To the Issue of Denoting Age Categories in the Oirat and Kalmyk Cultures

Abstract

The article deals with the analysis of the terms denoting age categories in the language of Russian Kalmyks and in the language of Mongolian Oirats. It is based on literature data and new field materials collected by the author during the expedition to Kobdo aimag of Mongolia in 2014. The study allows for the identification of similarities and differences between the terms of both cultures. It is noted that a specific characteristic of this terminology is based on a whole range of traditional ideas that make up “age symbolism”. The author notes that in the past century, there were some changes in traditional concepts concerning the process of age stratification in society. It proves the relevance of the fact that the Oirats used to identify the age group of 45-60, which, in the past, belonged to the period of old age (as reflected in the existence of certain terms), but now it is no longer so. The practice of using the same terms with different, sometimes opposite meanings in both Kalmyk and Oirat cultures, allows not only to indicate the archaic words but even to change some words semantically, especially, in terms of social transformations of society. For instance, there is a considerable number of Oirat terms in the Kalmyk language that are used only in high style.