Goals. The article aims to give a brief overview of the development of education of national minorities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 1949 to the present. The Inner Mongolia is the first national autonomy in the China and has historical, political, cultural and educational significance. Materials and methods. The issue is based on the analysis of official data, the results of scientific research by Russian, Chinese and foreign scholars. In our research, we relied on a systems approach and used general scientific and special methods. For example, problem-chronological, historical-comparative, historical-anthropological methods. Results. The main approaches to the implementation of the national policy of the Communist Party of China in the middle of the 20th century were determined. The authors are given a brief description of the cultural and educational situation in  the Inner Mongolia in the last century. The major changes in national policy since the start of the reform and opening-up period were identified. The final part provides a description of the main parameters for the development of education of national minorities in the context of achieving the centenary goal put forward by the Communist Party of China and Xi Jinping by 2049.

 Introduction. The article examines the circumstances of the participation of the Kalmyk cavalry in the Crimean campaign of 1675. The purpose of the study is to introduce new sources on the history of military affairs of the Kalmyks in the scientific circulation, as well as on the history of the Russian-Kalmyk relations of the 17th century, namely, the participation of the Kalmyk cavalry in the Crimean campaign of Kaspulat Mutzalovich Cherkassky in 1675. The main material for this research was the materials of the Collection 115 (“The Kabardian Affairs”) in the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts. Results. The article consistently shows the mobilization processes of the Russian-Kalmyk army, published eyewitness' information about the fighting of the Kalmyk cavalry on the Crimean Khanate territory in September 1675. Conclusions. The Crimean campaign of Kaspulat Cherkassky in 1675 did not radically change the situation in the confrontation between Moscow and the Crimea, but made the great military and political effect, since this was the first time when “sovereign military men” with the support of Kalmyks and Zaporozhye Cossacks reached the Crimean peninsula and inflicted tangible material and human damage on the enemy. Kalmyks and Zaporozhian Cossacks with marching artillery were the main striking force of the combined army; the Crimean Khanate was vulnerable to attacks by mobile well-armed cavalry. But the unsuccessful mobilization of the Russian army, the absence of mass light cavalry in the Russian army did not allow organizing a full-fledged military campaign on the Crimea territory.

Introduction. There are good sketches about the status of the Kalmyk women in everyday life and social relations in the 19th and early 20th centuries in the pre-re­volutionary historical literature on the Kalmyks. The 18th century was an important stage in the formation of new realities in the Kalmyk everyday life and in this regard in the development of socio-psychological mentality. Living in the south of the European Russia, where the spirit of the Cossacks and the fugitive peasantry had a great place in the mentality of the local population, could not fail to affect the Kalmyks, including their women. The aim of the article is to highlight the real situation of the Noyon women in the 18th century and to reveal the new social and living conditions of their life. Materials and methods. To achieve this goal, the relevant literature and, for the most part, archival materials introduced into scientific circulation for the first time were used. Historical, historical-comparative and historical-genetic methods were used in the study of the docu­mentary material. Results. In the 18th century the Kalmyk noyons gradually got rid of some of the customs and household regulations that were embarrassing for them. At the same time, the changing social and living conditions introduced new circumstances into the situation of the noyon women. Such a process led to discord in the Noyon fami­lies and made it possible for the Russian administration to intervene in these feuds. Its actions were not always correct.

Introduction. The article examines the formation and evolution of state re­gulation of fishery by the population of the Kalmyk Khanate in the 1740s, based on the materials of the interdepartmental discussion, correspondence between the Kalmyk khans and viceroys with the government and the regional authorities. The purpose of the article is to study and introduce into scientific circulation a set of unpublished documents related to the state regulation of the Kalmyk fishery, deposited in the I-36 collection “Consisting of the Kalmyk affairs under the Astrakhan governor” of the National Archive of the Republic of Kalmykia, collection 614 “Astrakhan fish office” of the State Archive of the Astrakhan Region. Materials and methods. The object of the analysis were the archival documents from the 1740s: the letter from Khan Donduk-Ombo to the head of the Kalmyk affairs L. V. Boborykin (1741), the response of the government to the appeal of the viceroy Donduk-Dashi (1741), the protocol of negotiations between the Astrakhan governor V. N. Tatishchev and Donduk-Dashi (1742), the letter by Donduk-Dashi to V. N. Tatishchev (1742), the decree of the Gover­ning Senate to the state councilor P. A. Sokovnin (1743). The following methods were used in the study: comparative historical analysis, historical-typological, chronological, historical-genetic methods. Results. The set of documents studied and introduced into scientific circulation in the article is an important source on the history of the Kalmyk fishery, its state regulation. In the letters of Donduk-Ombo and Donduk-Dashi the main reasons for the activation of the Kalmyk fishery in the 40s of the 18th century are determined; the interdepartmental correspondence and instructions to the regional officials are aimed at protecting the interests of Astrakhan fishermen first of all. The examined documents will allow expanding the source base of the research on the specifics and regional dynamics of participation of the national groups in the development of fishery in the Astrakhan province. 

