A.A. Kireeva at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

On October 23–30, Associate Professor of the Department of Oriental Studies A.A. Kireeva was at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where she conducted research in the School’s library and spoke at two events organized by the Institute China and the Center for Taiwan Studies, and also took part in a seminar on Japanese security policy and diplomacy organized by King's College London.

The opportunity to conduct research in the library of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London was provided by the European Association for Chinese Studies. The library of the School of Oriental and African Studies is one of the best libraries in the world for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It contains more than 1.3 million books, as well as an extensive collection of manuscripts, manuscripts, rare books, and historical chronicles. The library provides access to electronic databases containing articles in leading academic journals. A distinctive feature of the library, like a large number of Western libraries, is the ability to independently select books of interest, which are grouped into thematic sections.

Associate Professor A.A. Kireeva spoke at a seminar organized by the China Institute of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, on the topic of Russia's turn to the East and Russia's relations with China, North Korea and the countries of North-East Asia. In her speech, she touched upon the role of East Asia in Russian foreign policy, the transformation of Russia's policy towards Asia after the deterioration of relations with the West as a result of the Ukrainian crisis in 2014, the strengths and challenges of the strategic partnership between Russia and China, the complex of Russia's relations with other countries of the North -East Asia - North and South Korea and Japan. The discussion following the report was attended by the director of the China Institute, Professor Steve Sang, chairing the event, teachers and students of the School, employees of the Royal United Institute of Defense Studies, the Institute of East and West.

At the invitation of the director of the Center for Taiwan Studies, Daffyd Fall, A.A. Kireeva made a presentation on the topic of the “sunflower movement” in Taiwan in 2014, mass protests among young people and activists regarding the actions of the then ruling Kuomintang party regarding the conclusion of the Agreement on trade in services between China and Taiwan. She analyzed the events from the point of view of the Taiwanese democratic model, the problems of consolidating democracy and centralization of government in the hands of the Kuomintang party during the period of President Ma Ying-jeou's tenure in power, relations between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China, the formation of Taiwanese identity, and the political economy of the Taiwanese development model. The event was attended by a large number of students, undergraduates, graduate students and staff from the School of Oriental and African Studies taking courses on Taiwan or doing research on Taiwan. Active exchanges with students, faculty, and researchers resulted in a lively discussion on social movements in Taiwan, the Taiwanese model of democracy, political parties, political participation, Taiwanese identity, and relations between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China.

In addition, A.A. Kireeva took part in a seminar entitled “Transformation of Japanese diplomatic practice and security policy”, conducted by King’s College London and the Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin). During the seminar, organized by King's College London staff Giulio Pugliese and Alessio Patalano from the British side and Professor Verena Blechinger-Talcott and researcher Kai Schulz from the German side, participants presented papers and discussed the transformation of Japan's foreign and security and defense policies, changes the process of making foreign policy decisions, Japan's relations with the USA, Australia, India, the EU and the UK. Associate Professor A.A. Kireeva took part in the discussion in several sessions of the seminar.

: Ossetian etymologies G.V. Bailey

K. E. Gagkaev
1981

Several years ago, the famous English orientalist, Dr. Harold Walter Bailey, visited the North Ossetian Research Institute. Professor G.V. Bailey stayed in Ordzhonikidze while returning from Georgia to his homeland. In Tbilisi, he took part in the anniversary celebrations in honor of the great Shota Rustaveli. The invitation to the USSR and Bailey's stay in the Caucasus were important events in the life of the scientist. He admired everything about us: the scale of the anniversary celebrations, the Caucasian hospitality, the Georgian Military Road, and especially the successes in the cultural and scientific life of the Caucasian peoples. At our institute, G. V. Bailey shared his impressions of the trip with the staff and spoke about his work in Oriental studies.

As an orientalist, G. W. Bailey enjoys the reputation of a world-famous scientist. This fact is evidenced by this fact. When at the 25th International Congress of Orientalists in Moscow (1960) a survey was carried out among Iranian scholars about the degree of popularity of famous modern orientalists, the first place was taken by an English scientist. Unfortunately, he was not at the congress then, but the participants in this impromptu survey made up a small a congratulatory letter addressed to him, signed by all Iranists - participants in the congress, including the late professor B. A. Alborov and the writer of these lines.

Before talking about the Ossetian interests of G.V. Bailey, we will give here his brief curriculum vitae. G. W. Bailey was born in 1899 in the town of Divisez in Wiltshire (Great Britain). In 1910 he moved to Australia, where he became first a Bachelor of Arts and then a Master of Arts from the University of Western Australia.

