Character structure of Mansi folklore: Khumporkhsup "a half man"
English
journal number:
Journal’s Subject Headings:
Philology
About author:
Ob-Ugric Institute of Applied Researches and Development, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the article analyzes one of the characters of Mansi fairy-tales and bailichkas – a forest creature, known in traditional culture as Khumpōrkhsup (lit. a ‘half man’). A detailed description of the appearance of the character is given; his characteristics and functions are analyzed. Khumpōrkhsup is an anthropomorphic creature dismembered along the spine or to the waist (across). Unlike Menkv and other forest creatures, he is always hostile to humans. Representations about him vary among different local groups and this is due to the geographical features of the location of
a particular ethnic group. The character’s nominations in folklore texts also vary, which is explained by the dialect features of the language. The bailichkas complement the fairy-tale image of a ‘half man’ and indicate that folk representations are reflected in fairy-tale narratives.
Objective: to analyze the texts of Mansi fairy-tales and bailichkas with a plot about a “half man”.
Research materials: published texts of Mansi fairy-tales and bailichkas, as well as field materials of the author.
Results and novelty of the research: the article complements the scientific knowledge about the folklore of the Mansi people. For the first time, the analysis of Khumpōrkhsup as a character in a fairy-tale narrative is carried out. The system of his functions is described. The similarities and differences of a “half man” in all local Mansi groups are determined. Folk beliefs, prohibitions and other genres of the oral folk tradition, which helped to determine the boundaries and degree of human interaction with a “half man”, are used. A new, previously unpublished folklore material, which opens up prospects for the
study of the characters and the plot structure of Mansi folklore, has been introduced into scientific circulation.
Key words: Mansi folklore, forest creature, half of a man, anthropomorphism.
Acknowledgments: the author of the article expresses gratitude to the reviewers and informants.
For citation: Panchenko L. N. The character structure of Mansi folklore: Khumporkhsup "a half man" // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2021; 11 (4): 671–679.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the article analyzes one of the characters of Mansi fairy-tales and bailichkas – a forest creature, known in traditional culture as Khumpōrkhsup (lit. a ‘half man’). A detailed description of the appearance of the character is given; his characteristics and functions are analyzed. Khumpōrkhsup is an anthropomorphic creature dismembered along the spine or to the waist (across). Unlike Menkv and other forest creatures, he is always hostile to humans. Representations about him vary among different local groups and this is due to the geographical features of the location of
a particular ethnic group. The character’s nominations in folklore texts also vary, which is explained by the dialect features of the language. The bailichkas complement the fairy-tale image of a ‘half man’ and indicate that folk representations are reflected in fairy-tale narratives.
Objective: to analyze the texts of Mansi fairy-tales and bailichkas with a plot about a “half man”.
Research materials: published texts of Mansi fairy-tales and bailichkas, as well as field materials of the author.
Results and novelty of the research: the article complements the scientific knowledge about the folklore of the Mansi people. For the first time, the analysis of Khumpōrkhsup as a character in a fairy-tale narrative is carried out. The system of his functions is described. The similarities and differences of a “half man” in all local Mansi groups are determined. Folk beliefs, prohibitions and other genres of the oral folk tradition, which helped to determine the boundaries and degree of human interaction with a “half man”, are used. A new, previously unpublished folklore material, which opens up prospects for the
study of the characters and the plot structure of Mansi folklore, has been introduced into scientific circulation.
Key words: Mansi folklore, forest creature, half of a man, anthropomorphism.
Acknowledgments: the author of the article expresses gratitude to the reviewers and informants.
For citation: Panchenko L. N. The character structure of Mansi folklore: Khumporkhsup "a half man" // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2021; 11 (4): 671–679.