Introduction. The life of Bidya Dandarovich Dandaron is the path of a spiritual adept, teacher, philosopher, Buddhologist, Tibetologist, yogi and master of Buddhist tantra, a man who made a great contribution to the spread of Buddhism in the Soviet period. On the example of the tragic fate of B. D. Dandaron it is possible to trace the development of the religious policy of the Soviet state towards Buddhism.  The purpose of the article is to study the biography of B. D. Dandaron and the activities of his followers through the prism of spiritual movement. Materials and methods. The main sources for the studying were the family archive materials, stories and memories of relatives, friends and students who were part of the B. D. Dandaron's “Secular Sangha”. Results. The biographies of B. D. Dandaron and his spiritual teacher Lubsan Sandan Tsydenov, the stages of their training and becoming major religious figures are considered. The role of Bidya Dandaron and his disciples in the formation of the “Secular Sangha” is described in detail. Attention is paid to the current state of the group of Dandaron’s followers. Conclusions. The results of the study allow us to conclude that Bidya Dandarovich Dandaron made a serious contribution to the spread of Buddhism in the Soviet period, in particular the Buddhist teachings among the disciples — natives of the European part of Russia. Bidiya Dandarovich’s life, his close interaction with the Russian intelligentsia, the European civilization and education became the foundation for the spread of Buddhism among the Russian believers and the penetration of the values of the Western world into Buryat Buddhism. The religious-philosophical basis of the Eurasian synthesis in the Buryat intelligentsia's worldview was laid thanks to Bidiya Dandarovich Dandaron. 

Introduction. A significant amount of diverse and valuable information regarding the Mongols, who arrived in Armenia during their exploratory expeditions in 1220–1222 and governed the country from 1236 to 1353, has been preserved in Armenian manuscript sources. These sources contain detailed accounts of the Mongols’ names, origin, homeland, appearance, food, character, customs, beliefs, weaponry, martial arts, language, and overall ethnology. This collection of insights illuminates the historical significance due to the fact that Mongols played a pivotal role in global history. The scientific importance of this material should not be underestimated, particularly for Mongolian studies and Mongolian ethnology. This significance arises from both the variety of accounts in the Armenian manuscript sources and the reliability of the majority of these reports. Many of these accounts are based either on direct observations by the authors or the information obtained from credible sources, including the Mongols themselves. It is no coincidence that this emphasis on accuracy is regularly highlighted within the manuscript sources. The purpose of this study is aimed at bringing together and, for the first time, introducing into scientific circulation the ethnological material on the Mongols provided in the rich and valuable Armenian manuscript sources (historical works, minor chronicles, manuscript colophons) of the High Middle Ages (13th-14th centuries). Materials and methods. Among the Armenian manuscript sources addressing the ethnological characteristics of the Mongols, the historiographical works of such notable historians as Kirakos Gandzaketsi, Vardan Vardapet, Grigor Aknertsi, Smbat Sparapet, Hetum the Historian, and Stepanos Orbelian are particularly prominent. Several chroniclers and authors of manuscript colophons have echoed or even expanded upon the mentioned above accounts. The work on the Mongols by Vanakan Vardapet, the teacher of Kirakos Gandzaketsi, by Vardan Vardapet and by Grigor Aknertsi, also undoubtedly contained valuable insights into this subject. Unfortunately, this work has not survived, although Vardan Vardapet almost certainly drew upon it in his own writings. In some cases, Vardan Vardapet also compiled material about the Mongols from the works by Kirakos Gandzaketsi. The information related to the ethnology and lifestyle of the Mongols, as recorded in the Armenian sources of the High Middle Ages, is presented here through a combination of historical compilation and analytical methods for the  reconstruction of the history. Results. The aforementioned evidence forms the basis for introducing the material from Armenian manuscript sources on Mongol ethnology into scientific discourse that will facilitate a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the ethnological characteristics of the Mongols during the period in question. 

