Names of Leather Packages and Containers in the Mongolic Languages

Abstract

Though studied unevenly, the Mongolian languages have been long known both in Europe and Russia’s academic circles. The most investigated modern Mongolian languages are Khalkha Mongolian, Buryat and Kalmyk. The Inner Mongolian languages and dialects as well as languages of other Mongolic peoples of China (the Monguors, Dongxiangs, Bonan and Yugurs) had been less academically accessible. The research is topical enough in the context of an increasing interest towards studies of separate lexical layers specifying some features inherent to cultural and economic conditions of Mongolic peoples. Studies of everyday lexis may contribute to the tracing of human social development, interactions with neighboring and remote but once cognate and economically related - since ancient times - peoples. A considerable part of the vocabulary considered has been transferred to passive lexis. Investigation of such terms is of great signifi cance when it comes to compiling dictionaries, e. g., defi nition, etymological ones, etc. After considering names of packages and containers in Mongolic languages that are basically indigenous, we thus once again confi rm that the lexis is archaic by nature which is due to diverse changes in life conditions, reorganization of everyday life and traditions of Mongolic peoples. The analysis of language materials concludes that studies of household vocabulary can facilitate tracing the development of human communities, infl uence of neighboring and distant, once interrelated peoples, and economic activities since the earliest times. Studies of such terms are very important for compiling different dictionaries, e.g., defi nition, etymology ones, etc.

Keywords

• монгольские языки
• лексика
• обработка кожи
• кожаная утварь