‘A Decision of the Zargo’ as an 18th-Century Linguistic Source

Abstract

The paper introduces into scientific discourse a document contained in Kalmykia’s National Archive which is a decision of the Zargo Court, a consultative organ affiliated to the executive office of the Kalmyk Khanate and endowed with administrative-judicial powers. It contains data about borders of seasonal nomadic relocations between uluses (subordinate communities) of the Kalmyk noyons (landlords) as of 1765. The document testifies the Kalmyks were actually occupying quite vast territories as pasture lands during the examined period. The source was investigated by historians that basically used its 18th-centiry translation. But like many other documents, it has remained virtually unknown to Kalmyk linguists. The Clear Script text is a precious source for further vocabulary and grammar studies of the 18th-century Kalmyk language.