Article

Name: Hydronyms of the north of Kamchatka and their comprehension in the Koryak oral tradition

Authors: Т. А. Golovaneva

Institute of Philology of the SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Языковая специфика фольклорных текстов

Abstract:

The etymology of the names of the largest rivers in the north of Kamchatka: Apuka, Essowejem, and Pakhacha cannot be identified in the context of the Koryak language. These names are apparently a linguistic relic of older tribes who had inhabited the north of Kamchatka before the arrival of the Koryaks. The Koryak language hydronyms have a stable and typical word-formation structure. The model includes the stem base gytgyn ‘lake’ or wejem ‘river’, supplemented by a dependent base according to the rules of left-handed incorporation: Gal’mogytgyn ‘a crooked lake.’ The article considers the hydronyms that directly characterize the natural features of the objects (Yynagytgyn ‘a foggy lake,’ Kujviwejem ‘an icy river’) or refer to a certain kind of trees growing along the river (Tyklawajam ‘a poplar river’). Also considered are metaphorically grounded hydronyms (Upupkin ‘under the nose river’). The analysis covers the hydonyms with warning semantics (Akakujul ‘a terrible swamp stream’, Wajampylka ‘a river where people drown’. The structure of a Koryak hydronym can refer to a particular animal species (Yajolwajam ‘a fox river’) or the hydronym may be rationally motivated (Echgynnywajam ‘white fish river’). It is also possible for hydronyms to have mythological origins. The article presents the fragments of the legends the mythological motifs of which may have provided the basis for the appearance of hydronyms Yil’ewejem ‘the river of the Evrazhka’ or Ev’jojnwajam ‘the river near the place where wolves were driven into a trap.’ In conclusion, hybrid hydronyms used in cartography to nominate tributaries are discussed.

Keywords: aboriginal peoples of Kamchatka, Koryaks, Koryak folklore, Koryak language, hydronyms, toponymy, toponymic legends

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