현대 몽골어 동식물명의 민속학적 연구

Abstract

This article is a research on Mongolian terms for animals and plants and their relationship with culture. In other words, I try to investigate how traditional nomadic culture in Mongolia is embedded inside those terms. In contemporary Mongolian, about 320 primary terms for animals and plants are still in use. Firstly, I divided those terms into two assortments, i.e., animals and plants. Then, terms for animals are sub-divided into ten main folk classifications whereas those of plants are subgrouped with nine major categories. Secondly, as far as animal terms are concerned, five representative kinds of Mongolian livestock are the most important in the folkclassification of Mongolian animals. This is because five main livestock are the core aspect of nomadic culture in Mongolia. Hence, every element and characteristic of these five main livestock, such as age, gender, whether castrated or not, are well elaborately revealed inside terms. Thirdly, in the folk-classification of plant terms, edible (for livestock) plant terms, terms of medicinal herbs and those of poisonous plants are the most distinctive element. Mongolian nomads usually choose their temporary settlements on the condition whether the grazing field has rich variety of grass, herbs and flowers or not. Hence, in general, nomadic Mongolians are well aware of both edible and unedible plants. Lastly, Mongolian terms for animals and plants as well as the folkclassification of those terms reflect the folk knowledge of nomadic culture. In particular, in Mongolian folk literature and riddles, animals and plants are widely employed to elucidate every corner of daily life among nomads. In these folk context, Mongolian animals and plants are either delicately divided or thoroughly analysed in terms of their appearance, habit, diagnosis, etc.