Components of Ethnic Identity of Tatars of Perm Territory (according to Spontaneous Texts)

Abstract

The question of the reflection of Tatar ethnicity in spontaneous texts is considered. Attention is paid to the level structure of ethnicity, which assumes the declared and “real” (categorical) levels. The novelty of the study lies in the combination of socio-psychological methodology and the method of linguistic analysis of spontaneous narrative, which allows us to demonstrate poorly controlled cognitive categories attributed by informants to their ethnic group. It is shown that the declarative component of ethnicity in the texts of the Tatars of the Perm Territory is represented by a structured system of ethnonyms and their contextual analogues. It has been demonstrated that this structure has a field character and includes, in addition to the ethnic component itself, cultural, religious, local and microlocal components. The “real” identity was also analyzed, which was reflected in stably predicted categories. It is proved that this level of ethnicity of the Tatars is homogeneous, since it includes a small set of categories implemented by most informants. This set includes the category of otherisation and antiquity / tradition. It is noted that the method of structuring ethnically specific categories is potentially opposed. It was revealed that Tatar informants demonstrate ethnicity, supported by a system of inclusive components that reflect positive self-identification. As a result, it was proved that linguistic analysis of spontaneous texts can serve as a basis for comparing different types of ethnicity (including Tatars living in different regions of the Russian Federation).

Keywords

• ethnicity
• cognitive component of ethnicity
• ethnically specific signs
• narrative analysis
• ethnic stereotype