Kalmyk measures of length: ethnolinguistic aspect

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of Kalmyk measures of length. Folk terms, in contrast to universal official state measures forming a correlated system of metrological units, are characterized by a close connection with specific occupations of the population (cattle breeding, fishing, crafts, etc.). In the course of their historical development, the Kalmyks created and used a whole system of folk measures, which was widely used until the beginning of the XX century. Popular measures were widely used in the practical life of the Kalmyk people. They have their roots in ancient times, this is confirmed by their functioning in the epic “Dzhangar”, in folk tales, proverbs, riddles, sayings, For example, in the basis of the measures of length “utyn kemjan”, a distance equal to different parts of the human body was used. For example: töö ‘span’ is the length equal to the distance between the outstretched thumb and middle fingers of the usually right hand, toha ‘elbow’. For example: töö ‘span’ is the length equal to the distance between the outstretched thumb and middle fingers of the usually right hand, toha ‘elbow’. Thus, the folk names of the measures of lengths of the Kalmyks have common Mongol core, as well as some specific features.