Kalmyk proverbs translated into Russian. Kalmyk proverbs and sayings with translation
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ROLE OF NAMES OF ANIMALS IN KALMYK PROBABLES
Valeria Ledzhinova
3rd year student, IKFV, KalmSU, RF, Elista
Ubushieva Bamba Erengenovna
scientific adviser, Ph.D. Phil. Sci., Associate Professor, KSU, RF, Elista
Folklore is a scientific term of English origin.
It was first introduced into scientific use in 1846 by the English scientist William Thoms (W.G. Thoms) "Quote". Literally translated, folklore means “folk wisdom”, “folk knowledge”.
Folklore should be understood as the oral poetry of the broad masses of the people. To understand not only written artistic creation, but verbal art in general, then folklore is a special department of literature, and folklore, thus, is a part of literary criticism.
Proverbs are short sayings applied to various aspects of life that have entered the circulation of colloquial speech. By their origin, proverbs are extremely diverse. In reality, the proverbs are different both in the time of their origin, and in the nationalities that created them, and in the social environment in which they arose, or at least were in special demand, and in the sources that provided material for the creation of one or another saying.
Many proverbs were born as a conclusion from direct observations of real life.
The Kalmyks, living for 400 years in a foreign language environment, have retained the originality, colorfulness and imagery of their language. And proverbs are a vivid confirmation of this. In the folklore of each nation, proverbs and sayings take a special place. The artistic perfection of Kalmyk proverbs - imagery, depth of content, brightness, richness of language - ensured them eternal life among the people. In these small masterpieces of folk art, in a concise, extremely concise, poetic form, the experience of the people is generalized, the features of its national character are captured. Born in different historical eras, proverbs and sayings reflect the features of the life of their time, indirectly tell about old events.
I can say with confidence that proverbs for many years to come will be an inexhaustible source of experience, wisdom and creativity both for writers creating their brilliant works and for ordinary people living according to the advice present in the proverbs. It can be added that from the works of modern writers, some phrases can become proverbs and sayings. This means that in the future, we will be able to enjoy interesting and smart statements, which means that the past will live for a very long time.
A linguistic study of proverbs can shed light on the solution of issues of ethnosis and ethnic history of the people. The language of folklore played a huge role in the formation and development of the literary Kalmyk language.
In the treasury of the Kalmyk people there are such works as 2 editions of the collection: Bukshan Badm, Matsga Ivan. Collection Halmg үlgүrmүd boln tәәlvrtә tuuls / under. ed. A. Suseeva. - Elista, 1960 .-- P. 14, Bukshan Badm, Matsga Ivan. Collection Halmg үlgүrmүd boln tәәlvrtә tuuls / under. ed. A. Suseeva. - Elista, 1982 .-- S. 22.
As a source, I took the book by Todayeva B.Kh. Proverbs, sayings and riddles of the Kalmyks of Russia and the Oirats of China / under total. ed. G.Ts. Pyurbeeva. - Elista, 2007. This publication is a publication of unique materials collected by the compiler during linguistic expeditions to study languages and dialects of all Mongol-speaking peoples living in China. In addition to these materials, the book uses collections of proverbs and sayings, riddles, various dictionaries, works of fiction. The book consists of two sections - proverbs and sayings, riddles.
The classification of proverbs and sayings is based on their semantic essence. The main thing is the characteristics of a person, his inner world and external manifestations. On the one hand, they mark all the good and good in a person, and on the other, his vices - all that, bad and unworthy, that makes him immoral.
The classification of riddles is based on key words - answers related to the names of parts of the human body, his physical and mental activity, everyday life, moral values.
This book is of great importance in the folklore treasury of the Kalmyk people, because proverbs and riddles are eternal genres of oral folk art. Of course, not everything that has been created and is being created will stand the test of time, but the need for linguistic creativity, the ability of the people to do it is a sure guarantee of their immortality.
Thanks to the names of animals, one can understand what their role in Kalmyk culture is. After all, it is cattle breeding that is one of the main occupations of the Kalmyk people. Also, it can be noted that thanks to the parallel that is drawn in the comparison of human qualities, you can accurately capture the meaning that they wanted to convey to the people. That is why the names of animals are widely used both in Kalmyk folklore and in the oral and folk art of other peoples.
I'll cover one of the main pieces: fauna.
Considering Kalmyk proverbs, one can notice signs of culture and life in them. Certain words and phrases are widely used in proverbs with the names of animals, which give Kalmyk proverbs a special national and cultural flavor:
1. Er zaluһin cheeҗd / Emәltә khazarta mѳrn bagtna.‘In the soul of the present
men / Fit a horse with a saddle and a bridle '
2. Er kүmn neg үgtә / Er mѳrn neg tashurta... ‘One word is enough for a real man / One whip is enough for a good horse’
3. Emin muuһar ger bargddg / Emәlin muuһar dәәr һardg... "A bad wife ruins the house / A bad saddle causes a bruise on the horse's back." "Quote" .
In these proverbs, the main objects that nomads often used are well traced. Thanks to Kalmyk proverbs, one can better understand the spirit of the Kalmyk people and get acquainted with some of its customs.
