The role of narrators in the development, existence and preservation of Nartiade

Abstract

In Narts studies, one of the important and urgent problems, due to its insufficient study, is a comparative study of the narrative tradition of Nartiade. The purpose of this article is show their place and role of the narrator as creator, bearer, keeper and translator in society, in the development and preservation of Nart songs and legends. To achieve the goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to recreate the short history of the institute of epic narration among the speakers of the Narts (Adyghe dzheguaco, Balkarian and Karachai zhyrchi/nartaichi, Ossetian kadgggænæg’i, Chechen-Ingush illanchi, Abkhazian narrators, Dagestan iyirchi, ashug); to study the features of narration and the personality of the narrator among the bearers of the Nart epic, its special status and impact on the spiritual and cultural life of society; to identify local, regional and typological universals in the North Caucasian narrative tradition.

This article is an attempt to consider the evolution of the personality of the narrator. The author came to the conclusion that narrators were the custodians of the traditional foundations of narration, the spiritual and cultural life of society, and therefore had a special status among their people. As a result of the study, it was revealed that in the national versions of Nartiade, given the common names of the main characters, motifs, plots, there are significant differences in poetics and performing manner. Performing traditions, manner of performance, the role of live communication of folk singers with the audience are described. In the course of historical-typological comparison, the main forms of the living existence of Nart songs and legends in the epic tradition of Nartiade narrators were revealed – orality and variability. When considering the functional role of the narrator, the correlations of the living tradition and the role of improvisation in it are clearly revealed.

Acknowledgments: The work was performed as part of the RFBR research project No. 18-012-00266 A

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