Children's Folklore Research Articles

Seyfulgabit Majitov-Outstanding educator, mentor and publisher of samples of karakalpak children's folklore

The twentieth century was a period of great changes in the spiritual world of the Karakalpak people. For the first time in the beginning of the captivity, the people of Karakalpakstan had their own national press, and the first books in their native language were published. Seifulgabit Mazhitov, a devoted teacher and representative of the Jadid movement, took an active part in the implementation of this work and wrote the first modern lessons in the Karakalpak language. In order to write the lessons, the people collected oral traditions and gave a lot of space to children's folklore. Despite this, the famous educator fell victim to the years of innocent punishment and became a victim of repression. However, in the end of S. Mazhitov left a rich literary and folk heritage. The article discusses these issues in detail and provides new information.

Methodical aspects of educational work in children's folklore group

Methodical aspects of educational work in children's folklore group

KÜLTÜREL VE SOSYAL DAVRANIŞLARIN ANLAM VE İŞLEV DÜNYASINA BİR YOLCULUK: DAVRANIŞ FOLKLORU

20. yüzyılın ilk çeyreğinden itibaren Batı Avrupa ve Kuzey Amerika folklor araştırmalarında toplumların değişen sosyal ve kültürel yapılarının ortaya çıkardığı yeni folklorik üretim, aktarım ortamları ve biçimleri irdelenmeye başlamış; folklora dönük güncel araştırma alan ve konuları ortaya çıkmıştır. Kültürel veya sosyal antropoloji alanlarında daha önce başlayan konu ve bakış açısı çeşitliliği, folklor araştırmalarında da özerk başlıklar halinde görülmeye başlanmıştır. Bu durum, Türk folklor araştırmalarında 2000’lerin başlarından itibaren dikkat çekmeye başlamış ancak disiplinlerarası çalışmalara duyulan ihtiyacın yeterli ölçüde fark edilememesi, uzun süredir kullanılagelen araştırma yöntem ve tekniklerine yenilerinin eklenememesi gibi sebeplerle kadın folkloru, meslek folkloru, aile folkloru, grup folkloru, çocuk folkloru, beden folkloru gibi başlıklı ve içerikli araştırmalara yöneliş ancak son birkaç yılda nispi bir artış göstermiştir. Türk folklor araştırmalarında “beden folkloru” veya doğrudan “bodylore” kavramı, Katharine Young gibi kimi araştırmacılardan yapılan çevirilerin yanı sıra sınırlı birkaç özgün akademik çalışmayla gündeme gelmiştir. Davranışın sergilenmesine aracılık eden “beden”, kültürel davranışlar üzerine yapılan halkbilimsel çalışmaların adlandırılmasında temel argüman halini almıştır. Kültürel davranışlara halkbilimsel yaklaşımlarda “davranış folkloru” başlığının kullanılması gerekliliğini vurgulayan bu çalışmada, kültürel davranışın karakteri ve özellikleri, beden ve davranış ilişkisi gibi konulara ek olarak davranış folklorunun bileşenlerine ve araştırma yöntemlerine dönük öneriler ortaya konulmuştur.

Artistic system of the children’s poetic folklore of Dagestan

The subject of this research is the artistic system of children's folklore of Dagestan. Based on the analysis the example of cradlesongs, play poetry, and calendar songs, the author determines their thoughtful humanistic and democratic motif, high ideological focus, and aesthetic perfection. The article covers the ideological, thematic and artistic content, and highlights the archaic elements of cradlesong poetry, which enjoys most popularity among other genres of the poetic folklore. The author’s special contribution consists in explication of specificity of artistic means and aesthetic foundations of the folk worldview and culture reflected in folk poetry; as well as in analysis of compositions of various folklore genres as the elements of single literary system, which indicates their focus on labor, strong ideals of patriotism, kindness and continuity throughout the entire social practice of the people. The oriented towards a young developing individual, children's poetic folklore reconstructs the work and life experience in a form comprehensible to a child. This is why were created the cradlesongs, nursery rhymes, games that involved poetry, and all these word-creating activities, which in their centuries-long evolution led to higher imagery, infused and gifted each upcoming generation truly humanistic values. Children's poetic folklore that reflects the questions of folk pedagogy based on life experience of the mountaineers, had a major impact upon the development Dagestan children's literature.