There are four main types of livestock in Kalmyk animal husbandry. These are rams, horses, cows and camels. The life of nomads was based on them. Thanks to the animals, they provided themselves with clothing, a house, food and household items. From the most ancient times, when Kalmyks lived in wagons, animals were the basis of their activity. That is why their role is clearly reflected in Kalmyk proverbs.
The animals can be classified into 4 types of livestock and other pets.
The main animal in Kalmyk cattle breeding is the horse. She helped the nomads quickly move across the endless steppe, transmit various letters and wander from one place to another. It is the horse that is the main object used in Kalmyk folklore, in particular, in proverbs. More can be written about the role of the horse in the life of a nomad.
1. Kүmn bolkh baҺas / Kүlg bolkh unҺnas... ‘Will he become a man seen from childhood / Will he become a good horse?’
2. Күмн кѳгшрвл nutgtan / Аҗрһ кѳгшрвл иҗлдән... ‘A man grows old among his own people / A stallion grows old in a herd’
3. Күүнә мѳр унсн күн / Өвкәҗ хатрг.‘A man riding someone else’s horse / Rides at a trot, lifting himself up on stirrups’. "Quote" .
This proverb says that the rider, who first mounted a horse, rises on the stirrups. This is done due to the fact that he does not know what move the knight has, it jumps softly or quickly, all this is unknown to him. Because the rider needs to feel the step of the horse in order to better master it.
The second animal that has made a huge contribution to Kalmyk animal husbandry is the cow. There are also many proverbs that are dedicated to this animal.
1. Үsn uga үkr mѳѳrәch / Үrn uga gergn uulyach.‘A cow that doesn’t give milk loves to moo / A woman who has no children loves to cry’
2. Үstә үkr mѳѳrmtkhә / Үүl uga ber duulmtha."A cow that gives a lot of milk loves to bellow / Daughter-in-law, not capable of needlework, loves to sing." "Quote" .
Here images of a cow and a woman are used as creatures that are suffering and each from a certain ailment. And the second says that the cow and the daughter-in-law are trying to compensate for their shortcomings with other activities. Such similar proverbs make such a big difference.
The third animal from the main group is a ram. Thanks to this animal, nomads could provide themselves with meat products, clothing, household items and felt products.
Many proverbs are also dedicated to this animal.
1. Hѳn sүүlin tѳlә / Kүn үrnәnn tѳlә.‘Sheep was born for a fat tail / Man for children’
2. Khudin үg degәtә / Khutsin ѳvr moshkrat.‘The words of the matchmaker are sarcastic and chops / And the horns of the ram are twisted, twisted‘. “Quote.”
This proverb says that these things are pretty trivial and there is nothing surprising in this.
The fourth of this group is the camel. Like other animals, it was of great benefit due to its endurance and endurance.
1. Dark үkvl temnd kүrdg uga.‘When a camel dies, it’s not worth the price of a big, thick needle’
This proverb says that, despite the great benefits of the camel, when it dies, everything will become useless. Because the camel brings help precisely by its work.
2. Dark gikhl yaman guide... ‘They tell him about a camel, and he’s about a goat’
That is, in meaning, I say one thing, and he answers me another. There is an analogy to this proverb from Russian folklore: "I told him about Thomas, and he told me about Erema!"
3. Neg dark khorһsnd min dark haltrdg... 'A thousand camels will slip on the roll of one camel (wrong act of one)'. "Quote" .
In addition to these animals, the names of others were also present in Kalmyk proverbs. All this was done to compare people with certain animals, comparing their human qualities with the established images of the animal world.
For example, a pig is associated with destruction, (Һazr evddg - akha). "The pig is always digging the ground." The Mongols even wore boots with a bent toe so as not to injure the ground. A snake in proverbs often symbolizes the hidden nature of something (moһan erәn һaza - the snake has only a pattern on the outside).
1. Күмн күмн gikhlә, / Күrӊ erәn moһa bolkh.“If you spend too much time on a person, he can become a brown-and-white snake. (to him with good, and he with evil) ‘
2. Kүmni kүүkni kүzүn bat / Kѳgshn tsarin arsn bat... 'Someone else's daughter has a strong neck / The old ox has a skin'
The meaning of this proverb is: "Food is better in someone else's plate."
3. Kүn medsәn umshdg / Taka үzzәn choӊkdg.‘Man reads what he knows / Chicken pecks what he sees’
4. Er kүmn chonas bishin undg / Cholunas bishin iddg.‘A man doesn’t only ride a wolf / He eats everything except a stone’
It speaks of the strength of a Kalmyk man who is able to ride any animal. And the second part of this proverb speaks of a man's appetite, because the pledge of strength is food. With the help of a hyperbole, the meaning that they wanted to convey through this proverb increases.
5. Sүrgәsn zulsn bukh ketsү / Kerүld durta em ketsү."A terrible bull who ran away from the herd / A terrible woman who loves quarrels." "Quote" .
