Abstract
The article presents linguocultural analysis of nominations of fingers in the Selkup language. The aim of the study is to reveal the part of the Selkup worldview comprised in the lexical units under study. The authors systematize the variants of nominations of fingers as well as identify linguistic and cultural principles for nomination while studying the etymology of nomination of a finger in general and carrying out the component and comparative analyses of the nominations of particular fingers of a hand. The findings of linguistic analyses are supported by the cultural data. The conducted research showed that there are 6 principles of nominations of fingers in the Selkup language; they are size, function, location and the absence of particular characteristics that may serve as basis for nomination. It was also found out that there are sacred principles of nomination which are connected with the personification of mythic primal forefathers of the Selkup in fingers. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p448
Highlights
Fast disappearance of languages and ancient indigenous cultures, to which the Selkup language belongs, considerably impoverishes all mankind
The analysis of etymological data showed that the general nomination of a finger mun in the Selkup language comes from the Proto-Samoyed verb *munɡ ‘to curve’
This initial meaning of the lexeme is likely to be the principle of nomination of a finger based on the physical ability of this part of a body to curve
Summary
Fast disappearance of languages and ancient indigenous cultures, to which the Selkup language belongs, considerably impoverishes all mankind. In this regard scientists of the whole world expand efforts on full-scale study and fixing of the languages which are under the threat of disappearance. To fulfill these tasks different research approaches are used, e.g. ethnolinguistic, cognitive, linguocultural. Nominations of parts of a body belong to the basic word stock of any language, and their study can give an idea about the word stock of the language and about the worldview of the native speakers
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