Reflection of local cultural tradition in oral childhood memories (based on the speech of speakers of Kuban subdialects)

Abstract

The article examines the functional potential, subject matter, content, and linguistic specific features of oral stories-memories of native speakers of Kuban subdialects of their childhood years (the 30, 40, 50, 60, 70s of the twentieth century). The main corpus of texts was collected through the field method within the framework of dialectological expeditions (2005–2023). Textual analysis, thematic classification, and linguistic commentary on linguistic facts were used to analyse the language material. The study shows that the subject matter and content of old Kuban residents’ oral childhood memories reflect the local cultural tradition, which, while organically fitting into the national cultural context, has peculiarities determined by the specific features of the region as a Cossack land. We describe recurring plots which appear due to life circumstances common to this dialect community. The research has also established the functional potential of childhood memories in terms of identifying conceptual meanings of individual concepts. It is demonstrated that the Kuban dialect is an important component of the local cultural tradition. The storytellers learnt it in the childhood, and it remains a natural means of communication for most of them. The analysis of the linguistic features of the memories shows a consistent manifestation of dialectal features at all linguistic levels, which enables us to recognise the informants’ stories about their childhood as one of the effective ways of preserving the dialect. The conclusion notes the scientific potential of oral memories of childhood as valuable materials for multidimensional analysis of the childhood phenomenon, as well as for studying such a unique phenomenon as linguistic genetic memory which preserves dialect not only in space but also in time. Additionally, the article focuses on the didactic potential of the analysed texts. Familiarisation with such materials during Russian language, history, and library lessons, as well as homeroom periods will contribute to strengthening generational continuity. Moreover, it will enhance ethnic identity formation and involvement in the family history of people whose destinies shape the history of the country and the nation.