In 1927-1933. he studied at Oxford University in England, where he received his Ph.D. Around the same time (1926-1936) Bailey was a lecturer in Iranian studies at the School of Oriental Studies, University of London. For over thirty years (1936-1976) he was a professor of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge. In 1967 he became professor emeritus (professor emeritus). In 1944, G. W. Bailey was elected a member of the British Academy, in 1946 a member of the Danish Academy, in 1947 a member of the Norwegian Academy, and in 1948 a member of the Swedish Academy (“Vitterhete Historia oh Antikvitets”). In the post-war years, Bailey was a member of the board of the British School of Oriental and African Studies (1946-1969), president of the Philological Society (1948-1952), president of the Royal Asiatic Society (1964-1967) and an honorary member of many foreign academies and universities and scientific institutes and societies - it is impossible to list them all. Professor G. W. Bailey published up to two hundred works on Oriental studies in various European, Asian and American periodicals. These works widely use material from almost all Indo-Iranian, ancient and modern, written and unwritten Indo-European, Turkic, Mongolian, Caucasian and other languages. The bulk of the work was published in the Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies (bsos) and in the Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies bsos at the University of London.

The main direction of G.V. Bailey's research interests is, perhaps, the etymology of the languages ​​and culture of the Indo-European peoples. An important source of his etymological studies is undoubtedly the Indo-Iranian language material. G. W. Bailey is a great etymologist in the best sense of the word. Following the established linguistic tradition, the English scientist widely uses the entire scientific apparatus of comparative historical linguistics. Where necessary, language material is studied in conjunction with ethnography, history, literature, religion and culture of peoples. The greatest attention is paid to the early history of the languages ​​and cultures of the Indo-European peoples. The object of the research is materials from dead and living languages, evidence from written monuments, relict remnants of unwritten languages ​​and dialects. The material being studied is carefully checked against the most authoritative etymological dictionaries: Chr. Bartolome, Ancient Iranian Dictionary, (1904), Y. Pokorny, Indo-Germanic Etymological Dictionary, (1959-1969), M. Mayrhofer, Concise Etymological Dictionary of the Ancient Indian Language, (1953), etc. G. V. Bailey closely follows for all emerging etymological literature and uses and generalizes the observations of the most prominent representatives of Indo-European comparative historical linguistics, including, in particular, the works of such comparative linguists as E. Benveniste, E. Kurilovich, J. Dumezil, V. Henning, X. Nyberg, L. Palmer, G. Morgenshern, I. Gershevich, V. Minorsky, V. I. Abaev and others.

In the large list of works by G. W. Bailey, Ossetian material takes pride of place due to its importance for the etymological study of Indo-European languages. Materials about the Ossetian language are taken from the works of V.F. Miller, A.A. Freiman and especially from the works of V.I. Abaev. G.V. Bailey began studying the Ossetian language a long time ago. So, back in 1934 he compared the Ossetian season - fizonӕg with Old English awesome. This comparison was unsuccessful, and Bailey later abandoned his etymology. Referring to the material of the Khotanese language, Bailey came to the conclusion that the root of the Ossetian fěz-(-physical-) is an epithet, like a root shish- in the Turkish word "kebab".

V. I. Abaev also emphasizes the etymological connection of the Ossetian fizonӕg with Anglo-Saxon awesome"roast". Doubt arises due to the lack of other Iranian parallels (IES, 1, 478).

More systematically, Ossetian material is used in the works of G.V. Bailey, published in the post-war years. He, in particular, needs Ossetian material to restore the languages ​​of the Scythians, Sarmatians and Saks. To this purpose he devotes his comments on the language of a poem that has survived to this day in honor of the Saka king Vijaya Sangram. For a comparative analysis of the text of the poem, Bailey uses some words of ancient and modern Iranian languages, including Ossetian. The following words are taken from the Ossetian language: irazyn, which ascends *araz- and is associated with sak. rrāys (cf. IES, 1, 58); bӕlas- presumably goes back to ancient Indian. palása- (IES, I, 247); Khyntsyn- etymology has not been established.

In the etymological analysis of the Iranian daha- and agua- G. W. Bailey finds the root in the first gift- from Ossetian Daryn“hold” (-power-holder). Root gift- finds correspondence in all Iranian languages ​​(cf. IES, 1, 346-347). Therefore the word ӕrdar-ӕldar is undoubtedly of Iranian origin. As for the root agua-, then, according to Bailey, it reflects Persian, era-, parf. īra- and Khotansk. hira-. According to V.I. Abaev (IES, 1, 545-546), Ossetian ir is not related to agua-, although it is stated that in the toponym (hydronym) Ir-ӕf, name of the river in Digoria, you can see two elements: Ossetian - up and Old Hebrew ӕф-ar"water", "river", therefore, Irf translated as “Ossetian river” (IES, 1, 547).