Literary interpretation of ceremonial folklore in the works of Togay Murod

The article discusses the examples of ceremonial folklore, effectively used in the story "Oydinda yurgan odamlar" ("People walking in the light") by Togay Murad, a prominent Uzbek writer. The role of these songs as a reflection of the nation's outlook, dreams and hopes. In the framework of the article, series of traditional songs for milking called "Turey-turey" that specially addressed as an artistic expression of the inner worlds of the heroes; lullabies, a shining example of children's folklore; mourning songs that are sung over the tracking of people on their last journey; the importance of legends, myths and riddles in the upbringing of the younger generation, which is the expression of the artistic thinking of the nation have been addressed. It also discusses the issue of developing students' research skills and competencies through the analysis of the meaning embedded in the essence of folklore in the process of literary education.

Song genres of traditional folklore of the Dargin people: ideological-aesthetic and artistic uniqueness

The subject of this research is the key genres of song folklore of the Dargin people – one of the ethnoses of Dagestan, which includes such Akushin, Kaitag, Kubachin, Mekegin, Tsudakhar, and others. An attempt is made to examine genre diversity of the Dargin people traditional poetic folklore, describe the forms of existence of specific genres, determine their ideological-aesthetic and artistic content, trace their evolution and transformation, as well as characterize the poetics. The goal of this work consists in demonstration of genre diversity of the song folklore of the Dargin people, its national specificity, artistic uniqueness and forms of existence. In the course of this research, the author applies the method of scientific analysis of theoretical literature on the topic, comparative-typological and descriptive-analytical methods, including observation, interpretation and comparison, which allows giving philological assessment of the text, reveal folk poetic means of expression. The scientific novelty lies in establishment of the fact that some of the genres under consideration still exist, but have undergone transformation. In a number the Dargin Districts, such as the rural localities of Harbuk, Urkarah, Madzhalis, Kubachi, Usisha, etc., texts of ritual poetry that have been previously performed by the adults, now shifted into the repertoire of children's folklore; multiple wedding songs – from ritual folklore to the category of love lyricism, and are performed mostly at youth parties and festivities. Lamentations were subjected to the influenced of Muslim religion, and now often feature the appeals to Allah to bless with patience and mercy, etc. Ballades in the folklore of the Dargin people also experiences certain genre changes: tragedy and drama of the situation fade away, and the ballades grow into the type of lyrical song of family, life or love content.

Балалар фольклоры дəстүрлі мəдениеттің ерекше саласы ретінде

Мақалада фольклордың қалыптасуы, қазақ халқының əн-күй өнерінің дамуына əсері мен олардың ерекшеліктері, қазақ халқының рухани байлығы мен құндылықтарды сақтаудағы алатын орны туралы мəселелер қамтылған. Қазақ ауыз əдебиетіне жүргізілген ғылыми зерттеулерге шолу жасалып, болашақ ұрпаққа қалған рухани мұра ретінде фольклор үлгілерінің жинақталуы, халыққа таралу жолдары, оған дəлел болған көне түркі жазбаларындағы мифтік сюжеттер талданған. Жүргізілген зерттеулер негізінде қазақ халқының рухани құндылықтарын ұлттық əдебиет пен мəдениет арқылы қалыптастырудың жолдары, оны жүзеге асыруда жас ұрпақты балалар əдебиетінің үлгілерімен таныстыру, фольклор үлгілерін игерту, дəстүрлі мəдениетімізді сақтаудың құралы ретіндегі маңыздылығы айқындалған. Жас ұрпақты мəдениетті, өркениетті елдің азаматы ретінде тəрбиелеудегі балалар фольклорының айрықша орны туралы баяндалған. Қазақ халқының тұрмыс-салты мен атабаба дəстүрінен сыр шертетін, өткен өмір көрінісімен бірге тығыз дамып келе жатқан дəстүрлі мəдениетті қалыптастырудағы фольклор жанрының жүздеген жылдар бойы дамып, өркендеп келе жатқан үлкен ғылым екендігі көрсетілген.