The proverb is used to mean that an angry bull is tantamount to a woman who spreads scandals, destroying everything around. The bull breaks down the neighborhood, and the woman who loves controversy destroys the relationship.
Through my research, I learned more about folklore, about Kalmyk proverbs, about their role in our life. Using the names of animals in Kalmyk folklore, one can confidently assert their enormous role in the life of the Kalmyk people.
I have described various proverbs that reflect characters, activities and life. Because of them, each person can get acquainted with the special national flavor described in Kalmyk folklore.
Thanks to proverbs, you can more accurately and more emotionally express your thoughts. Therefore, they can be used as direct arguments in various works, essays, etc.
I believe that the folklore of each nation is unique, and we must preserve and cherish it. After all, folklore is a kind of history of a nation, a kind of window into culture and traditions.
Bibliography:
- Todaeva B.Kh. Әrәsәn halmgudyn boln Kitdin ѳѳrd Moӊһlyn үlgүrmүd, tәәlvrtә tuuls. Proverbs, sayings and riddles of the Kalmyks of Russia and the Oirats of China / under total. ed. G.Ts. Pyurbeeva. Elista, 2007.
- Folklore // Literary encyclopedia. T. 11., 1939. [Electronic resource] - Access mode. - URL: http://feb-web.ru/feb/litenc/encyclop/leb/leb-7751.htm (date of access 12/20/14).
1.
The great role of proverbs of sayings (in Kalmyk - ylgyr) not only in art, but also in the life experience of the people was perfectly defined by A. M. Gorky: material that will teach him to clench words like fingers into a fist, and to unfold words tightly clenched by others, to unfold them so that what is hidden in them, hostile to the tasks of the era, dead ... I learned a lot from proverbs, otherwise: thinking with aphorisms ".
The folk proverbs themselves, sayings and their figurative definitions speak best of the people's love for proverbs and riddles. The British call proverbs "the fruits of experience", the Italians - "the school of wisdom", the Eastern peoples - the "flowers of wisdom" and "unmanned pearls." “A proverb is a flower, a proverb is a berry,” says a Russian proverb. “The mountain hawk flies to the mountains, and the wise son speaks in accordance with the proverbs,” says the proverb of the Kalmyk people.
It has long been known for a particularly great love for a colorful, figurative, flowery language abounding in aphorisms among eastern peoples. This explains the special popularity and abundance of proverbs and sayings among Kalmyks.
Proverbs, sayings and riddles, this "small form" of folklore, is especially firmly embedded in speech, art, and everyday life in Soviet Kalmykia. They express the wisdom and centuries-old experience of the working people, they enrich and decorate the language and oral creativity of the people. You can often hear proverbs in everyday conversation, at meetings, conferences, they are often found in fairy tales, folk songs, in stories and in the works of writers and poets of Soviet Kalmykia.
The first publications of Kalmyk proverbs and riddles date back to the beginning of the last century. In 1810 N. Strakhov published 27 Kalmyk proverbs. N. Nefediev, in his book about the Kalmyks, published in 1834, cites 6 proverbs and 14 sayings. A number of proverbs, sayings and riddles are given in Kalmyk primers. The Kalmyk proverbs and sayings, transmitted in the Zayapandi transcription and in Russian translation, in the book of the Mongol scholar Vl. Kotvich "Kalmyk Proverbs and Sayings". Several hundred proverbs and mysteries of Kalmykia were published in magazines and newspapers in pre-revolutionary times.
A significant number of proverbs collected recently have not yet been published. We will use them first of all.
It is difficult to establish when the Kalmyk proverbs and riddles that have come down to our time arose, but it is obvious that this is the most stable genre of folklore and the lifetime of the main part of them is determined by several centuries. A number of proverbs and riddles mention such geographical names and animals that are characteristic of Mongolia, from where, as you know, the Kalmyks moved to the Volga in the 17th century. Archaic beliefs and ideas are reflected in proverbs: echoes of the tribal structure of society, primitive animistic views, hints of civil strife between the Torgouts, Derbets and other Oirat tribes have been preserved. Finally, in some proverbs and riddles, weapons, tools and household items are mentioned that have long gone out of use (darzog matter, arrow or flint, flint and spark).
2. Proverbs
From historical Kalmyk proverbs, an interesting proverb is about an important event in the history of the Kalmyk people - the departure to Dzungaria in 1771, which quite accurately conveys its essence: "we left the white king's rope bridle and fell into the iron muzzle of Chinese tangerines."
There is a significant number of proverbs about social relations, primarily about the attitude of the Kalmyk peasant to the feudal lords, the bourgeoisie and the clergy. The satirical acuteness is even more pronounced here than in fairy tales. Proverbs about zaisangs, noyons and khans stand out for their abundance.
The proverb about the spiritual superiority over the khans of the poor, the beggar, speaks quite transparently: "what is not in the khan's treasury, is in the soul of the beggar." The proverb about the khan's court is expressive: "The khan's court has crooked legs."
