Reindeer-breeding culture in Russia and Inner Mongolia (PRC) (based on the material of the reindeer-breeding vocabulary of the Evenks)

The article is dedicated to a comparative study of the vocabulary of the Evenks of Russia and China, reflecting the Evenks’ reindeer-breeding culture. Reindeer is of key importance in the spiritual culture of the Tungus. This is due to the economic and cultural type of the Evenks reindeer herders. Reindeer is the most common domestic animal of the Evenks. Its breeding and economic use is now typical for all Tungusic peoples of Russia and China. Therefore, the main purpose of the article is to describe the ethnolinguistic and ethnocultural realia of the worldview of the Evenks of Russia and China.


Introduction
The language of any people is considered as a historical source, the whole life of the people finds a peculiar reflection in its language. The purpose of this article is a comprehensive description of the vocabulary reflecting the reindeer-breeding vocabulary of the Evenks of Russia and China.
The Evenks of China are represented by four ethnolinguistic groups, joined in two official nationalities, living in Hulunbuir Region of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as the IMAR) and in Heilongjiang Province: Oroqen people and the Evenks. They are the Oroqen people (literally "reindeer herders") (Chinese 鄂伦春族, Pinyin ÈlúnchūnZú). According to the information Internetcenter, the 2010 census registered 8 659 people: 44,54 % live in Inner Mongolia, 51,52 % -in Heilongjiang Province, 1,2 % -in Liaoning Province; Evenks (Chinese 鄂温克族, Pinyin EwēnkèZú) -30 505 by the 2000 census, of them 88,8 % live in Hulunbuir: Solon people, Yako-Tungus people, Hamnigan people. The specified groups of the Evenks have begun to distinguish per the Decree of China's government since 1951.
In 1951, Oroqen Banner was established in the IMAR; Evenki Banner was established in 1958. in 1957, based on the desire of both groups' representatives, they were given a joint name -Еwenki (Evenks). Each local group preserved its native name. For example, Solon people, Tungus Evenks known as Hamnigan Evenks, and a group of so-called Yakuts -Yako-Evenks consider themselves Evenks. Oroqen people do not consider themselves Evenks, they call themselves "Oroqen beye".
The Evenks of Russia live on the vast territory of Russia, from Sakhalin to the Ural, as well as in Mongolia and the Inner Mongolia of the PRC.
The Associations of Evenks of Yakutia and Buryatia have visited Evenki Banner quite often. Buryat State University has close links with Evenki Banner of the Chinese IMAR. The University invited us to the expedition (2009,2013,2014).
The main goal of the expedition was studying the ethnolinguistic and ethnocultural realia of the worldview of the Evenks of Russia and China. During the expedition the students and the teachers got acquainted with different local groups of the Evenks of China, living in the IMAR -Solon people, Yako-Evenks of Evenki Banner, Oroqen people of Oroqen Banner, Tungus Evenks (Hamnigan) of Starobargutsky Banner, their lifestyle, culture, and language peculiarities. China hosted the 5 th World Reindeer Herders' Congress; it was held in Aoluguya area in the vicinity of Genhe City in the northeast China on July 25-28, 2013; it is a unique cultural and professional event that brings together the representatives of reindeer breeding peoples from the entire circumpolar region.

Materials and methods
The research was carried out using the method of continuous sampling of lexemes on the selected theme from lexicographic sources; the method of comparative