Реабилитационные ресурсы новгородской считалки в логопедической коррекции моторной алалии

A brief essential characteristic of motor alalia is described in the article. The purpose of the article is to show the possibilities of using small folklore forms as a means of correction and rehabilitation of motor alalia. The research data of specialists in speech therapy who have used Novgorod children's folklore as a means of rehabilitation for preschoolers with severe speech impairment in the conditions of the “Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities” in Veliky Novgorod is presented. Methods. The criteria analysis of linguistic, speech therapy, pedagogical and ethnographic literature, as well as summative and formative assessment within the framework of empirical research were main research methods. The hypothesis on effective means of correcting alalia in preschoolers in the structure of the complex method that can be used in small folklore forms was tested. Results. Small folklore forms are considered as productive cognitive and semantic categories, which, in properly built correctional work with preschoolers with motor alalia, can contribute to the formation of their language competence. The problems and significant rehabilitation resources of children's folklore in the speech therapy correction of motor alalia in preschoolers are structured. The difficulties of using children's folklore as speech material in the process of speech therapy correction are presented. And also, significant rehabilitation resources of small folklore forms are pointed out. A clinical event of a five-year-old girl's successful getting rid of motor alalia by using of counting-out rhyme was analyzed. It is concluded that small folklore forms can be used as an effective means of correcting motor alalia in preschoolers in the structure of comprehensive rehabilitation.

EDUCATIONAL AND COGNITIVE VALUE OF LEZGIN FOLK RIDDLES

The article considers the role of Lezgin folk riddles in the educational process. A distinctive feature of riddles as a folklore genre is the exceptional power of emotional impact on the listener. Initially, they developed and were popular among adults, but gradually moved into the category of genres of children's folklore. Their educational and cognitive value lies in the intellectual development and learning function of children of preschool and primary school age. In this regard the study of riddles has a scientific and practical-pedagogical value.

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE THERAPEUTIC ROLE OF CHILDREN'S FOLK SONGS

Starting from the idea that treating a problem is done more efficiently when we address the causes that generated it than when dealing with symptoms, respectively from theories that claim that most of the mental disorders have their roots in the mother-child relationship developed in the early childhood, through the paper entitled A Theoretical Perspective on the Therapeutic Role of Children's Folk Songs we intend to argue the more use of songs from children's folklore in music therapy. Thus, in the first part of the paper, we bring to the attention of the main theories that demonstrate the importance of the mother-child relationship from the early childhood in order to a healthy evolution of the child from the point of view of its psychic development, with special emphasis on their expression through vocal singing. In the second part of the study, we propose to approach the defense mechanisms from the perspective of the positive functions that it performs in the case of normal persons, as a defense mechanism and defense behavior. In the third part of the paper, we present an analysis of the repertoire of songs from the children's folklore from the perspective of the content of ideas, of the structure of the melodic line, of the specific rhythms, as a mirror of the relationships that children develop with themselves and with others, in particular with my mother. In the fourth part of the paper, we argue the use of songs from children's folklore in music therapy in order to trigger certain memories from the first childhood so that the traumas that have not been overcome are then treated properly. The paper concludes with some final considerations.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME LYRIC AND EPIC GENRES IN AZERBAIJANI AND ENGLISH CHILDREN’S FOLKLORE


 
 
 Children's folklore genres play a very important role in children’s development. Article is devoted to the comparative study of some lyric and epic genre features of Azerbaijani and English children's folklore. Children folklore has a lot of common peculiarities. But there are also some differences. In this regard, the subject of the research is fundamental and comparative typological analysis of the lyric and epic genres of Azerbaijani and English children’s folklore were involved to the research. Article provides a comparative analysis of both Azerbaijani and English lullabies, riddles, tongue twister, and children's songs. Thus, the similarity of folklore genres in the study is linked to the closeness of human thought and its relation to reality. The similar life conditions of Azerbaijani and English peoples and the stereotypes of behavior formed according to these situations, oral traditions, especially comparisons of children's folklore texts revealed parallels in terms of information. Similarities in connection with life conditions are clearly observed in many children's folklore genres, as well as in some lyric and epic genres.
 
