Tungus-Manchu Etymologies of Hydronyms of the Amur River Basin
This article focuses on the toponymy of Siberia, presenting a detailed etymological analysis of the Amur River system from the perspective of spatial orientation among the Evenki and related Tungus-Manchu peoples. The research methodology is grounded in lexical analysis, reflecting the agglutinative...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Russian |
| Published: |
Izdatelstvo Uralskogo Universiteta
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Вопросы ономастики |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://onomastics.ru/en/content/2024-volume-21-issue-3-1 |
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| Summary: | This article focuses on the toponymy of Siberia, presenting a detailed etymological analysis of the Amur River system from the perspective of spatial orientation among the Evenki and related Tungus-Manchu peoples. The research methodology is grounded in lexical analysis, reflecting the agglutinative characteristics of the Tungus-Manchu languages. Folklore, ethnographic materials, and previous research on the subject are incorporated into the study. The etymological findings are based on an objective assessment of the landscape and geographical features of the water bodies under consideration. The authors reach the following conclusions: 1. The holistic perception of the Amur River system by Tungus-Manchu peoples diverges from the structure reflected in modern cartography, this perception integrates the Hailar, Argun, Shilka, and Amur rivers into one single system. 2. In the Evenki spatial map, the upper reaches of the Amur River system are identified as the Hailar (Evenki Һāj(ā)lān, Һāj(ā)lār — Top, Lob [of the river system]’) and Argun (Evenki Һaergӯn, Ӓrgӯn — ‘Lower [upper part]’). 3. Shilka and the upper Amur (Evenki Shilkir, Silkir) derive from a common root *silka/shilka, meaning ‘narrow valley,’ reflecting the landscape’s characteristics (relatively narrow waterways bordered by extensive mountain systems). 4. In the Tungus-Manchu languages, the lower reaches of the Amur, after its confluence with the Sungari, are referred to as Maӈgu/Maӈmu, meaning ‘Big River.’ 5. The hydronym Amur, originally Amar, has Tungusic origins and translates as ‘the back or last part of the big river.’ 6. The established variant of the hydronym Amur in cartography is attributed to the Solon language, which preserved influences from the Jurchen language. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersection between linguistic, geographical, and cultural factors in Siberian toponymy. |
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| ISSN: | 1994-2400 1994-2451 |