The proverb hits the Zaisangs and Noyons, their greed, tyranny: "The grace of Noyon, (Zaisang) is like snow on the back of a dog", "If you play with a dog, you will be left without a floor; the jokes of a noble take the life of a simple one "," the favor of noyon - an ungrown shadow tree "," than expect good from the prince, better guard the back of a camel "," that noyon, that a dog is one conscience "(" Noyon noha hapar aedle ").
Proverbs of a later origin about the rich, fists, no less caustic, evil and well-aimed: "a thief with one sin, and a bain with many sins" pocket, in the soul of a poor man "," at the sight of a ruble piece of paper, the speculator's thighs tremble "," to believe a rich man is like throwing grain on the horns of a cow [on the tip of a needle], " the head will be in the blood. "
But what is the assessment given by the proverbs to the Gelungs and Manchzhiks: "it is better for lice to die between the nails than to fall into the fingers of a gol-headed Gelung", "Avoid the Gelung, which has become a layman, run away from the ox, which was a bull", "The greedy Manchzhik remained hungry between two Khuruls."
In their expressiveness, accuracy and sharpness, such proverbs are worth other fairy tales.
Proverbs are excellent evidence that the people have long known the nature and causes of social inequality. A Kalmyk proverb knows that "five fingers are not equal, and people are not equal either." She talks about material, legal, and political inequality: “the rich eat while he is full, the poor eat until he eats everything,” “a few - until they are full, and many - as much as they can get”, “a person who does not have a yurt and livestock, worse than a stray dog "," he who has not seen the need does not know it from others "," a man who is in debt will not go up "," the word of a poor man is like mooing of a cow. "
She captured the Kalmyk proverb and the experience of the class struggle, the call for this struggle. The people know very well that "despair looses the tongue, and hunger looses the hands" and that "the wolf, which often visits the herd, falls into a trap." He also knows about the solidarity of the workers, that "if help is needed, the poor will help." And the proverb openly calls for a struggle: "no matter how much noyon dominates, he is not content", no matter how much the black bone endures, it will rise. " At the same time, popular wisdom calls for remembering that "you cannot fight alone", that "unification is a hero."
It is remarkable in Kalmyk proverbs, as well as in folklore in general, to express the people's love and respect for work, in which the working people have long seen one of the foundations of future human happiness. “When the hands move, the jaws move, too,” says the proverb. "The treasury of the chest ends, but the treasury of the palm does not end." And in the proverb, folk wisdom, as on the pages of a book, captures the experience of this labor activity, generalizations, conclusions developed by the people over the centuries: "the done thing tends to the owner, the water from the slope tends to the lowland", "a skill learned with the advent of life, it is not forgotten until life passes away, ”“ free food stops in the breast ”,“ what a good worker will be is seen by a child, what a good horse will be is seen by a foal ”.
Numerous proverbs expressing the rules of a social community based on respect for a person, on mutual assistance and the expediency of collective labor are curious: “they don’t stumble if they stumble,“ where the algae are good - the fish gather; who has a good character - people gather "," light a reed for a chilled person, a hungry cook food "," fellow travelers have one cauldron "," frank words are good, good friends are strong "," when a person feels bad, he goes to his khoton. bad - goes to its nest "," a lonely tree is not a tree, a lonely person is not a person. "
And the proverb boldly castigates antisocial behavior, human vices that harm the collective of workers: quarrels, revenge, talkativeness, rudeness, laziness, stubbornness, envy, neglect of work, etc. "," A bad man [a fool] plays with a club and a stone "," a barking thief comes, a liar-man comes laughing, " a bummer from a kibitka kibitka flesh will not get meat "," a pacer has no fat, a dissolute one has no rest "," if you take revenge to chase, your hip can break "," a mountain spoils a horse, anger spoils a man "," a careless person does his job twice "," in a lair Do not go about the boars alone, do not betray your thoughts among strangers. "
"White bone", traders and tsarist officials drunk Kalmyks in every possible way, trying to pour vodka over the inflamed class hatred of the enslavers. It is significant that, in opposition to these aspirations, folk wisdom, folk art opposed vodka, against drunkenness: "vodka spoils everything except dishes", "he is afraid of a drunk and mad."
If in the proverbs of the Russian peasantry the focus is on the land and its cultivation, then in the Kalmyk proverbs, quite naturally, the animal world dominates; comparisons and metaphors are also taken from the animal world: “a treasure is a horse that makes a distant land close; treasure - a girl who makes two people friends "," if you beat a bull in the head, then the cow's back hurts "," run - the mare is fast, drag - the stallion is fast "," cattle are raised with cattle "," bad bogey land on your head rakes in. "
Of great interest are the proverbs that set out the worldview of the people, generalize, interpret the phenomena in the field of social life, ideology, in matters of life and death, youth and old age, the past and the future, etc. The breadth of generalizations, wisdom, sobriety of views, materialistic positions - that's which is typical of these proverbs. "All is well that soon, except death", "the face of the dead is like ash, the face of the living is like gold", "you create a man, create food", "who thinks about the future is wise, who mends the old is a master", " the young man who has worn out the first Tibenka is smarter than the king who owns the state "," turn better to a young man who has traveled around the country than to an old man who has spent his life in bed. "
The proverbs expressed the great craving of the people for knowledge, the path to which was blocked by the noyons and bains. “There is no old age to learn science,” says a Kalmyk proverb; “They learn to be smart up to a hundred years old,” “if you teach, then to the end, if you sit on horseback behind you, then take you home.”