 

Tatar children's folklore as a factor of ethnic identity

tatar children's folklore as a factor of ethnic identity

Фольклор старообрядцев таежных деревень Верховья Енисея в репертуаре детского ансамбля «Октай»

В статье рассматривается та часть репертуара детского фольклорно-этнографического ансамбля «Октай» (Тува), которая воссоздает фольклор старообрядцев Верховья Енисея, в частности духовную музыку. Автор опирается на материалы своего общения с руководителем ансамбля, на личные наблюдения, на публикации об ансамбле.Духовные песнопения и духовные стихи у массового слушателя — не самый популярный жанр, для их восприятия требуется особый настрой, особая подготовка. Тем не менее этот жанр постоянно присутствует в репертуаре ансамбля. Это одна из задач коллектива — освоение подлинной русской народной певческой культуры и местных фольклорных традиций, в частности.С начала существования фольклорного ансамбля коллектив выезжает каждое лето в таежные деревни верховья Малого Енисея на отдых, оздоровление, для знакомства с бытом старообрядцев и для записи фольклора. На сегодня репертуар «Октая» включает около 200 духовных стихов, значительная часть записана у местных старообрядцев самими октаевцами, а также фольклористами Г. О. Туденовым, С. Е. Никитиной и автором этой статьи.Стало хорошей традицией выступления детей с концертами перед староверами Эржея и Сизима. Это влияет на молодежь староверческих деревень. У девушек стали появляться современные стихарники — тетради или альбомы с записями стихов.В целом, опыт ансамбля «Октай», его деятельность по возрождению угасающей традиции пения духовных стихов в среде верхнеенисейских староверов представляет для фольклористов и культурологов большой интерес.

Keeping ethnomusical traditions of tatar-chats in modern conditions

At present, Tatar ethnic linguistics seeks to view Tatar musical culture as a synthesis of regional-dialectological components of various ethnographic and local-territorial groups, which inevitably determines the perception of Tatar musical folklore as a heterogeneous phenomenon. Of particular interest to researchers today is the little-studied traditional culture of the Siberian Tatars. The Siberian Tatars consist of three ethnographic groups, differing from each other by some peculiarities in the spoken language, spheres of material and spiritual culture, lifestyle and everyday life. These are the Tomsk, Baraba, Tobol-Irtysh Tatars, which, in turn, are also divided into subgroups. The names of groups of Siberian Tatars accepted in the literature are associated with the place of their permanent residence. The article discusses the features and problems of preserving the ethno-music culture of one of the dialectal groups of Tomsk Tatars - Ob chats living in the villages of Yurt-Ora and Yurt-Akbalyk, Novosibirsk Region of Russia. Expeditionary research from different years shows that Ob folk music is a diverse phenomenon. There are samples of village song folklore, children's folklore, drawing, lyrical and short songs, takmaks, chastushkas, ceremonial, wedding tunes, singing reading genres, baits and munadjats that are still in the memory of older and middle-aged people. During the 20th century, the musical traditions of the Siberian Tatars were strongly influenced by the cultures of the Volga-Ural Tatars and settlers, which also influenced the stylistic and genre diversity of the region's musical and song folklore. The study of the inexhaustible wealth of the musical folklore of the Tatars of the Novosibirsk Region will allow preserving for subsequent generations the distinctive and universal foundations of the spiritual culture of the entire Tatar people.

Propuesta metodológica para el estudio de la presencia del folclore infantil en obras literarias.