Results and Discussion
Reindeer breeding, hunting and fishing are the main types of traditional economic activities of the Evenks of Russia. "Reindeer husbandry -one of the main activities of the Evenks -has remained such to this day, which gives them the opportunity to preserve and pass on the language and culture to the younger generation. From time immemorial, reindeer has been food, transport, clothing, and home for an Evenk. But this is not its only role in the life of the taiga nomad and hunter, reindeer is a part of his language and culture. Since olden times, Evenks have been migrating by the seasons: from a summer camp to an autumn camp, from an autumn camp to a winter camp, from a winter camp to a summer camp. Such is the way of the annual cycle. The migration depends on reindeer food (lichen) and on hunting". [4, p. 233].
The study of vocabulary as a system attracts the attention of many linguists. To describe particular fragments of any language's vocabulary, they usually use a classification by thematic and lexical-semantic word groups (hereinafter TG and LSG). In the article, the TG describes the Evenks' reindeer-breeding culture, whereas the LSG is a pool of words related to one part of speech and semantically correlated with each other by lexical meanings. The Evenks' reindeer-breeding terms are considered by subgroups: general names of reindeer irrespective of gender and age, age and gender names of reindeer, 3) reindeer names by their external characteristics, etc.
Инивугдэн-(inivugden) a baggage reindeer Эннэмэвур-(ennemevur) a female reindeer, to which a young reindeer is tied at night.
Нёкото (nyokoto) -to creep a pack forward to the reindeer neck Пескарук (peskaruk)-reindeer that carries the stove Һулларук (hullaruk)-reindeer that carries blankets Дагаптук (dagaptuk) -reindeer tied reindeer-saddle Дэлэмин (delemin) -reindeer freely running after a caravan during the transfer Баретчит (baretchit)-reindeer is an advanced on the sledge Модурэ̄н (moduren)-reindeer is stuck with a leash behind the trees during the transfer LSG general names of reindeer excluding gender and age: Бэюнчика̄н (beunchika)-crossbreed wild and domestic reindeer.
Хорой (khoroy)-a male reindeer under the age of 2 years.
Энни -(enni) a female reindeer who has dropped a calf under 1 year of age.
LSG names of sites. Each site has its name in accordance with the season.
For the Evenks, reindeer is not only a vehicle, a source of shelter and food, but also a huge spiritual world. The migrations continue from spring to deep snow for hunting and for reindeer need for different kinds of food. In July and August, reindeer are driven into alpine tundra belt, to the places rich in lichen and yellowwort, protecting the reindeer from gnat. Until the deep snow, there is pack-riding movement, in winter on sledges. Reindeer are supervised all the time, so they migrate with all the livestock. If the livestock is numerous, there are special drovers. If wolves appear nearby, they migrate a long distance away. Late Aprilearly May is the most important and difficult period for reindeer breeders as young reindeer are born. The protection of the breeding stock from predators at this time requires special attention. Reindeer travel long distances, so reindeer herders build kure hedges. Later, when the young reindeer grow up a little and begin to eat lichen and grass, some reindeer herders milk the females. September is the time of reindeer mating games. It is also a crucial period for reindeer herders. It is important to prepare reindeer for estrus: castration of some of the bulls, migration to a convenient place, notching the spires of the seed bulls. The nomadic way of life of the Evenks is clearly reflected in their language and culture.
Reindeer herders still remember and follow some customs and perform ceremonies nowadays. For instance, they read fortune from a reindeer or moose shoulder bone called dalu. Cleaned and dried shoulder bone dalu is held above the fire until there appear cracks. These cracks can forecast successful hunting or, vice versa, a trouble. If they haven't seen some family member for a long time, a special ceremony is performed: a reindeer is slaughtered for the reunion. Not having seen each other for a long time (thirty or ten years), they slaughter a reindeer for the reunion, cover their hands with blood without entering the tent and saying "We are blood related, born from one mother and one father" [5].
The only group of Evenks whose main economic activity is reindeer breeding -Tungus-Yako -live in China. That is why, reindeer-breeding vocabulary is especially rich in their language. Reindeer are named by age, seasons, and color.

Сonclusion
Our research has shown that the Evenks possess the qualities inherent only to them: 1) an extraordinary geographical mobility, which probably stems from their hunting and reindeer herding complex; 2) an outstanding ability to adapt to different climatic zones; 3) openness to the new forms of economy and life; 4) poor resistibility to assimilation with their numerous neighbors.
The Evenks of China have preserved their native language, traditions, culture, and beliefs. In contrast, in Russia only the representatives of the older generation can speak their native language well. Every year on June 18, the Evenks of China celebrate the Evenk national holiday "Sebin" ("Reindeer"). In Russia, Evenks celebrate "Bakaldyn" holiday at the end of May, when a cuckoo starts to call [1, p. 11-21; 6].
The main form of economic activity of the Evenks in Russia is hunting; Chinese Evenks were also hunters until the 2000s; at present, hunting is prohibited. The Evenk reindeer herding groups in Russia have also continued their traditional type of farming since ancient times. Depending on the availability of food for reindeer (reindeer lichen) and the hunting season, they migrate throughout the year from a summer camp to an autumn camp, from an autumn camp to a winter camp, from a winter camp to a summer camp. In China, only one group of Yako-Evenks keeps reindeer. Reindeer husbandry is a masterpiece of the intangible heritage of humanity.
The vocabulary reflecting the spiritual culture of the Tungus is an integral component of the traditional culture of the people. The complexity and vivid specificity of this layer of their vocabulary are rooted in the national specificity of the Evenk language. In general, as the material shows, reindeer herding vocabulary is original. There are few foreign language borrowings.