchy of clerical activity had been established. This process of institutionalization is attributed not only to the legal formalization of the clergy’s status but also to the creation of an administrative apparatus within the Centralized Religious Association of the Mari Traditional Religion in the Republic of Mari El. These developments have contributed to a more structured religious system, enhancing its legitimacy and efficacy in performing religious functions. The findings of this study can inform the development of state-confessional relations at the level of constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Furthermore, they may serve as a starting point for expanding the geographical scope of research in search of new primary sources on this subject.

Introduction. In the contemporary, rapidly changing world, the process of globalisation inevitably leads to the erosion of ethnic distinctiveness and the unique features of individual cultures. Consequently, the examination of national traditions and cultural values acquires particular significance. This article examines the semantics of the tripartite composition of the Udmurt ritual belt, known as the “zar”. Primary focus is given to the social processes reflected in mythological narratives and folk art, including so-called “textile folklore” – the patterns of traditional embroidery. The aim of the research is to analyse the semantics of the embroidered composition of the “zar” ritual belt.

Materials and Methods. Traditional costume and its ornamentation possess a semiotic nature; consequently, this study employs a semiotic approach, which entails three analytical aspects: syntactics, pragmatics, and semantics. The historical-genetic method was utilized to examine the phenomenon within its historical development, alongside methods of aesthetic anthropology, which investigates the meaning-generating functions of art.

Results and Discussion. The tripartite composition featuring a central female figure constitutes one of the fundamental ornamental schemas in traditional applied arts. This schema is characterized by a central figure flanked on both sides by two secondary ones. To reveal the profound semantics of this composition, the author turns to the dawn of human history, a period when the archetypes that later formed the basis of universally prevalent mythological, folkloric, and ornamental narratives were first germinating and taking shape. The stages in the formation of the dual-clan organization – the first human community – are examined. It is precisely this “social substance” that is reflected in the symbolism of the tripartite composition.

Conclusion. This article examines the ornamental scheme and narrative depicted in the three-part composition traditionally embroidered on the ritual belt known as a zar. The research will prove valuable to historians, ethnographers, art historians, and those with a general interest in folk art. The findings can be utilised in the preparation of general works on the history and theory of Finno-Ugric folk art, the development of specialised courses on Udmurt ethnography and traditional art within educational institutions, the creation of museum exhibitions, and the design of contemporary apparel featuring ethnic motifs.

Introduction. Urbanization constitutes a significant factor shaping the contemporary state and future trajectories of a nation’s demographic and social development. The consequences of urbanization processes include the expansion of cities, the intensification of agglomeration trends, and alterations in the size, distribution, and composition of the population. The latter is of particular relevance for the Indigenous peoples of the national republics of the Ural-Volga region – specifically the Finno-Ugric and Turkic groups – who experienced a relatively late integration into the urban milieu. The objective of this research is to identify the key patterns in the distribution, dynamics, and proportion of the urban population within the national republics of the Ural-Volga region from the second half of the 20^th century to the early 21^st century. This article provides a novel comparative analysis of urbanization processes, examining both the general population and the Indigenous peoples of these republics through an ethnic lens for the period under review.

Materials and Methods. Using descriptive statistics, the author analyzes data from the 1989, 2002, 2010, and 2020 Soviet and Russian national censuses, current demographic records, and regional strategic planning documents to identify key trends in agglomeration processes. The analysis focuses on six national republics of the Ural-Volga region: those with indigenous Finno-Ugric (Mari El, Mordovia, Udmurtia) and Turkic populations (Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Chuvashia).

Results and Discussion. The republics under examination exhibit a center-periphery pattern in the development of their urban settlement networks. A distinct group of core cities has emerged, situated within the most socio-economically advanced territories of these republics, where agglomeration processes are underway. The distribution of the urban population reflects a pan-Russian trend of population concentration in major cities, regional capitals, and agglomerations. The national republics are distinguished by the specific dynamics in the scale and level of urbanization, observable for both the total population and the titular ethnic groups. The Republic of Tatarstan and the Udmurt Republic exemplify two contrasting trends: the former demonstrates a consistent increase in both the size and proportion of the urban population, whereas the latter experiences a decline. In the remaining republics, the dynamics of absolute and relative urbanization metrics are less stable, with periods of growth periodically alternating with decline, and vice versa; the nature of these changes can vary significantly.

Conclusion. A comparative regional analysis of these issues allows for an examination of how specific regional and ethnic populations are integrated into the urban milieu. This approach is instrumental in identifying prospects for socio-demographic development and in devising effective policy mechanisms for national, social, and demographic governance, aimed at safeguarding demographic potential during urbanization.

This review is devoted to a significant event in the historiography of the Mordovian region: the 2024 publication of the set of census books from the Alatyr district, dating from the late 17th to the early 18^th century, prepared by historians V. D. Kochetkov, S. V. Vidiaykin and O. I. Mariskin. The volume comprises the “Census of Prince Vasily Putyatin of the Year 196 (1688)”, the “Census Book of the Year 7204 (1696) by Stolonik and Voyevoda Semyon Fyodorovich Griboyedov, of Mordovian Villages in Alatyr District”, and the “Census and Tax Assessment Books by Stolonik Prince A. A. Bolkhovsky of Russian Peasants in Villages and Hamlets of Alatyr District, Settled on Abandoned Mordovian Lands” (1710). The publication of these primary sources opens new avenues for an in-depth examination of the region’s socio-economic processes within the context of Petrine reforms. This edition has been made possible through funding from the Talina Social Projects Support Foundation (founded by V. S. Biryukov) as part of the patriotic socio-cultural project “In the Name of the Future!”.