Language features of the Even epic tradition of the Okhotsk region

The archaic epic represents the pinnacle of the Even people’s oral storytelling tradition. This study examines the linguistic features of one of the local variants of the Even archaic epic, the Nimkan, which is an under-researched area. The relevance of the study stems from the need to preserve the invaluable cultural heritage of the small ethnic group that is at risk of extinction. For the first time, the article sets out the objective of conducting a linguistic analysis of the language of the Even epic tradition, specifically the Okhotsk local variant. To achieve this aim, the study addresses the tasks of clarifying the repertoire of epic texts within the Okhotsk local tradition; identifying the specific features of the local Okhotsk variant at the phonetic, morphological, lexical levels; and outlining directions for further research into the language of the Even epic. The object of the study is the Okhotsk epic tradition. The subject of the study is the specific features of the language of the Okhotsk epic tradition: phonetic, morphological and lexical characteristics. Methods used: descriptive, comparative-contrastive, lexicographical and dialectological analysis.

As a result of a linguistic analysis – the first of its kind in Even studies – of nine epic works from the Okhotsk epic tradition, the distinctive features of the Okhotsk regional dialect were identified at all linguistic levels. In the area of consonantism, there is a notable absence of spirantisation of the consonant [s], as well as consonant assimilation (the combinations ll, nn; the transition of the consonant “ч“ to „т“; and consonant assimilation). The morphological features of the Nimkan people reflect the distinctive characteristics inherent to the Okhotsk dialect. In the field of verbal morphology, certain aspectual forms not previously noted in grammatical descriptions are identified: the ultramomentary aspect (-nukan-//-nuken-); iterative forms (-tna-//-tne- and -ru); and the attenuative (-jat-/-ch-//-jet-/-ch). A comprehensive analysis of folklore texts reveals a rich layer of specialised vocabulary: unique names of epic heroes, distinctive opening words characteristic of each character, specific folklore terms, and metaphorical expressions.

An analysis of the Nimkan language will make a significant contribution to an in-depth and comprehensive description of the Even epic tradition. This will enable both new folklore materials collected in the field and previously inaccessible archival data to be incorporated into scholarly discourse. Furthermore, the research will facilitate the detailed examination, identification and clarification of specific features of little-studied and unexplored Even dialects and variants at all levels of the language.

Acknowledgements: This research was carried out as part of State Commission No. 075-00619-26-00 for 2026 (research project No. FWRS-2024-0070) using scientific equipment Shared core facilities of the Federal Research Center “Yakutsk Science Center SB RAS”.

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