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the Beijing edition of Ganjur from the collection of the Tibetan fund of the Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the RAS. The relevance of the study is concerned with the need to study and record Buddhist canonical collections of different editions stored in various Russian funds, which will create favorable conditions for further comparative studies. As the quintessence of Buddhist teaching, the Buddhist canon is of great importance in religious, source studies and archaeographic research. The purpose of the work is to introduce into scientific circulation the collection of Ganjur of the Beijing edition kept in the Tibetan fund of the Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the RAS as well as to review structural analysis and its printing features. Methods. The authors, believing that written monuments of Buddhism are the indicator and the result of not only intellectual (also physical in this case) labor, but also considering that its creation and functioning formed the pro-Buddhist zeitgeist of that era, used the methods of “cognitive history”. Beijing editions of Ganjur occupy a special place among other canonical editions. It was from 1410 — the time of creation of the first xylographic edition of the Ganjur — that the history of interconnected Beijing editions began, patronized by the emperors themselves and forming a favorable climate for the development of Buddhism in the regions. Conclusions. The introduction of this edition into scientific circulation enriches the domestic bibliographic base of studies of Buddhist canonical investigations. The preliminary work with the collection confirms the importance of the archaeographic representation of this edition with the successive demonstration of the historical and socio-cultural significance of the Beijing Ganjur from the Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the RAS. The work with the collection revealed certain problems in establishing the history of this complex source.

Introduction. The article examines the colophon to the Mongolian translation of the major Tibetan monument of Buddhist literature, Mani-kambum, made by the famous Oirat Buddhist figure Zaya Pandita Namkhai Gyatso in 1643–1644. The colophon is written in the style of traditional Mongolian versification using initial alliteration. Materials and methods. The material for the analysis was a woodcut edition and a handwritten text of the colophon to the Mongolian translation of “Mani-kambum” made by Zaya Pandita in 1643–1644. The work uses traditional methods of textual analysis. Results. A comparative textual analysis of the contents of the Zaya Pandita colophon has been carried out based on the woodcut edition in the Mongolian language in the collection “Yum-chenmo” and the handwritten version in the Mongolian language presented in the book comp. by Luvsanbaldan. The use of the handwritten version of the colophon for text comparison was dictated by the peculiarities of printing the Beijing woodcut in Mongolian with the characteristic absence of some diacritics in it, the substitution of individual graphemes, and their indistinct display. As a result, the fragments of the text that were omitted in the handwritten colophon or written down with errors were restored, and at the same time, the correct spelling of a number of words in the woodcut, printed with errors, was established. Thus, one of the key points that needs to be taken into account in the work on compiling and clarifying transliterations of the Tibetan-Oirat corpus texts has been confirmed, namely, the use of not only woodcuts of Zaya Pandita’s translations in Mongolian language, but also their lists and copies. In addition, several stanzas of the colophon were considered, composed by Zaya Pandita in the tradition of the Mongolian versification, which enriches our understanding of him not only as a translator of Buddhist texts, but also as a talented writer.

Introduction. The “Regulation on the Administration of the Kalmyk People” dated April 23, 1847 established the Horde branch of the Astrakhan Chamber of State Properties, settled the issues of administrating the Kalmyk people, including special rights of Noyons, Zaisangs and Lamas. In the course of the activity of the Horde department, the documents containing the information on the change of the legal status of Zaisangs, their place in the state structure of the Kalmyk steppe during the period of administrative reform were created. The purpose of the study is to study the four archival documents of the I—6 “Horde Branch of the Astrakhan Chamber of State Properties” fund containing information about zaisangs, to analyze the specific composition of the documents, their functional purpose and to source potential in studying the integration of the Kalmyk society into the all-Russian state system in the second half of the 19th century. Results. The study of the composition and content of the archival documents created during the period of the Horde branch activity of the Astrakhan Chamber of State Properties made it possible to identify and introduce into scientific circulation the new types of documents introduced into the clerical process of the Kalmyk people’s governing body, to trace the order of approval in the rank of so called generic Zaisangs as well as  Kalmyk commoners who achieved success in the period after the adoption of the Regulations of 1847.