To interpret some obscure forms of the dead Khotanese language, G. V. Bailey uses Ossetian words. Yes, word uidag(-uedagӕ) “root” is compared with hot. -Viya- fӕndag “road” - from Khorezm. pindak; Osset kalak“fortress” - pahlev. kalaka; Osset uyrnyn (-urnyn)“believes” - with hot. haura; Osset bӕgӕny"beer" - from hot. bviysna, etc. (“Ambages Indo-iranica”). Ossetian material is very abundantly presented in comparative historical terms in a series of articles under the general title “Aria”. Ossetian words of one lexical nest h'app And app"core" are associated with sak. agva - “inside”; Osset ar-, ard-, past vr. ardta in a broad sense - “to receive”, “to conceive”, “to give birth” (to children) finds numerous correspondences in Iranian languages ​​and dialects (cf. IES, 1, 74); Osset kuymӕl“sour drink” is associated with oset. huymӕllӕg “hops”; Osset zaryn"sing", uӕkhsk"shoulder", aftauyn(ӕftyd) “put”, “shift”, tonyun"pluck, tylӕg“grain”, “harvest”, etc. also have their parallels in ancient and modern Iranian languages.

G. V. Bailey studies the Ossetian adjective tӕpӕn“flat”, “even” in connection with the ancient *tapana-; Ossetian adjective fӕtӕn"wide" is considered in connection with the ancient *patana-; Ossetian noun tang"gut" found as part of a verb atang uyn"stretch" and mtang kӕnyn“stretch”, compares with ancient *tan-; the latter is also associated with Ossetian tӕн (-тӕнӕ)“string”, “string”; Ossetian noun хъӕпӕн“pile”, “snowdrift” (cf. mity khӕpӕn"snowdrift") is associated with the ancient gaf-, etc.

In an article placed in a collection in honor of W. B. Henning, G. W. Bailey studies the etymological connections of Ossetian words bӕlvyrd, tel, uarӕn fӕz and some others. Through numerous etymological comparisons, the author comes to the conclusion that bӕlvyrd“accurate”, “clear”, “true” finds its counterpart in Sanskrit, ancient Persian, Avestan and modern Iranian languages. The most ancient basis of this adjective was the root *vara-vurta - “to categorically assert”, “to declare”, “to represent” to yourself." This base is formed by reduplication. Ossetian word tel"wire" is common with Armenian tel and Turkic tel (tӕl):with the same meaning. This word is also found in many indigenous languages ​​of the Caucasus, just like the word white"shovel". From Iranian languages ​​with Ossetian tel definitely comparable to Khotanese Ttila- in the same meaning. Collocation uarӕn fӕz“place of division” is taken by G. V. Bailey from the language of Nart epic tales and its meaning is determined on the basis of a large illustrative material. Second element of the phrase uarӕn fӕz“place of division”, namely fӕz undeniably traces back to the Avestas. pazah - hot paysa- and sogd. p'z*paza-. The first element of the phrase is also explained without much difficulty using the material of Iranian languages.

The article “Aryan Notes”, published in the Roman edition “Studia Classica i Orieitalia”, talks about the etymology of Ossetian words ӕфцӕг“pass”, bӕrzy “neck”, ӕtsӕg"truth", "truth", waldzag "spring" etc. All these words, according to Bailey, find impeccable interpretations in the Indo-Iranian languages. Word ӕфцӕг"pass", for example, goes back to ancient Indo-Iranian apcaka- and finds correspondence in other Indo-European languages. From Ossetian this word penetrated into the non-Indo-European Karachay-Balkar language in the form IPchik. The meaning of this word is extensive: in addition to “mountain pass,” it is also interpreted as “isthmus,” “peak,” “protruding part of an object, body,” etc.

G.V. Bailey usually gives all his language illustrations in two Ossetian dialect variants, with preference given to the forms of the Digor dialect as more archaic. Here are some examples given by the author in his various works: chalk - nice in the sense of "twilight", cf. fromӕr - miltӕ, sugzarinӕ - syzgӕrin"gold", move - thin"a cap", kizgӕ - chyzg"young woman", ustur hӕdzarӕ - styr hӕdzar"big house", sigit - syjyt"earth", "soil" wisdom - myd"honey" etc.

In one of his most recent works, “Saka Sketches,” published in the British magazine Iran, G. W. Bailey connects his etymological research in the field of Ossetian historical lexicology with the problem of the origin and migration of the Scythian-Sarmatian-Alanian tribes. These migration processes took place at the beginning of our era (4th-5th centuries), when the Sarmatians and Alans penetrated into France and Spain. A little earlier than this time, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius won a victory (in 173 AD) over the Sarmatians and, as the winner, appropriated the title “Sarmatian”. Eight thousand Sarmatian Iranians were enlisted in the Roman army, of whom 5,500 were sent to Britain. An inscription about the stay of the Sarmatians in Northern Britain has still been preserved, namely in St. John's College, Cambridge. Information about the presence of the Sarmatians in the British Isles is scanty, but historically reliable.

Traces of the presence of the Sarmatians and Alans on the territory of France remain to this day. Thus, the road through the French city of Reims was at one time called via Sarmatarum - “the road of the Sarmatians.” There is evidence of the presence of Alans on the territory of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. G. V. Bailey also dwells on the history of the movement of the Alans to the North Caucasus, speaks in detail about the connections of the Alans with the Greeks, Georgians and other peoples of the Middle Ages, emphasizes their cultural, historical and dynastic connections with many peoples. The influence of the Alan element, Bailey continues, is evidenced by the fact that the Caspian Sea was given the Alan name Bahr al-lan, and the Migrals called their bravest youths alani k'oc'i "Alan man."

