The Experience of Linguistic and Folklore Interaction in the Circumstances of the Single Cultural Space of Yakutia

Abstract

The article deals with the current trends of the language situation and problems of preservation of minor languages in Yakutia—the largest region of the Russian Federation. The peoples living in the region (the Yakuts, Russians, Yukagirs, Evens, and Evenkis) have 400 years of the interethnic and intercultural cooperation experience. The interference is observed at the language, folklore, ethnic musical, and other levels. Bilingualism and multilingualism of various kinds, as well as assimilation processes, are intensively developing. Currently, the most typical types of bilingualism and multilingualism in Yakutia are the Yakut-Russian, Russian-Yakut-Evenki, Russian-Yakut-Even, Russian-Yakut-Chukchi types and various variations thereof. One of the features of the language situation in Yakutia is described as the current state of the Russian language of old residents of the lower reach of Indigirka, which is characterized by metalinguistic consciousness. The article also considers the features of the contacts of the Russian old-timers in the lower reaches of Indigirka and Kolyma with the spiritual culture of the aborigines of Yakutia with regard to folklore texts and traditional music at the plot and harmony intonation level. As the experience of the text folklore interaction, the peculiar features of the Russian songs due to the impact of the Yukagir folklore are described. Examples of reciprocal processes of the Russians living in Kolyma and Indigirka with the musical folklore of the Yakuts and Yukagirs are provided.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s4p72