 Introduction. In the 19th and early 20th centuries a considerable number of books, articles, brochures and commercial advertisements in the Kalmyk language were printed in Russia using the movable type of the font known as the “clear script”. This printing in Kalmyk took place in St. Petersburg, Kazan and Astrakhan. The aim of this article is to figure out the history of the creation of the Kalmyk movable type and its different modifications and fonts types. The article is based on the available printed books and documents kept in different scientific libraries of St. Petersburg such as Gorky Scientific Library of St. Petersburg State University; the Library of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Library of Russia. Conclusion. The Kalmyk movable type was first used in 1814. It was made in St. Petersburg for printing Christian literature at the request of the Russian Bible Society. Two kinds of fonts types were produced for the Bible Society: the bigger and the smaller. The latter was used in the 1840s in Kazan for printing scholarly works on the Kalmyk language. Later two more kinds of Kalmyk font types were made in St. Petersburg bringing the total number of fonts to four.

Introduction. The introduction of digital technologies in the presentation of texts in the Old Mongolian script and the demand for machine translation actua­lize the creation of a parallel corpus of Buryat written sources in the Mongolian script. Within the framework of the Russian Science Foundation project “Parallel Corpus of Buryat Written Sources in the Mongolian Script: Towards Machine Translation”, a genre selection of sources, their transliteration and translation into Russian, meta-marking was carried out. The purpose of the article is to analyze and introduce into scientific circulation the written heritage of Solo Vandanov and to consider the problems of translation and meta-marking of the text using his works as an example. Materials and methods. The work is based on the developments of the authors of the diachronic corpus of the Buryat language, the National Corpus of the Buryat Language, with the help of which materials from the collections of the Center for Oriental Manuscripts and Xylographs were presented, in particular, the historical narrative of Solo Vandanov “Journey to Beijing”. Results. The article provides a source study characteristic of the creative heritage of Solo Vandanov and provides his biographical data. It is noted that the author’s essay “A Trip to Beijing” is a valuable source, written in the genre of walking. In its descriptive style and organization of the text, it differs from the compiled history of Buddhism in India, Tibet and Mongolia. The analysis of Solo Vandanov’s travel notes made it possible to identify the features of sentence construction, the presence of complex-compound constructions. Conclusions. The works of Solo Vandanov convey the regional features of the written culture of the Buryats, and his travel notes are an original monument of the genre of travels in the old written Mongolian language. It is noted that the compilation nature of the presentation influenced the organization of the text and the construction of sentences. The materials of Solo Vandanov are of great scientific significance for characterizing the written heritage of the Buryats, stylistic and linguistic features.

Introduction. The presented article is devoted to the complex reconstruction of the syncretic image of the Don Kalmyks formed in the synchronous narratives of Cossack historians and publicists. A systematic analysis of the previous historiographic tradition indicates that the considered range of regional sources has not been sufficiently used in the framework of scientific analysis, which determines favorable prospects for modern research practice that complements the previously obtained epistemological results. Materials and methods. The empirical material introduced into scientific circulation is reconstructed from the published works of E. N. Katelnikov and V. D. Sukhorukov, which are classical regional narratives, characterising the Don historical writing tradition of the 19th century. The methodological basis of the author’s analysis was rationalistic criticism, integrating subjective assessments of the proposed ethnographic concepts and textual deconstruction of specific information from the sources under consideration. In some cases, elements of microhistorical comparative studies were used, based on extra-source knowledge. Results and conclusions. The considered Cossack narratives lack a unified idea of the regional ethnographic space, and the terminological system is constructed in the context of individual research tasks. E. N. Katelnikov and V. D. Sukhorukov form original images of the Don Kalmyks, among whom there are both «neighboring enemies» as well as the lowest social stratum representatives. The Cossack authors clearly see the neighboring Kalmyks as an alien people, endowed with negative traits. This approach determines both the special significance of the presented narratives as synchronous sources characterizing the systemic attitude of the Don Cossacks to their closest neighbors, and the complete unsuitability of the author’s narratives for the ethnographic characterization of the ethnic group in question. The xenophobic texts by Cossack authors significantly influenced the socio-cultural presentation of the Don Kalmyks in the imperial worldview, creating a distorted picture of regional interaction. In the context of this circumstance, a modern researcher of the chosen problem should systematically consider synchronous narrative traditions, forming an objective image of the ethnic dialogue.

