Linguistic features of spontaneous speech of the Anabar Dolgans (On the material of the expedition work)

Abstract

The current functioning of the Yakut language and the languages spoken by the indigenous peoples in the North of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is under extensive scrutiny from various researchers. This interest stems from the fact that numerous languages of the northern and arctic territories are on the verge of becoming extinct owing to the impact of several anthropogenic factors. The article aims to identify linguistic characteristics of live speech amongst residents of the Yuryung-Khainsky Rural Okrug of the Anabarsky District. These speech patterns were recorded during the 2021 fieldwork conducted as part of the “Preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity and sustainable development of the Arctic and Subarctic of the Russian Federation” project (Agreement № 075-15-2021-616 from 07.06.2021). The spontaneous speech of five respondents, residents of the study area, was analysed. When analysing the empirical data, a range of methodologies was employed, including sociolinguistic and descriptive methods, as well as structural, quantitative and statistical analysis. Upon analysing the linguistic material, it has been determined that the language of the Anabar Dolgans is comprised mainly of words of Yakut origin. Additionally, the respondents also utilise Dolgan vocabulary and words of foreign origin, such as Russisms and Evenkisms. Despite the influence of various languages, several words used by Anabar Dolgan speakers have retained their original semantic meaning, identical to those in the Yakut language. However, the extensive usage of Russian in educational, administrative, and industrial domains has resulted in a high level of incorporation of Russisms in respondents' speech, without proper adaptation to Yakut and Dolgan language norms. The Anabar Dolgan language presents an excellent illustration of linguistic synthesis and cultural convergence among northern peoples and holds significant linguistic and cultural value. Ongoing linguistic transformations occurring within the Yuryung-Khainsky Rural Okrug pose a distinctive situation that calls for in-depth examination of the language through theoretical and empirical approaches.