UDC

792.8(056.51)

Authors

Zabolotskaya Paraskovya
Eremeevna Arctic State Institute of Arts and Culture (Yakutsk, Russia)

Abstract

The paper provides a linguistic and cultural analysis of the Yakut term “unkuu” which means dance
and is derived from the words “un” and “kuu”. In Old Turkic “ün” means voice and its various derivative
forms are found in modern Turkic languages (Turkish, Tuvan, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Karakalpak and Bashkir)
in the following meanings: voice, sound and singing. In Tungusic languages (Even, Ket, Negidal, Oroch,
Nanai and Udege) this word means shaman action and circle dance. The word “kuu” can be found in the
dictionary of Old Turkic as “kü”, meaning rumour, news, fame.
Thus, the Yakut term “unkuu” (un+kuu) can be found in modern Turkic and Tungusic languages with
the general meanings of voice/sound/singing, shaman action, circle dance, and rumour, news, fame.
The content of these meanings indicate the rituals performed by shamans using songs, dances and
special movements.

Keywords

unkuu, osuokay, kilisak, oy duoraana, Yakut language, shaman action, ritual, circle dance

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