MORE ON THE STUDY OF THE FOLKLORE TRADITION OF KARELIANS

Abstract

The article is a review of scholarly works by Karelian folklore researcher, Cand. Sci. (Philology), Merited Scientist of Karelia Alexandra Stepanovna Stepanova. Her biography is briefly presented, the collecting and scientific activity of the researcher is examined, the contribution to the study of the Karelian lamentation tradition and folk culture as a whole is analyzed in the article. A. S. Stepanova made more than fifty expedition trips to the various regions of Karelia during her working at the ILLH KRC RAS, she recorded language and folklore-ethnographic material from representatives of all groups of Karelians living both in the Republic of Karelia and in the neighbouring territories. She is the author of a number of scientific collections, monographs and more than 50 articles. She introduced the samples of the Karelian lamentations into the scientific circulation for the first time, as well as their translations into Russian. A special merit of A. S. Stepanova consists in compiling the “Dictionary of the language of Karelian lamentations”, the appearance of which has set a new direction in Karelian science - linguistic folkloristics. Nowadays, the researcher’s scientific works stay relevant among the scientific community both in Russia and abroad. The honorary titles of a foreign corresponding member of the Society of Finnish Literature (Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura), of the Kalevala Society (Kalevalaseura), of the Finno-Ugric Society (Suomalais-ugrilainen seura) are the evidences of this. Scientific collections and anthologies on Karelian folklore are actively used for the study of the native (Karelian) language, oral folk art and folk culture in the universities and schools of the Republic of Karelia. In addition, Stepanova’s books are popular among all the people who express the interest in the folk culture.