The proverb attaches great importance and power to the word, its social function. She glorifies wise, truthful speech, accuracy, expressiveness and the power of the influence of the word. “Even a cobblestone cracks from the human tongue,” says a beautiful Kalmyk proverb, “the wound is erased from the lash, the wound is not erased from the tongue,” another echoes it. "A nice hat on the head is pleasant, a fair word is pleasant to the heart", "a word spoken without consideration, like a shot without aiming", "to say a lot is confusion, to say a little is wisdom."
A lot of Kalmyk proverbs have been written down, which capture the remnants of the tribal structure of society.
Here are some of the similar proverbs: "if the stirrups have four belts, support for the legs, if there are four brothers, support for the hoton", "the beginning of the river is the source, the beginning of man is the mother's ancestors", "the multi-family one who does not know his grandson", "the bird badly - aspires to his nest, to a person badly - aspires to his kind "," the elder brother - the daughter-in-law inheritance will die, the gelding will fall - the skin of the inheritance ".
The influence of the ideology of the feudal nobility and the clergy on proverbs and sayings had little effect. It is known that the Gelungs widely promoted the "sinfulness" of cleanliness, forbidding people to wash themselves, get rid of lice, etc. And it is from them that proverbs like the following come: "He who is dirty is pious." From the same source come proverbs that humiliate women, glorify the nobility. The number of such proverbs is insignificant, they are buried in the bulk of proverbs - an excellent creation of folk wisdom and creativity.
Among the old Kalmyk proverbs, as well as riddles, many traces of the primitive animistic worldview have been preserved, manifested in the animation of natural objects and in such images of ancient mythology as Tengri, mangus, etc. Such proverbs, sayings and riddles are of great value for researchers - ethnographers, as they provide material for the restoration of archaic ideas and beliefs.
3. Riddles
The favorite folklore genre of Kalmyk children is riddles (in Kalmyk, tayl gatai or okr tuul). Several hundred riddles are given in the collection of Vl. Kotvich, but this is only a small part of what is common among Kalmyks.
A curious form of existence of riddles in Kalmykia is a collective competition (game) for the best guessing. Participants in such a game are usually divided into two parties, each of which elects its own leader (telgoichi). One party asks riddles to the other (in turn), and the party that gives the most correct answers is considered the winner. In the course of such a competition, new riddles are often created impromptu. Such competitions are organized not only among children, but also among adults.
There are also social motives in riddles. Thus, the irony directed against the khan and the clergy is evident in the following riddles: “The khan came out, raising his dagger upward” (the dog came out, raising his hyost), “Gelung Erenchzhen heats his liver, three manchzhiks warm their thighs” (cauldron and tagan).
Everything characteristic of the nomadic life of old Kalmykia is reflected in riddles. The wagon in riddles is especially popular, and there are riddles for individual parts of the wagon: unins, a smoke hole, a felt felt, etc.: "The belly is big, and the head is full of holes" (the wagon), the roof of the wagon), "I sat down on the corner and picked up willow branches" (dismantling the wagon), "You go there, I will go here and we will meet at the khan's door" (the braid around the wagon), etc. Similarly, the accessories of the hearth are often found: tagan, boiler, ladle, etc.
The riddle pays much attention to the primitive tools of the nomad's labor: a lasso, a gun, a needle, a file, tongs, a spindle, etc .; “On the other side of the house, a camel is screaming, dust rises in a conspicuous place” (shoot a gun), “An iron pig has a tail made of twine” (a needle), “A gray sheep grows fat to the point that it cannot stand up” (a spindle). Separate labor processes are also reflected in a peculiar way: “The Kurulda bird has reached the place that cannot be reached by a person; the person who wanted to get it pulled out a bird of a different name "(take out the red-hot iron with tongs)," Runs fast (like drops are falling), with a strong whip, sits like a khan, has a black lamb's cap "(needle, thread and thimble, used when sewing), “A man with a spear drives a man with a horseshoe” (a needle and a thimble), “A yellow dog, wagging its tail, grows fat” (a spindle with threads).
Fauna and flora are widely represented in riddles. Here we will find all the most characteristic representatives of the flora and fauna of the Kalmyk steppes: wolf, fox, hare, ground squirrel, jerboa, mole, frog, turtle, snake, ant, reed, feather grass, etc. Most of all riddles about domestic animals: camels, horses, cows, sheep. "The mountain is led by a thread" (reins and a camel), "Between two mountains a grass has grown - a reed" (wool that has grown from a camel between humps), "With a felt whip, with a straight snout, with two stakes on a cliff" (cow), “On the other side of the current, under the growing one, the howling ate clean bleating” (on the other side of the river, under a tree, the wolf ate a sheep). Riddles about animals are distinguished by great observation, curious comparisons. "The skin of a dead snake, the ears of a frightened camel" (fox), "From a distance look - a chamois, come up level - a goat, grab and look - a sable, kill and look - a horse" (hare), "Runs jumping, with a muzzle like a calf "(Jerboa)," There is a meat plug in the earthen tube "(gopher).