G. V. Bailey also talks about the migration of Alan tribes to the east and their penetration into China. This is evidenced by onomastic and historical materials left by the Alans along the path of their advance and at the place of their stay.

a complex of humanitarian disciplines related to the study of the history and culture of the peoples of Africa, including folklore, literature, languages, etc. It emerged from Oriental studies as a separate discipline in 1960, when a decision was made at the 25th International Congress of Orientalists in Moscow establish the International Congress of Africanists.

Linguistic African Studies explores the numerous languages ​​of the African continent. The beginning of the study of African languages ​​dates back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They were approached by European linguists and theorists, for example A.F. Pott, H. Steinthal, R.K. Rusk and others, and missionaries in Africa were engaged in the description of a number of languages, offering their understanding of the accumulated facts (I.L. Krapf, A. K. Maden and others).

Modern African linguistics in the broad sense of the word implies the study of all languages ​​of the continent, including Egyptology and partially Semitic studies (those sections of the latter that are devoted to Semitic languages ​​common in Africa). In a narrower sense, the term "African linguistics" applies to the study of the languages ​​of the sub-Saharan peoples: Congo-Kordofanian languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Khoisan languages ​​and some Afroasiatic languages.

At the end of the 19th century. Berberology arose, the founders of which were A. Basse and R. Basse. Their work, covering a wide range of theoretical problems, was preceded by descriptions of individual languages ​​and dialects, made mainly by European missionaries. In the 20th century These languages ​​were studied by C. Foucault, G. Colin, F. Nikola, C. Prasse, Yu. N. Zavadovsky, A. Yu. Militarev and others. Modern Berberology studies both living and dead languages ​​- Eastern Numidian, Western Numidian and Guanche, as a result of which a refined nomination for Berber languages ​​arose - Berber-Libyan languages.

In the study of the structure of individual Chadic languages, despite some unevenness in their description, sufficient material has been accumulated to solve problems of a comparative historical nature, determine the composition of the family, construct an internal classification of these languages, and prove their genetic belonging to the Afroasiatic macrofamily. Since the 60s. 19th century K. R. Lepsius, F. W. K. Müller, K. Hofmann, I. Lucas, M. Cohen, J. H. Greenberg, G. Jungreitmayr, M. L. Bender and others worked in these directions. The most studied languages ​​are those with a broad communicative and functional status, such as Hausa. The large number and diversity of Chadian languages ​​make it necessary to use, along with comparative historical analysis, historical-typological analysis, as well as study them in an areal aspect to identify such historical language contacts as Chadian-Benue-Congolese, Chadian-Berber, Chadian-Saharan. The development of Chadian studies is facilitated by the expansion and deepening of field studies of these languages.

The beginning of the study of Cushitic languages ​​- Somali, Oromo, Afar, Bedauye and others - dates back to the 1st half of the 19th century, when the first dictionaries and short grammars were compiled. In the 2nd half of the 19th century. in the works of K. Lautner (1860) and Lepsius (1880), the Cushitic family is distinguished as an independent genetic community. At the beginning of the 20th century. the number of languages ​​being studied is increasing, materials from the Sidamo, Djanjero, Saho, Qemant and other languages ​​are being introduced into scientific circulation (works by L. Reinisch, C. Conti Rossini, E. Cerulli, M. Moreno). In the 40-50s. detailed grammars, dictionaries, works devoted to the structure of Cushitic languages ​​appear (Moreno, A. Klingenheben, B. Andrzejewski and others), as well as comparative historical studies, the authors of which are Moreno, Greenberg, A. N. Tucker, M. Bryan, Bender , R. Hetzron solve problems of classification, genetic and areal connections, in particular connections with Ethio-Semitic languages. The Kushite Seminar has been established at the University of London.

The comparative historical study of languages ​​of the Afroasiatic macrofamily is focused on the reconstruction of the Afroasiatic proto-language. In the USSR, under the leadership of I. M. Dyakonov and with the participation of A. G. Belova, V. Ya. Porkhomovsky, O. V. Stolbova and others, work is underway to compile a comparative historical dictionary of Afroasiatic languages.