Introduction. The presented article reveals the visual background of the causes of the military conflict on the Khalkhin Gol river in 1939 on the eve of the 85th anniversary of these events, and the authors focus the reader’s attention on the importance of timely demarcation and delimitation of the borders between participants in international relations and aim to analyze Russian-language and Japanese retrospective maps of the 1900s-1930s visualizing the Khalkha-Manchurian border area in the zone of the Khalkhin Gol river and Lake Buir-Nur, giving a description of the border line between Khalkha and Barga in the conflict zone. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of twelve cartographic sources with diagrams included into the secret reports of the Trans-Amur district officers, the maps of famous researchers and cartographers of the imperial and Soviet periods, the diagrams from the journal “Bulletin of Manchuria” and the Japanese maps of the 1930s. An interdisciplinary approach has been applied, combining methods of historical and geographical sciences, namely historical-typological, historical-systemic, comparative-historical and historical-genetic methods, a retrospective approach, source analysis, cartographic method, as well as geoinformation analysis. Results. The differences in the depiction of the Khalkha-Barga border, the Lake Buir-Nur and the Khalkhin-Gol river on the maps of different periods and origin were revealed. The Khoshuns (principalities) affected by the military actions of 1939 have been identified. It has been established that the Japanese maps of the 1930s are of high cartographic quality and the degree of information load requires additional study with the involvement of an interpreter. The analysis of retrospective maps demonstrates the evolution of the ideas about the Khalkha-Manchurian border area and emphasizes the importance of the cartographic sources in the study of historical territorial disputes. Conclusions. The study contributes to the understanding of the preconditions of the conflict on the Khalkhin Gol river and opens up prospects for further study of cartographic materials of this period.

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of the book “Lists of Conscripts by Maloderbetovsky Regional Military Commissariat in 1941, 1942, 1943” as a source on the history of participation of Kalmykia residents in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The purpose of this article is a detailed review of this book. Materials and methods. The main source for the study was the book “Lists of Conscripts by Maloderbetovsky Regional Military Commissariat in 1941, 1942, 1943” published in 2023 by T. Ts. Kishteeva. In the process of analysis the methods of comparative and descriptive analysis were used, which allowed us to obtain valuable information about the role of the inhabitants of Kalmykia during the war. Results. The book of conscripts contains information about 3 429 servicemen called up by the Maloderbetovsky Regional Military Commissariat. In the process of the analysis it was found out that in some cases the information is repeated, as well as there are errors and inaccuracies in the information. Nevertheless, the book covers a significant number of war participants and serves as an important source to immortalize the memory of our fellow countrymen who fought for the Motherland in 1941–1945. 

Introduction. The books of civil status records are the primary statistical accounting documents, an important source for the demographic history of a particular nation, subject to the Russian Federation. The demographic history of the Kalmyk people during the exile period is difficult to reconstruct due to the lack of the access to the sources that allow us to study this process comprehensively. The purpose of this work is to study the historical source of the books of civil status records (“assembly records”) and the possibility of their use for the demographic history of the Kalmyk people during the deportation period using the example of the Altai Territory. Materials and methods. The material for the study were the individual records of the books of civil status records (“assembly records”) in an impersonal form (with certain omitted data), as well as the responses to the inquiries and field materials received during the expedition in the Altai Territory. In the course of the research, a source analysis was carried out, which made it possible to identify the features and establish the value of the archival documents — books of state registration records as sources of historical demography of Kalmyks special settlers. Results. This article examines the books of the civil status records that register the fact of death as a documentary source for analyzing the demographic history of the Kalmyk people during their exile in the Altai Territory. It has been revealed that the primary document for accounting the natural movement of the population cannot be used as the main source, in addition, such documents should not be used as material for identifying certain patterns or trends. This type of document can only be used as an additional source for studying specific facts, for example, to study the accounting features of special settlers.

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the religious and mythological tradition of the Oirats, which underlies their ethnic worldview. The purpose of the study is to identify the relationship of different stages in the structure of archaic myths that appeared after the Oirats adopted the Buddhism. Materials and methods. The main material of the study are samples of the Oirats’ myths of Xinjiang, published in folklore collections and periodicals in “clear writing” in the second half of the last century. The analysis of such samples of oral creativity necessitates the use of not only traditional methods of studying oral literature, but also an interdisciplinary approach that allows us to identify the regular processes that ensures the selection and preservation of certain plots and the stability of the religious and mythological tradition. Results. Historical and cultural ties of the Oirats go deep into the ancient history of the Turco-Mongol peoples of Central Asia. As a result, in their mythology and fairy-tale folklore we can see different layers of archaic myths, ancient religious views and Buddhist mythology. In the content of a number of mythological and fairy-tale plots, in which the intersection of moral and religious principles of Buddhism with oral tradition is observed, the characters are both Buddha himself and other deities of the Buddhist pantheon. Analysis of the texts of Oirat myths shows that the coexistence of the oral artistic system with Buddhist literature led to the natural introduction of the Buddhist view of the world into all aspects of the spiritual life of the Oirat ethnic group, including the structure and content of archaic myths.

