Ethnolinguistic peculiarities of the language of ‘power’ on the material of historical and legendary heroes of Yakuts

Abstract

The article focuses on the study of the language of "power" based on the speech forms of Tyghyn Darkhan, a historical figure of the Sakha people, conducted within the framework of ethnolinguistic analysis. The relevance of the research is determined by the need for an in-depth examination of the phenomenon of leadership in the national settlements of the Russian Arctic, as well as the analysis of grassroots perceptions of state governance. This study, based on Yakut folklore materials, contributes to expanding knowledge about the mechanisms of power and leadership in northern sociocultural contexts. The novelty of the study lies in its first-ever approach to analyzing the language of "power" through the lens of Yakut folklore, which allows for the identification of unique features of political discourse. This opens up opportunities to analyze rhetorical strategies, manipulative techniques, and mechanisms for achieving balance in relationships between power and society. The research aims to analyze the language of "power" through the speech forms of Tyghyn Darkhan to identify the ways leadership qualities were constructed and power relationships were established in traditional Sakha society. To achieve this goal, folklore sources related to the image of the hero were studied, key linguistic tools were identified, and their functional roles in political discourse were analyzed. The methodological foundation of the study includes descriptive, comparative-historical, semantic, and discourse analysis. Particular attention is paid to the interpretation of texts in their cultural and historical context. The results demonstrate that Tyghyn Darkhan's language played a significant role in consolidating his authority, fostering social integration, and regulating societal relations. His rhetorical strategies combined traditional and innovative approaches, highlighting his importance for understanding the mechanisms of power in ethnic communities. The findings make a substantial contribution to the development of ethnolinguistics and political anthropology. Future research prospects include extending the analysis to the linguistic practices of other northern peoples, which will deepen the understanding of the role of language in sociopolitical processes in Arctic regions.

Acknowledgements: The study was conducted as part of the implementation of the RSF grant No. 24-28-00556, "Leadership in Remote Arctic Settlements: An Anthropological and Sociolinguistic Study of Power Relations".

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