The Congo-Kordofanian languages, which unite the Kordofanian and Niger-Congo families, present a motley picture in terms of their study. Localized in a small area in eastern Sudan, the Kordofanian languages ​​have been poorly studied. They are believed to be remnants of the ancient languages ​​of Sudan; K. Meinhof classified some of them as so-called Pre-Hamitic, or Sudanic, based on such a criterion as the presence or absence of nominal classes, however, his concept and the resulting genetic coding of languages ​​aroused a critical attitude, in particular, from Greenberg. The Niger-Congo languages ​​are the largest family of African languages, including 6 independent subfamilies: Western Atlantic languages, Mande languages, Gur languages, Kwa languages, Adamawa-Eastern languages, Benue-Congo languages; Some of their groups and subgroups have been studied in depth and detail, such as the Bantu languages, while others have not yet been sufficiently studied, such as those belonging to the same subfamily of the Benue-Congo languages ​​as the Bantu languages, the Plateau, Jukunoid, and Cross River languages. The formation of Bantu studies, the most developed branch of the study of African languages ​​common south of the Sahara, dates back to the 60s. 19th century V. G. I. Blik created the first classification of Bantu languages ​​and described the phonetic and grammatical structure of some of them. At the beginning of the 20th century. generalizing works of Meinhof appear, who proceeded from the same theoretical positions as V. G. I. Blik; then, until the mid-20th century, comparative and comparative studies by A. Werner, Tucker, J. Torrend, E. O. J. Westphal, K. Ruzicka and the works of K. M. Dock, M. Gasri, Brian, T J. Hinnebusch according to internal classification. In the middle of the 20th century. in Bantu studies, the so-called form and function direction emerges, founded by Dok, who relied partly on the theoretical principles of structural linguistics and especially on the work of O. Jespersen; Proponents of this trend, for example D. T. Cole, L. W. Lanham, J. Fortune, took into account only the syntactic functions of the word, subordinating the form to the functional status. At the end of the 50s. the so-called purely formal direction (only form) arises, associated with the name of Ghasri, essentially structuralist and therefore, to a degree, oriented towards the theoretical positions of descriptive linguistics, putting the formal characteristics of the word in the foreground. A discussion arose between representatives of these directions about the classification of parts of speech in Bantu languages; In various approaches to solving the issue, a general methodology for describing the structure of these languages ​​has emerged. Despite the long tradition, Bantu studies have not solved all the problems facing it: for example, the phonetic and phonological levels of the Bantu languages ​​and their tonal systems have not yet been sufficiently examined and described. The work of Greenberg (1948) attempted to reconstruct the Proto-Bantu tonal system. Determining the typological status faces significant difficulties. Most researchers classify Bantu languages ​​as agglutinative languages ​​with elements of inflection (for example, V. Skalichka), but there is another point of view that classifies them as inflectional languages ​​with elements of agglutination (Dock, 1950).

Many researchers have been involved in the genetic and typological classification of Bantu languages. V. G. I. Blik, who distinguished the southeastern, central and northwestern branches and noted the existence of separate related groups within these branches, tried to establish relationships between Bantu, Khoisan and the so-called Bantu languages. Subsequent works by Torrend (1891), Werner (1925), Dock (1948), and Bryan (1959) did not go beyond the construction of an internal classification; only H.H. Johnston in 1919-22, using material from 270 Bantu languages ​​and 24 Semi-Bantu languages ​​(the name previously accepted by some researchers for Bantu languages), made an attempt to establish the relationship between these two unities. The works of Meinhof and Ghasri occupy a special place in comparative historical studies of the Bantu, and the classification proposed by the latter, based on the identification of 15 language zones uniting 80 groups, is the most reliable. When constructing the classification, Ghasri, along with comparative historical techniques, also used areal parameters, which is necessary for the material of early written and unwritten languages. But neither Ghasri nor Meinhof raised the question of the place of Bantu languages ​​among other African languages. An isolated consideration of the Bantu languages ​​was to a certain extent traditional in African studies. Some researchers considered the Bantu, or semi-Bantu, languages ​​to be an intermediate link between the Bantu and Western Sudanese languages ​​(D. Westerman). Greenberg, having expanded the concept of Bantu languages, fundamentally changed the scheme of their relationship with Bantu, defining the latter as a subgroup of Bantu languages. In the mid-70s. on this issue, a discussion arose between K. Williamson and Greenberg, as a result of which the concepts of “narrow Bantu” (Narrow Bantu; those that were traditionally included in this family) and “wide Bantu” (Wide Bantu; bantoid) were introduced in African studies.

The least studied in the Niger-Congo family remains the subfamily of Adamaua-Oriental languages, for which, as a result, the internal classification is conditional, and for a number of languages ​​only their names or insignificant lists of words are known. Gur languages ​​have been somewhat better studied (works by Westerman, J. T. Bendor-Samuel, A. Prost, G. Manessi and others). Some of the Kwa languages ​​have been studied quite fully, for example Yoruba, Ewe, Igbo; their description and analysis were carried out by Westerman, Bryan, R.K. Abraham, I. Ward, J. Stewart, but their internal classification cannot be considered final (in particular, the assignment of Kru languages ​​and the Ijo language to this branch remains questionable). The establishment of the genetic unity of the Mande languages ​​dates back to 1861 (S. V. Kölle), and somewhat later (1867) Steinthal initiated their comparative study. Significant contributions to the description of individual languages ​​were made by Westerman, E. F. M. Delafos and others; since the late 50s 20th century Much attention is paid to the issues of their internal classification and linguistic divergence (W. E. Welmers, K. I. Pozdnyakov). The most studied of the Western Atlantic languages ​​(this term, used mainly in English and German scientific literature, is increasingly being replaced by the term “Atlantic languages”) are Fula (Fulfulde), Wolof, as well as the Serer and Diola languages, however, along with these, many languages ​​remain undescribed. Partly this circumstance, as well as the structural features of a number of languages, are the reason that their internal classification has not been fully determined. The differences between individual languages ​​are so significant that some researchers (D. Dalby, J. D. Sapir, J. Donneux) questioned the composition of the subfamily and even the very possibility of its isolation.