Having moved to the Volga, the Kalmyks for the first time had the opportunity to observe agricultural work. It is curious how the first acquaintance with agriculture was reflected in the Kalmyk riddles. The ears of corn received the following figurative, metaphorical description in riddles: "A tree sways, 80,000 branches sway on a tree, there is a nest on each branch, testicles in each nest." Another riddle is also curious: “At the headwaters of the Thar River, I threw something noticeable; when I went to see what was wrong with it, it turned out that it pricked up its ears and bulged its eyes ”(standing bread).
Natural phenomena, sky and air in Kalmyk riddles, as in proverbs, often take the images of pets and household items. The starry sky becomes a carpet that cannot be stepped on, the moon becomes a silver cup on ice or money on a pillow, a patch on a sheepskin coat, half a pancake on the top of a yurt, the sun becomes a fire the size of a cup in which all the people are heated, or butter the size of a grandmother , which all living things eat. Thunder and rain turn into a rusty blue stallion and 99 foal mares. In the enigma, the earth becomes the father's sheepskin coat, which cannot be crossed, and the water becomes the mother's sheepskin coat, which cannot be folded. By the way, many of these images are generally common in Kalmyk folklore.
Riddles about parts of the human body (fingers, eyes, eyelashes, teeth, etc.), clothes and shoes (hat, boots, stockings, sheepskin coat, etc.), food (kaymak, mosol, milk, shulum) are widely popular in Kalmykia. ... For example: “A camel fell into the sea; the camel does not feel anxiety, but the sea feels "(a speck got into the eye)," On the shore of a round lake, reeds grew all around "(eyelashes)," A quick tongue licks the ground "(boot)," The top one is not quite white, the middle one is so-so white, the lowest one is completely white ”(upper film of kaymak, kaymak, milk).
The range of topics in Kalmyk riddles includes not only things, but also abstract concepts. In riddles, folk wisdom seeks to comprehend phenomena in the field of spiritual life. This series of riddles is characterized by the following: “He leaves on foot, arrives on horseback” (grief), “It is clear in the brain, hidden in the pupils” (thought), “A place that a person cannot reach, his little baby has reached” (a person's mind), “Scooping up a red wineskin cannot be depleted” (the mind of a person), “Three things joyfully come in our world; what are they? " (sun, heart of a friend, thought of mother and father).
A few words about the original work of Kalmyk folklore "Vertebral bone". The performance of this work is characteristic. One of the performers, depicting the bride's father, puts a ram's vertebral bone on a stick. "It is difficult to gnaw a bone," the narrator says, "and it is even more difficult to say everything right." After that, tapping on various protrusions and tubercles of the bone, the narrator asks his partner, who plays the role of the groom, mysterious questions to which the groom must give a witty, resourceful answer. The topics of questions and answers are very diverse, sometimes they approach the topic of Kalmyk riddles.
Small genres of folklore should also include impromptu witticisms, which storytellers often exchanged for a joke. It is said that the Zaisangs and Noyons ordered their hired duulchi to greet guests unwanted for them with such impromptu witticisms. The most successful of such impromptu acts have survived in the people's memory and are passed on by word of mouth. For example, the following episode is told.
A guest came to a zaisang, waving his arms widely. He was greeted by the remark of the duulci:
- Without water, the boat does not wave the oars.
The guest also turned out to be resourceful.
- A bird has wings, a man has hands.
- Turning the mill around without doing - it’s in vain to wash the shaft, - the duulci answered him.
As you can see from the example, such impromptu jokes are close in essence to proverbs. Sometimes there were whole contests in such witticisms between the duulches.
4. Poetics of proverbs and riddles
The externally poor world that surrounded the nomad is filled with colorful images in riddles and proverbs. Things are perceived through riddles not in their eternal form; with the help of apt comparisons, metaphors, they appear in a new light, multifaceted, multicolored; their connection with the world around them becomes clearer and more vivid.
The peculiarities of the artistic form of proverbs and riddles are determined by the installation on the most concise, colorful and accurate expression of thought, generalizing a separate phenomenon of reality, or on a figurative description using a metaphor or comparison of a separate subject. Most of the proverbs and riddles are characterized by a gravitation towards the song art form.
Each proverb and riddle usually represents one simple or complex sentence. According to the compositional structure, Kalmyk proverbs are two-term, less often three-term and polynomial, while (the syntactic structure of the proverb is very clear) the measured speech of the proverb is strictly calculated and purposeful.
Here's an example of a two-term and polynomial saying:
The one who has gone on his feet comes.
Closed with a shovel does not come.
He who did not keep his hands - he keeps his mouth,
If you don't keep your mouth, you keep your throat,
If you don't keep your throat, you keep your stomach.
Kolur odsn irdg.
Kӱrzӓr darsn irdg uga.
Gar es hadg'lsig - amn hadg'ldg
Amn es hadg'lsig - hool hadg'ldg
Hool es hadg'lsid - gesn hadg'ldg.
