The functional role of algysh (benevolence) and kargysh (curses) in Karachay-Balkar historical and heroic songs

Zh.M. Lokyaeva

Abstract.  The article analyzes the functioning of benevolence and curses in Karachay-Balkar historical and heroic songs. It is noted that they serve as indicators of moral guidelines, social norms and historical memory, demonstrating ideas about good and bad, justice and injustice, as well as folk ideals in various historical epochs. The texts of the declared genres, identified by the continuous sampling method, served as the material for the study. Benevolence and curses in historical and heroic songs are important tools of social communication, strengthening collective memory and ethnic identity, as well as influencing the formation of value orientations in traditional society. The study showed that the analyzed texts retain a significant amount of encoded information reflecting the linguistic and ethnic picture of the world of the Karachais and Balkars. In addition, it will contribute to a deeper understanding of the symbolic function of lgysh and kargysh as expressive means in historical-heroic poetry and their suggestive impact on the recipient in terms of understanding historical events and moral lessons.

Keywords: Karachay-Balkar folklore, historical and heroic songs, benevolence, curses

For citation. Lokyaeva Zh.M. The functional role of algysh (benevolence) and kargysh (curses) in Karachay-Balkar historical and heroic songs. News of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2024. Vol. 26. No. 6. Pp. 369–381. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2024-26-6-369-381