Ryvkina, G. V. KARELIAN DICTIONARY AS A SOURCE FOR LEARNING ABOUT ROAD CULTURE OF THE LIVVI-KARELIANS // Proceedings of Petrozavodsk State University. 2020. Vol. 42. No 2. P. 112–120. DOI: 10.15393/uchz.art.2020.455


Ethnology, anthropology and ethnography

KARELIAN DICTIONARY AS A SOURCE FOR LEARNING ABOUT ROAD CULTURE OF THE LIVVI-KARELIANS

Ryvkina
G. V. 		Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Keywords:
the Karelians
road culture
lines of communication
transport
road behavior
customs
mythology		 Summary: Ethnologists refer to linguistic sources as the keepers of the information about the bygone era because there are not enough informants of the traditional culture left. As a result of the analysis of the Makarov's Karelian Dictionary names and ethnographic information regarding Karelian road culture were identified. The article presents information about the names of the lines of communication, travel routes, words used to refer to travelers and some aspects of road behavior. The variety of names for the lines of communication suggests the importance of road travelling for the Karelians, especially during winter, which is indicated by specific terms used to describe the condition of roads in winter. This terminology indicates syncretism of both Karelian and Russian road cultures: the names of Balto-Finnic origin remain the same in areas of water and snow travels, whereas Karelian terms regarding roads are replaced by the Russian words. Illustrated material of the dictionary provides information about the rules of road behavior (for instance, singing was considered a norm), the criteria for selecting a place to sleep, and Karelians' concept of devilry on the road. The dictionary contains information regarding road etiquette; particularly, wishes for safe travelling. It reflects Karelians' idea that the time of departure can be good or bad. Thus the analysis of materials of the Karelian Dictionary proved the importance and informativeness of the linguistic source for ethnology.



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