The Khoisan languages ​​attracted the attention of researchers already in the mid-19th century. (V. G. I. Blik), however, only starting from the 20s. 20th century some descriptions of Hottentot languages ​​and Bushman languages ​​appeared (D. F. Blick). The main attention was paid to the phonetics of these languages, which have so-called clicking (bifocal) consonants, which are absent in other languages ​​of the world (works by D. F. Blik, N. S. Trubetskoy, R. Stopa). The question of the relationship between the Hottentot and Bushman languages ​​was resolved in different ways: for example, Westphal did not consider them related and believed that the presence of click consonants was the only feature that brought them together. Their genetic relationship was later convincingly substantiated by Greenberg. As for the place of the Khoisan languages ​​in general among other language families in Africa, most researchers consider them to be genetically isolated; only Meinhof made an attempt to establish the relationship of the Hottentot languages ​​with the Hamitic languages ​​on the basis of the presence in both of them of a pronounced category of grammatical gender. In general, the Khoisan languages ​​have been poorly studied, and the prospect of their further study is problematic, since the peoples speaking these languages ​​are at the stage of delocalization (periodically migrating or finally leaving the areas of their former habitat for various reasons).

Nilo-Saharan languages ​​have been studied unevenly. There is not yet a common point of view on the composition of this macrofamily. The hypothesis about their genetic community was put forward by Greenberg in 1963, but it remains unproven, since, with the exception of the Songhai Zarma languages, Saharan languages ​​and Nilotic languages, the languages ​​of the macrofamily have been poorly studied. Bender's (1976) work on refining the internal classification of the Nilo-Saharan languages ​​does not draw any definitive conclusions due to the lack of sufficient linguistic data.

The youngest area of ​​African studies is the sociolinguistic direction, which appeared in the late 60s - early 70s. Conducting sociolinguistic research in Africa is hampered by the fact that dialectology is underdeveloped in African linguistics and the problem of distinguishing between language and dialect has not been resolved. However, in the 70-80s. A number of surveys of the language situation in African countries have been conducted, and works on language planning in independent countries of the continent have been published. The question of determining the status of official languages ​​in the multilingual conditions of each country, the development and implementation of alphabets for previously unwritten languages, the standardization of new literary languages ​​and equipping them with the terminology necessary for a wide communicative-functional sphere, the study of the influence of communicative status on the structure of the language - these are the main directions of African sociolinguistics .

The study of African languages ​​in the USSR is associated primarily with the names of N.V. Yushmanov, P.S. Kuznetsov, D.A. Olderogge, I.L. Snegirev, who began researching and teaching a number of living African languages ​​in the 30s. Since the 50s. scientific centers for the study of African languages ​​were created: departments of African studies at the Oriental Faculty of Leningrad State University (1952), at the Moscow Institute of International Relations (1956), at the Institute of Asian and African Countries at Moscow State University (1962), as well as the research sector of African languages ​​at the Institute of Linguistics USSR Academy of Sciences (1965). Soviet linguists-Africanists are engaged in typological, comparative-historical, sociolinguistic research, as well as descriptions of individual languages. A significant number of works on African studies were published in the so-called new series of “Proceedings of the Institute of Ethnography named after. N. N. Miklouho-Maclay" (since 1959). A series of monographs “Languages ​​of the Foreign East and Africa” is published, in which 15 monographs on individual African languages ​​were published in 1959-81.

The emergence in Europe of research centers for the study of Africa, including African languages, is associated with the European colonization of the continent. The largest centers were created in Germany in the 19th century, for example, the Seminar of Colonial Languages ​​at the Colonial Institute in Hamburg, and the Department of African Languages ​​at the University of Berlin. In the UK, the oldest center for African studies is the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. From the middle of the 20th century. in the GDR there is a department of African studies in the Department of African, Asian and Latin American studies at the University of Leipzig, as well as a group of African studies in the Academy of Sciences of the GDR (Berlin). In Germany, the study of African languages ​​is carried out by the Department of African Linguistics at the University. J. W. Goethe (Frankfurt am Main) and the Department of African Studies at the University of Hamburg. In France, studies on African languages ​​are carried out by the National Center for Scientific Research and the Society for the Study of African Languages ​​(both in Paris), partly by the Parisian Institute of Ethnology and the Institute of Interethnic and Intercultural Studies at the University of Nice. In Belgium, the description and study of Bantu languages ​​is carried out by the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren. In Austria in the early 80s. 20th century The Institute of African Studies was organized at the University of Vienna.

