Idioms expressing gestures in the yakut language cultural representation
The presented research article focuses on the study of the idioms expressing gestures and their unique features in the Yakut language from the point of view of their interpretation, formation mechanisms and creating a cultural description (comment) following the model suggested by V. N. Telia; all of these research aspects serve as tools for defining the principles of the locating the lexicographic representation of these idioms in the students’ glossary. Using the data presented in the Yakut-Russian Dictionary of Idioms and the Yakut Language Dictionary, the author analyzes the meaning of the idiom атаххар (сүһүөххэр) тур [atakhar (cuhuokher) tur] which has several meanings. The description is accompanied with illustrations quoting the dictionaries mentioned above. The author also provides an explanation of the idioms from the point of view of culture in terms of the differential positions of the area which this idiom originated from. The study also indicates a number brief descriptions of analogies in other peoples’ cultures. The research results showed that the idiomatic unit is a permanent component represented in combination with the optional component sukhuokh in both dictionaries, however, the same idiomatic component is not represented in the illustrative examples; the only and key meaningful component represented in the examples is atakh. The meaning of idiom is occasionally transferred to the component atakh, which apparently takes place due to the meaning of the lexeme sukhuokh (joint) as a lexical component representing a part of somatism atakh (leg). The definition of the lexeme sukhuokh (joint) given in the Yakut Language Dictionary is further expanded using the explanation of this lexeme not only as a moving part joining two ends of human or animal bones, but also as a stability, firmness of the leg joints (referring to humans and animals). The analyzed unit has analogical correlates in other cultures; this research finding is supported by the dictionary data of other languages, which make up the zone of examples labeled as “represented in other cultures”. This zone will serve as the next stage for a culture-oriented study of the idioms expressing gestures in the Yakut language, in which the main focus will shifted towards distinguishing and interpreting the cultural code of these language units.