Here is a polynomial riddle, which is curious in its composition:
Built above the ground
Glass House;
There are no windows or doors
There are no pipes in it,
And inside it is full of lamps.
Gazrt kurl uga
shil ger bӓrӓtӓ;
Utanchn uga orknchn uga,
terzn uga,
dotrn bad obmr.
The syntactic structure of many proverbs and riddles is characterized by syntactic parallelism - the monotony of constructing simple sentences in a complex sentence, for example:
The rich man - from one blizzard,
Bogatyr - from one bullet
ain nag baronӓ,
baatr, neg sumnӓ.
Multi-family - not knowing his grandson
The rich man does not know his geldings.
Achan tangg uga onr,
Agatan tangg uga bain.
In the latter case, as is often the case in Kalmyk proverbs and riddles, we encounter not only syntactic parallelism, but also rhythmic one. In general, Kalmyk proverbs are characterized by a craving for a rhythmic system, although it is impossible to establish strict rhythms in them. Sound organization, the use of various sound repetitions and alliterations are even more characteristic of them.
Alliterations in rhythmic proverbs are built according to the same principle as in folk songs, according to the principle, so to speak, of rhyme or assonance at the beginning of a line, for example:
Barsin sӱӱlӓӓs bicha bor,
Barsn höön bicha piӓv
Madgin ӱg keg,
Mairngd Gerӓӓs Shah.
The proverb is characteristic in terms of sound:
Hoir st hargudgo,
Khairkyn khargydyk -
in it in almost every word the sounds "x", "o", "n", "r" are repeated. In addition, internal and final rhymes can be found in proverbs.
The main artistic techniques of proverbs and riddles are metaphors and comparisons. However, it is not uncommon to find Kalmyk riddles in the form of a simple question. Riddles of this kind about the "three things" are quite common. Three things are gloomy in the world:
The soul of a manchzhik who does not know the law is gloomy,
Gloomy khoton, in which there are no sheep,
The soul of a woman who has no children is gloomy.
Three white things in the world, what are they?
(The teeth of a laughing man, the hair of an old man, the bones of a dead man).
The use of hyperbole is widespread in proverbs and especially in riddles, for example: “A sheep fell on a rock; the sheep does not feel anxiety, but the rock feels "(the meat got between the teeth)," The mountain is led by the thread "(the camel's reins)," 10,000 spears are stuck on the bank of a round lake "(poles in the roof of the wagon).
In the proverbs and riddles of the Kalmyks, one can trace the influence of other nationalities. Interesting in this respect is the transformation among the Kalmyks of the Russian riddle: "Without windows, without doors, the upper room is full of people" (watermelon). The Kalmyks say this riddle: “Without a door, without a haracha, but a wagon full of people” (watermelon).
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The explanations of Kalmyk terms given in the footnotes were made by prof. N. V. Küner and L. V. Zevina.
A. M. Gorky. How I learned to write.
N. Strakhov. The current state of the Kalmyk people, with the addition of Kalmyk laws and legal proceedings, ten rules of their faith, prayers, moralizing stories, fairy tales, proverbs and songs. Savardin, St. Petersburg, 1810. Proverbs are given on pp. 88-93.
N. Nefediev. Detailed information about the Volga Kalmyks collected at the site. SPb., 1834.
Primer for Kalmyk ulus schools. Kazan, 1892 (15 riddles and 25 proverbs in Russian transcription, without translation). Kalmyk-Russian primer. Ed. Dep. state land Property, St. Petersburg, 1902, 70 pages (35 riddles and 81 proverbs).
Mangus is a monster, an evil spirit.
For a detailed description of such competitions among the Buryats and Kalmyks, see: Gaman Gomboev. Sechzig burjatische Rathsel. Bull, historico-philolog., T. X IV, no. 11, Melanges asiat., T. III. - M. Sсhrefоrer. Alexander Castren's Versuch einer buriatischen Sprachlehre nebst kurzem Worterverzeichniss. - Nordische Reisen und Forschungen von Dr. Al. Castren.
Unin - the rafters of the yurt (sticks inserted into the upper circle of the yurt).
Kaimak is a foam removed from milk.
Shulum - soup, broth.
Duulchi is a singer, storyteller.
Sumna is an arrow, a bullet.
Kalmyks- West Mongolian (Oirat) people living mainly in the Republic of Kalmykia - a subject of the Russian Federation. They speak Kalmyk and Russian. The Kalmyk language belongs to the Mongolian language family and has two dialects - Derbet and Torgut, between which there are no significant differences. They are descendants of the Oirat tribes who migrated at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries from Central Asia to the Lower Volga and to the Northern Caspian Sea. Ancestors of the Kalmyks: Dzungars.
The number of Kalmyks in Russia is about 185 thousand people; there are also small diasporas abroad. The main religion of the Kalmyk believers is Gelug Tibetan Buddhism.