En este artículo presentamos un método de investigación en tres fases para el estudio de la presencia del folclore infantil en obras literarias denominado ‘Modelo trifásico para el estudio del Folclore Infantil en la literatura’, teniendo en cuenta los referentes previos de Alan Dundes (1965), Maxime Chevalier (1978), Neil Grobman (1979) y Montserrat Amores (1993). En la primera fase de identificación (rastreo y cotejo) destacamos la utilidad de los informantes como colaboradores necesarios en esta tarea. En la segunda fase de nuestro modelo, fase de análisis, hemos adaptado la Técnica de Rejilla, propia del campo de la psicología, creando una herramienta novedosa para la investigación literaria denominada rejilla de análisis. Su aplicación nos permitirá realizar un estudio pormenorizado, tanto cualitativo como cuantitativo, de las muestras del folclore infantil encontradas en la literatura. Finalmente, en la fase de interpretación, proponemos la conjunción de tres teorías literarias distintas (transtextualidad, método biográfico y teorías psicoanalíticas) para reflexionar sobre el tema y extraer conclusiones.

The Multiculturality of Children's Folklore in Vojvodina

The objective of this paper is to cast light – relying on use of the subject-related literature and on personal field research over the past three decades – on the phenomenon of multiculturality of children’s folklore practice found in some national/ethnic communities in Vojvodina: Serbs, Hungarians, Slovaks, and Romanians. Considerable attention is given to the (dis)continuity, changes, comparative research and the latest trends in the children’s folklore on the cultural scene of this multicultural milieu.

Image of the epic hero Koroghlu in children's folklore (sigileme genre)

Image of the epic hero Koroghlu in children's folklore (sigileme genre)

White Willow in Russian Literature: Folklore “Roots” of Image

The article deals with a complicated archetypal tree complex in Russian literature. The object chosen here is “white willow” (vetla) as one of the species of willow in its different variations - daphne willow (verba) and goat willow (rakita), and willow itself. In the 19th century Russian literature we can find the image of white willow is in V. Zhukovsky’s translated poem “The Forest Tsar”; in prose it appears in poetics of F. Dostoevsky where it is embedded in ritual mythological context. In the 20th century literature, both in poetry and in prose, white willow has also held its place. For instance, I. Bunin and M. Gorky used this image giving the tree a metaphysical meaning. S. Yesenin writes about the meaning of this tree in poetry in his treatise “The Keys of Mary” (1918) where he draws parallels with Russian folklore. The image of white willow is also live in modern poetry: it traced back to Russian literary and folklore tradition. In children's folklore (cradle songs with “scary plot”) we can see “other-worldly” nature, semantics of a tree which functions as the World Tree.

Experimenting With the Occult: The Role of Liminality in Slumber Party Rituals

ABSTRACT While the slumber party itself is a significant preadolescent ritual, this article examines, in particular, how the import of belief is heightened by conditions of liminality during three specific slumber party rituals that involve the occult: “Cat Scratch,” “Concentrate,” and “Sandman.” After contextualizing the study within children's folklore and examinations of ritual and belief specifically, the author discusses how the slumber party space, as a liminal environment, is conducive to these belief-oriented rituals. The latter portion of the article analyzes interview material, collected by the author, in light of specific contextual information—such as the informants' religious, educational, and political backgrounds. Ultimately, the author concludes that within these three rituals that involve the occult (and thus a whole host of beliefs), the liminal environment allows participants, who might in other circumstances feel less permitted to engage in these activities, to experience a measure of freedom.

Examples of practice: an intercultural approach to translate Romanian children’s folklore into Spanish

Due to the great number of Romanian pupils in Spanish public school, the local administration organises extra-curricular Romanian courses in order to preserve the Romanian language and culture. This is a way to contribute to build and consolidate a bicultural and bilingual profile of the young people. Besides, it is also an opportunity to align with plurilingual and pluricultural competence established by The Common European Framework of References for Languages (2002). Based on the premise that “children's literature is an intercultural instrument”, I choose as corpus the Romanian children's folklore represented by games, formula-songs, recital-stories, household words, incantations, riddles and lullabies to translate into Spanish. After the translations, Romanian children had to find similarities and differences between the Romanian and Spanish children's songs, in order to augment the knowledge about both cultures.