Lessons not taught in school: Linguistic features of the historical memory of indigenous peoples of north Asia and the Far East

Abstract

Introduction. This article addresses the disappearance of native languages of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. Of particular relevance today are issues of taboo vocabulary and euphemisms, which reflect the worldview, spiritual ethics, and system of cultural codes of the peoples of the North and the Far East (Evenki, Evenk, Negidal, Tungus, etc.). At present, insufficient attention is paid to the specifics of teaching these languages in secondary and higher education, despite their key role in preserving the integrity of the linguistic worldview and historical memory. These issues were discussed in detail in a recent monograph by Professor A. A. Petrov of Herzen University (Petrov, 2024). His work is both a contribution to the Concept of Sustainable Development of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East (Government Order No. 132-r of 4 February 2009) and an academic-level publication in high demand by the scientific and pedagogical community.

Materials and Methods. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach that integrates pedagogy, ethnolinguistics, cultural studies, and historical anthropology (V. G. Bogoraz, G. M. Vasilevich, J. Assmann, M. Halbwachs, and others), alongside fieldwork materials and folklore texts (riddles, spells, ritual poetry). Particular attention is paid to taboo components of subsistence-related rituals (hunting, fishing, reindeer herding) and rites of passage (birth, wedding, funeral) among the indigenous peoples of the North and the Far East of Russia.

Results. For the first time, pedagogical practices, taboo vocabulary, and euphemisms of the languages of the indigenous peoples of the North and the Far East are systematically linked to mechanisms for preserving historical memory. It was found that taboos are not merely linguistic phenomena but function as sociocultural tools for regulating the human–nature relationship, integrated into the system of an archaic worldview based on an animistic perception of nature. The common roots of the spiritual culture of hunters and reindeer herders of the Northeastern Arctic are established by analyzing the similarities in their systems of taboo vocabulary and euphemisms. It was shown that the study of these linguistic features promotes historical awareness, critical thinking, and respect for the Other among students, while also helping to prevent fragmentation of the worldview and counteracting the impoverishment of historical memory.

Conclusions. Research in this area holds significant scientific and pedagogical value as a contribution to the Concept of Sustainable Development of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. Integrating taboo vocabulary and euphemisms from the languages of these peoples into the educational process is essential for preserving the integrity of their linguistic and cultural traditions across generations, which is particularly relevant in the current context of ‘language shift’ and the loss of traditional knowledge. Studies in this area open new horizons for ethnolinguistic research and pedagogical practices aimed at maintaining cultural diversity and supporting the identity of the indigenous peoples of the North and the Far East of Russia.