In the USA, a significant number of centers for African studies emerged in the 2nd half of the 20th century; The largest linguistic institution is the Center for the Study of African Languages ​​at the University of California, Los Angeles.

There are departments of African studies in Poland at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the University of Warsaw and in the Department of African Studies at the University of Krakow. Separate studies on African languages ​​are carried out by scientists from the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Socialist Republic of Russia, the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia and the People's Republic of Belarus.

In the 20th century African scientists begin to study the languages ​​of Africa. The Interterritorial Committee, created in 1930, uniting Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda and Zanzibar, attracted national researchers to the work; in 1964, after the formation of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Institute of Swahili Studies, headed by national scientists, arose on the basis of the committee at the University of Dar es Salaam. Since 1935, there has been a Department of Bantu Languages ​​at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). In Ethiopia there is the Academy of Ethiopian Languages, transformed in 1974 from the Academy of the Amharic Language. In Somalia, linguistic research is carried out by the Council of Somali Languages ​​of the Academy of Cultures. In most countries of Central and West Africa, language learning is carried out at universities and special centers under the ministries of public education (Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Togo, Benin, Senegal, etc.). After Senegal gained independence, the French Institute of Black Africa in Dakar was transformed into the Institute of Fundamental Studies of Black Africa, which also conducts work in linguistic areas. There are branches of the International Linguistic Society in Cameroon, Nigeria, the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. In France, in Paris, there is an initiative group of African scientists from different countries, publishing the journal “Writing and Reading” (“Bindi e jannde”, in the Fula language, 1980-), which publishes texts in African languages.

• Africana. Proceedings of the group of African languages. I, M.-L., 1937;
• African Philology, M., 1965;
• Dyakonov I.M., Semito-Hamitic languages, M., 1965;
• Languages ​​of Africa, M., 1966;
• Problems of African linguistics, M., 1972;
• Phonology and morphonology of African languages, M., 1972;
• Unwritten and newly written languages ​​of Africa, M., 1973;
• Language situation in African countries, M., 1975;
• Language policy in Afro-Asian countries, M., 1977;
• Problems of phonetics, morphology and syntax of African languages, M., 1978;
• Questions of African linguistics, [v. 1], M., 1979;
• Infant written languages ​​of Africa. Materials for lexical description, M., 1981;
• Theoretical foundations of the classification of world languages, M., 1982;
• Questions of African linguistics, M.. 1983;
• Koelle S. W., Polyglotta Africana, L., 1854;
• Bleek W. H. I., A comparative grammar of South African languages, pt 1-2, L., 1862-69;
• Torrend J., A comparative grammar of the South-African Bantu languages, L., 1891;
• Johnston H. H., A comparative study of the Bantu and semi-Bantu languages, v. 1-2, Oxf., 1919-22;
• Werner A., The language-families of Africa, 2 ed., L., 1925;
• Bleek D. F., The phonetics of the Hottentot languages, L., 1938;
• Doke C. M., Bantu linguistic terminology, L.-, 1935;
• his, Bantu. Modern grammatical, phonetical and lexicographical studies since 1860, L., 1945;
• Meinhof C., Grundzüge einer vergleichenden Grammatik der Bantusprachen, 2 Aufl., Hamb., 1948;
• Westermann D., Bryan M., The languages ​​of West Africa, L., 1952;
• Tucker A., Bryan M., The Non-Bantu languages ​​of North-Eastern Africa, L., 1956;
• Greenberg J., The languages ​​of Africa, . The Hague, 1966;
• Guthrie M., Comparative Bantu. An introduction to the comparative linguistics and prehistory of the Bantu languages, v. 1-4, , 1967-1971;
• Welmers W. E., Checklist of African languages ​​and dialect names, CTL, 1971. v. 7;
• Kapinga Fr. C., Sarufi maumbo ya Kiswahili sanifu, Dar-es-Salaam, 1977.

N.V. Gromova, N.V. Okhotina.

Materials devoted to the problems of African studies, in addition to general linguistic journals (see Linguistic journals), are published in specialized journals in a number of countries:

• "African studies" (Johannesburg, 1921-; in 1921-41 under the name "Bantu studies"),
• "Rassegna di studi etiopici" (Roma, 1941-),
• “African language studies” (L., 1960-),
• "Africana linguistica" (Tervuren, Belgium, 1962-),
• "Afrika und Übersee" (Hamb. - B., 1951-; previously - "Zeitschrift für Eingeborenen-Sprachen", 1920, previously - "Zeitschrift für Kolonialsprachen", 1910),
• Journal of West African languages ​​(Ibadan, Nigeria, P.-L., 1964-),
• "Limi" (Pretoria, 1966-),
• "Bulletin de la SELAF" (P., 1967-),
• "Africana Marburgensia" (Marburg, Germany, 1968-),
• "Communications of the Department of Bantu languages" (Pietersburg, South Africa, 1969-),
• "Journal of the language Association of Eastern Africa" ​​(Nairobi, Kenya, 1970-),
• "Studies in African linguistics" (Los Angeles, 1970-),
• "Afrique et langage" (P., 1971-),
• "Studies in Bantoetale" (Pretoria, 1974-),
• "African languages" (L., 1975-; formed from a merger "African language review", Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1962 - [until 1966 - "Sierra Leone language review"] And "Journal of African languages", L., 1962-),
• "Northeast African studies" (East Lansing, USA, 1979-).