Various genres are characteristic of Kalmyk oral folk art: heroic folk epic, fairy tales, historical, lyrical, ritual songs, apt proverbs and sayings (ulgur). In many of them, traces of ancient mythology are clear. In Kalmyk folklore, proverbs occupy a prominent place. As inthese intelligible and apt expressions instill love for work and native land, foster valor, honesty, courage and courage, ridicule and stigmatize vices, condemn evil.
B ogach and on the edge of the abyss - paradise.
In the middle of the lake there is a beautiful duck, in the nomads there is a scientist.
Arrogance spoils a person, very white gets dirty quickly.
The mountain hawk flies to the mountain, the son of a wise father says.
A tree growing at the edge of a forest is flexible; a courageous person is proud.
For the ocean, a drop is an addition.
Do not ask something bad: he will say it himself.
If the donkey grows fat, then he kicks the owner.
If the hands work, then the mouth works.
If you are stingy in treats, your friends are far away.
The woman enjoys home life, and the man enjoys the dear one.
If you touch Noyon, you will be left without a head; if you play with the dog, you will be left without a floor. (reflects the oppression of the poor by the rich)
Winter weather cannot be trusted.
She will sew clothes from the rags, prepare food from the afterbirth. (outdated proverb about a good wife)
Of the seven, one is always smart.
No matter how far, go along the road; no matter how old you are - take a girl.
No matter how the frog jumps, everything is in its own puddle.
Like an unfinished snake. (talking about some unfinished business)
No matter how angry the swan is - and he does not beat his eggs.
High quality copper does not rust; children and mother's relatives do not forget each other.
When a fish dies, bones remain; when a man dies, honor remains.
When the hat fits, it is pleasant to the head; when they speak fairly, it is pleasant to the heart.
A goat dreaming of twins is left without a goat.
The goat, so that the horns grow, butts the mother; water to bring down the shores - hits them.
Except death, anything that is fast is good.
He who loves his homeland overcomes the enemy more easily.
Whoever crumbles meat licks his hands.
Wherever it reaches with its foot - it hits, where it reaches its neck - it bites.
A lazy person and in his wagon he will not get meat. (i.e. laziness even ready to take)
A horse, because of a shabby back, is forced to amble, a person, due to poverty, is forced to engage in quackery.
It is better when the rope is long and the speech is short.
Treat your guest with the best food, put on the best clothes.
A man has no free time, sandalwood has no flaw.
Death is better for a man than shame.
Thoughts - on the throne, ass - in the mud.
Do not offend, calling him bad: you cannot say what will happen to him, do not praise the good in advance: it is not known what it will be like.
One should not trust the tiger, and one should not laugh at the one who comes.
You can't tear your tongue away from the lip, which has a wound, you can't look away from your beloved.
You cannot constantly speak just because there is a mouth under the nose.
The road is far for a timid man.
There are no heroes who have not experienced sorrow.
There is no baby, and there will be no adult.
The devil contributes to the fall into the abyss, the funeral - gelung.
There is nothing to drink, but he loves a jomba, there is nothing to ride, but he loves a pacer.
A bad person insults people, a bad horse stumbles upon trees.
Khan's feed is like spring snow.
If you take care of a dissolute person, your head will be covered in blood, if you take care of the cattle, you will have oil in your mouth.
While young - get to know people, while the horse is good - go round the earth.
After the rain, the sun burns, after a lie, shame burns.
If you lose your beloved friend, you remember for seven years, if you leave your homeland, you will remember it to death.
Tie your horse in an open area, only be frank with a friend.
An upright person does as he says; a sharp knife cuts as soon as it touches.
The bird is strong with its wings, the man is strong with help.
The winter may be mild, but it's still winter.
To learn a craft - there is no old age.
The clan is suppressed on the daughter's children.
A fish is not shown a knife, and a person is not harmed.
Do not argue with a hero over food, do not argue with a rich man because of happiness.
The saiga grows fat on good food, the gelung grows rich when there are many dead. (directed against the Lamaist clergy)
The lamp flashes before it goes out.
The pig does not see the sky.
One can be defeated by force, many can be defeated by knowledge.
Do not flatter the strong, do not offend the weak.
The strong growls, the powerless squeals.
A brave badger is better than a backward bull.
A dog that runs will find a bone.
A person does not know his own smell.
The sun shines forever, and learning is sweeter than sugar and honey.
First, get drunk, then ask why you came.
Standing facing forward, laughing, facing backward, crying.
The treacherous one has luck once, the skilled one - twice.
He who has no desire has no strength.
The stick has two ends.
Ask the laughing one the reason, and calm the crying one.
A man's adornment is courage.
The clever hides the virtues in the heart, the stupid keeps them on the tongue.
Teaching is the source of happiness, laziness is the source of torment.
Teaching is the source of the mind.
The character is good when it is suitable, and the collar is good when it is on a fur coat.
Although it rained, don't leave your livestock without water. (a proverb associated with basic occupations, primarily with cattle breeding)
The person who gave the food will also give you a drink.
A person playing with himself never loses.
The more you stir the tea, the thicker it becomes.
It is better to be the head of a camel than to be the tail of an elephant.
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On this page: Kalmyk folk proverbs and sayings with translation into Russian.