Formulaic Language and Style of Turkic Zhyrau of the 15-18th Centuries

Abstract

The article reveals the importance of studying the formulaic style in the oral epic culture of Kazakh (Turkic) zhyrau of the 15-18th centuries. The purpose of the article is to identify the specificity of the formulaic language and the style of the epic tradition of these singers, as well as to show the degree of their knowledge, based on the principles of oral theory by M. Parry and A. Lord and their followers. Zhyrau are singers of the times of the Golden Horde and the foundation of the Kazakh Khanate. In the analysis of the ancient forms of their epic thinking; the genesis of genres, principles of performance and transmission of tradition, formulaic style plays a major role. The method of discourse analysis, system review, referencing, comparative analysis, and the methods of previous researchers were applied in the study. The novelty is that the formulaic style was first studied on the oral material of the zhyrau dated the 15-18th centuries, where stable units are represented by a formula – the basis of the epic style and an important means of the singer’s oral-style technique. The theoretical significance of the article and its relevance, is based on a broad discussion of oral theory, and at the same time on its effectiveness and efficiency in studying the Kazakh (Turkic) epic tradition. The practical value of the research gives its results in the analysis of language and style, the distinction of styles and genres of zhyrau from other bearers of Turkic poetic culture. The Parry-Lord formulaic grammar can be applied both for the study of Turkic languages and to the quality of artistic translation.

Aspiration for truth as a driving force to live and write: lifestory and memories of Gulnar Dulatova (1915-2013) – daughter of Myrzhakyp Dulatov

“…Nomadic past of Kazakhstan didn't consider memoir as well as other written pratices, instead there were strong oral traditions such as epic Zhyrau texts -individual-author poetry deriving from XV-XVIII centuries (Zhanabayev, Nagymzhanova, Shaimerdenova, Тurgenbaeva, Tleubayeva, 2022) "Tolgau" [reflections] can be considered as an alternative to the written practices where one reflects on life describing events, people, emotions in details and in phylosophical way (Zhanabayev, 2023). This is one of the main reasons why not many written memoirs can be found in Kazakh culture until 1940.…”

Identifying the Impact of Bullying at School

“…The novelty is that the formulaic style was first studied on the oral material of the zhyrau dated the 15-18th centuries, where stable units are represented by a formula -the basis of the epic style and an important means of the singer's oral-style technique. (Zhanabayev K. et al, 2022) What we want to say is that the source of Kazakh poetry's rise to this level of excellence lies further. It is obvious that the Syr storytellers, who have their characters, flourished along with field culture, and their thoughts related to ethics, aesthetics, and didactics are of great importance.…”