The Mongolian Script in the Baikal region at the Present Stage: a Course for Revitalization?

This paper aims to provide an analysis of the development of the Mongolian script in the sociocultural context of the Baikal region in modern times. The main purpose of this article is to characterize the key trends in society from the point of view of sociolinguistic processes. Materials and methods. The research is based on a thorough examination of official data from the Government of the Republic of Buryatia, government departments of the Irkutsk region and Transbaikal region, as well as publications in the media and field materials gathered through an expert survey of heads of educational centers and language activists. The authors have adopted a systematic approach and applied a range of general scientific and special methods, including comparative historical and statistical methods, to conduct this study. Results and conclusions. It has been revealed that the Mongolian script has significant role in performing various socio-cultural functions. Mongolian script has gained widespread popularity in the form of calligraphy in the Baikal region. Furthermore, the language is deeply embedded with ethno cultural symbolism, making it a valuable source for the development of the Buryat language and culture as a whole. There is a growing interest in analyzing the language situation in Mongolia and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, particularly in terms of the implementation of state language policy in perspective. The status and functional role of Mongolian script in these regions are of utmost importance in understanding its impact on the overall language landscape. 

1. Questionnaire survey among heads of educational centers (2023).

2. Batueva Ya. “Mongolian Script is a Cultural Heritage”. On: “Aginskaya Pravda” (aginsk-pravda.ru). Posted on 2 November 2019. Available at: http://www.aginsk-pravda.ru/news/janzhima_batueva_staromongolskaja_pismennost_ehto_kulturnoe_nasledie/2019-11-02-7867 (accessed: 29 October 2023). (In Russ.)

3. Bolortuya Ch. Mongolian tradition: Mongolian calligraphy tradition. On: Gogo. Posted on 30 August 2011. Available at: https://gogo.mn/r/92884 (accessed: 29 October 2023). (In Mong.)

4. Mongolian-Calligraphy Studio (vk.com). Official account on the social network VKontakte Mongolian-Calligraphy Studio (vk.com) (accessed: 29 October 2023) (In Russ.)

5. Tengeriin besheg / Heavenly letter (vk.com). Official account on the social network VKontakte: Tengeriin besheg / Heavenly letter (vk.com) (accessed: 29 October 2023) (In Russ.)

6. The International Festival “Typomania” is taking place in Buryatia. On: Baikal-daily.ru. Posted on 26 September 2021. Available at: https://www.baikal-daily.ru/news/16/422478/?ysclid=lrevpywfkk586304699 (accessed: 29 October 2023) (In Russ.)

7. Aktamov I. G. Historical, Cultural and Political Aspects of the Development of Classical Mongolian Script in Inner Asia in the 20th – early 21st centuries. In: Derevyanko A. P., Bazarov B. V. (sc. ed.). In: The World of Central Asia–V: collection of scholarly articles. Novosibirsk: SB RAS, 2022. Pp. 697–699. (In Russ.)

8. Badmaeva L. B. Functioning of Old Mongolian Script in Buryatia. In: Baikal Meetings–X: Cultural Memory and Cultural Identity in the Context of Globalization: Materials of the International Scientific and Practical Conference. Ulan-Ude: VSGIK, 2018. Pp. 166–174. (In Russ.)

9. Badmaeva L. B. Old Written Mongolian Language and Modern Buryat Language. Humanitarian vector. 2010. No. 2(22). Pp. 202–207. (In Russ.)

10. Badmaeva L. B. Written Heritage of the Buryats in the Mongolian Script. Bulletin of the Buryat State University. Language. Literature. Culture. 2020. No. 3. Pp. 15‒23. (In Russ.)

11. Batbayar D. History of Mongolian Calligraphy. Ulaanbaatar: Soyombo Press, 2015. 279 p. (In Mong.)

12. Choimaa Sh., Altantsetseg М. Old Mongolian Language Textbook. Ulan-Ude: ТОО «Olzon» BSC SB RAS, 1994. 184 p. (In Mong.)

13. Demberel K. Classical Mongolian Script: State Policy Revisited. Mongolian Studies (Elista). 2021. Vol. 13(1). Pp. 108‒119. DOI: 10.22162/2500-1523-2021-1-108-119 (In Russ.)

14. Dorzhiev D-N. D. Old Buryat Language. Ulan-Ude: Dorzhi Banzarov Buryat State Pedagogical Institute. 1992. 244 p. (In Russ.)

15. Dorzhieva Zh. D. Old Mongolian Language: textbook. Ulan-Ude: Buryat State University, 2008. 383 p. (In Russ.)

16. Dyrkheeva G. A., Gombodorzhiin N. Language Policy in Mongolia: Problem of Revival of the Old Mongolian Script (the Mongolian Script). Humanitarian vector. 2019. Vol. 14. No. 3. Pp. 98–104. (In Russ.)

17. Evstropova Yu. V. Use of Latin in Brand Names. In: Current problems of theoretical, experimental, clinical medicine and pharmacy. Tyumen: RIC «Ivex», 2018. Pp. 206–207. (In Russ.)

18. Gulgenov A. Ts. Self-instruction textbook of Mongolian writing. Ulan-Ude: Buryat State University, 2019. 48 p. (In Russ.)

19. Kara D. Books of Mongolian Nomads (seven centuries of Mongolian writing systems). Executive editor S. G. Klyashtorny. M.: Nauka, 1972. 228 p. (In Russ.)

20. Khilkhanova, E.V., Ivanov, V.V. The Commodification of Languages and Linguistic Landscape of the Capital of Mongolia. Sociolinguistics. 2023. No. 2(14). Pp. 129–153. Available at: https://sociolinguistics.ru/index.php/sociolinguistics/issue/view/14/15 (accessed: 10 November, 2023). (In Russ.)

21. Old Mongolian Script (the Mongolian Script). Humanitarian vector. 2019. Vol. 14. No. 3. Pp. 98–104. (In Russ.)

22. Shiretorov Ch. P., Sotnikov I. V. Sagaan Tolgoi. Alphabet. (Old Mongolian Script): textbook. Ulan-Ude: [s. n.] 2013. 27 p.

23. Shoinzhonova D. B. Mongol besheg. Old Mongolian Writing: 5-6 grade textbook. Ulan-Ude: Belig, 2015. 97 p. (In Russ.)

24. Solodovnikova O. N. Art of China. M.: AST, 2023. 154 p. (In Russ.)

25. Rachewiltz De. Igor. Index to the Secret History of the Mongols. Bloomington: Indiana University, 1972. 343 p. (In Eng.)

26. Vladimirtsov B. Ya. Comparative Grammar of the Mongolian Written Language and the Khalkha Dialect: Introduction and Phonetics. Leningrad, 1929. 438 p. (In Russ.)

27. Zoltoeva O. F. Old Written Mongolian Language: Study Guide. Ulan-Ude: Publishing House VSGTU, 2007. 142 p. (In Russ.)