 Introduction. Business letters addressed by the Kalmyk Khan (before 1690, Taisha) Ayuka (1642–1724), written in todo bichig (“clear letter”), are polythematic multifunctional texts that implement, among other things, informative and influencing functions. Since the influencing function is realized primarily in motives of varying degrees of categoricality (request, order, etc.) and tactics accompanying imperative subgenres, the purpose of this work is to identify imperative subgenres and other tactics of speech influence on the addressee in business letters to todo bichig, to analyze the ways and means of expressing the identified influencing techniques, as well as their comparison with simultaneous translations of letters into Russian. Materials and methods. The source of the material was the letters of Taisha (Khan) Ayuka, sent to representatives of the central and regional Russian authorities from 1665 to 1714, and their simultaneous translations into Russian, stored in the collections of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts and the National Archive of the Republic of Kalmykia. For this work, only those letters from the specified period have been selected that have preserved a synchronized translation into Russian. Results. The tactics of explaining the reasons for the request, providing a preliminary description of the situation, and reminding of mutual obligations are typical of  Ayuka’s business letters. These tactics are preserved in synchronized Russian translations, although the actual request or other type of motivation may be conveyed not by imperative constructions, but by synonymous ones characteristic of the design of indirect speech. The addressee factor is important, as well as the process of establishing the norms of Russian office work. The choice of language means in synchronized translation could also depend on an oral conversation with the envoy of Khan Ayuka, since in some cases synchronized translations of letters contain additions in the legal context of the request, representing additional means of influencing the addressee.

 Introduction. Lexicographic sources are of special value in the studies on the history of any language. As for Kalmyk language, the earliest sources of such kind dating back to the second half of the 18th century are an anonymous Russian-Kalmyk dictionary published by Kalmyk researchers in 2014 and Latin-Russian-Kalmyk dictionary by Adrian Sokolov (1769–1771), which has yet to be introduced into scientific circulation. This paper aims to provide a general description of A. Sokolov's dictionary and to analyze some grapho-phonetic features of the Kalmyk language of the second half of the 18th century. The study is based on “Kalmükisch Vocabularium von Studenten Adrian Sokolov in den Jahren 1769, 1770 und 1771” stored in collections of National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg). The dictionary consists of 76 pages and includes 1,785 Kalmyk words. We compiled the Russian-Kalmyk part of the dictionary and added modern literary Kalmyk forms, after that the dictionary materials were uploaded to Lingvodoc platform to provide comparative analysis with Proto-Mongolic and contemporary literary Kalmyk forms. Results. The particular value of this dictionary is that it contains an author's Cyrillic transcription of Kalmyk words, made by an outside observer unfamiliar with the rules of the literary (written) language, and therefore more accurately (in our opinion) reflecting the characteristics of Kalmyk oral speech of this period. The correspondences established in the dictionary, such as e — lit. Kalm. ө (Proto-Mongolic *e), o — lit. Kalm. ɵ, ai / oi — lit. Kalm. a, i — lit. Kalm. ү, b — lit. Kalm. в, coincide with Proto-Mongolic reflexes and can be characterized as archaic features of the Kalmyk language of the second half of the 18th century. They are also found in the Kalmyk wordlists made by German scholars of the same period, such as G. F. Müller (1760–1762), P. S. Pallas (1771, 1776–1789), B. Bergman (1804–1805), and J. G. Klaproth (1831). This allows us to conclude that these linguistic features were typical for the Kalmyk language of this period as a whole, and not just for separate dialects. The innovative correspondences such as e — lit. Kalm. ɵ (Proto-Mongolic *ö), o — lit. Kalm. у, and ts — lit. Kalm. ч are also found in the abovementioned wordlists, which may indicate the fact that they were supra-dialectal. The correspondences io — lit. Kalm. ү, u — lit. Kalm. ө, u — lit. Kalm. ү are only found in B. Bergman's materials, who recorded, supposedly, Derbet dialect of the Kalmyk language. Thus, we can suggest that the dictionary by A. Sokolov also reflects the dialectal features of Derbet dialect of the Kalmyk language of the second half of 18th century.