Review and bibliographic publications are also published:

• "African Abstracts" (L., 1950-);
• "Africana journal" (N.Y., 1970-; until 1974 - "Africana library journal").

The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London is an important center for the training of specialist oriental specialists in England. The school has the following departments: 1) languages ​​and cultures of India, Burma and Ceylon, 2) languages ​​and cultures of the Far East, 3) languages ​​and cultures of the Near and Middle East, 4) languages ​​and cultures of Africa, 5) phonetics and linguistics and 6) oriental history and law. With the exception of the Faculty of History and Law, the school's main focus is on the study of oriental languages. During World War II, the largest number of students studied Japanese and Chinese.

Along with language training, the school provides its students with occasional lectures or short cycles of lectures, on average no more than two to three lectures on one topic on issues of history, cultural history or economics of the countries being studied. An example of this kind of thematic cycle is the lectures given at the Faculty of the Far East: “International relations of Japan between the two wars”, “Japanese colonies”, “Religion in Japan”, “Economic history of Japan since 1868”. African studies students attended lectures in 1944 on the following topics: “Social Anthropology”, “American View of Colonial Administration”, “African Music”.

The school's faculties carry out practical consulting work for the English Ministry of the Colonies. It should be noted that a number of English departments interested in training specialists in oriental studies are represented on the school council; Foreign, Colonial, Indian and War Offices. The chairman of the school board is a prominent colonial figure in England, Lord Haley, who formerly served as governor of Bengal.

The school's teaching staff largely consists of specialists from India and other colonial possessions of England. It is characteristic that of the twenty-odd public lectures given at school in 1944, three quarters were devoted to India and Burma. The professorship of the Faculty of Oriental History and Law in 1944 consisted of the following specialists: dean prof. Dodwell - history and culture of the British, possessions in Asia and especially India, Captain Phillips - history of India, Barnet - senior lecturer in Indian history, prof. Minorsky - history of Iran" Bernard Lewis - history of Islam, Wittek - history of Turkey and Turkish culture, Visi-Fitzgerald - Indian law. McGregor - Burmese Buddhist law, Farnivol - history of Burma, Hall - history of Burma, Lieutenant Colonel Hart - history of India, prof. Toinbee - history of the Middle East, Luce - ancient and medieval history and epigraphy of Burma.The composition of the lecturers shows a clear predominance of Indo-Burman topics in the teaching system.

According to the school's reports, the main general courses taught during the war years at the Faculty of Oriental History and Law were courses in Asian History and Muslim Law. At the same time, the number of students at the Faculty of History and Law was significantly inferior to other faculties that trained mainly translators. This was also reflected in the school’s scientific and research printed products, among which linguistic works predominate, mainly of pedagogical and applied significance. Of the few non-linguistic publications of a general nature, the articles of Sir Richard Winstadt, "The Spiritual Anxiety of Dependent Peoples", "Education of Colonial Civil Officials", "Anthropology for the Colonies" (all of which were published in The Quardian, article by Vesey-Fitzgerald) attract attention. Training of commercial representatives for Asia and Africa", etc.

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) arose in 1916 at the University of London as the School of Oriental Studies, and in 1938 it acquired its modern name. The most powerful colonial power, which was Great Britain at that time, needed specialists who understood the peculiarities of the economy, politics, culture and mentality of the peoples dependent on it, who inhabited mainly Asia and Africa. Therefore, the need for such an educational institution was obvious.

But it was also preserved by the United Kingdom’s refusal of almost all of its overseas possessions - because Now it was no longer necessary to manage dependent territories, but to maintain old ties and develop relationships with independent and equal partners. Therefore, it was in the second half of the 20th century, and especially the beginning of the 21st century, that the institution flourished at its maximum. Thus, from the 70s to the present day, the number of students there has grown from approximately one to almost six thousand. And in 2011, the School of Oriental and African Studies received the right to award academic degrees, thereby finally establishing its university status.

Achievements

The school is the only university in Europe where Asian and African countries are studied. But she is authoritative not only in her “role” - for example, in the UK she became:

• 3rd and 4th in the study of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, respectively, in 2011 (Complete University Guide);
• 6th in organizing the educational process in 2016 (RUR Ranking);
• at the same time - 9th in teaching history, philosophy, theology and law (Times Higher Education).

And in 2009, the university received the Royal Prize for its significant contribution to language teaching.

The institute managed to achieve such heights largely thanks to its research base - first of all, the library opened in 1973 with one of the richest collections of oriental literature in the world (about 1.5 million paper and electronic media).

Programs and teaching organization

SOAS offers those wishing to study for a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree at the following faculties:

• arts and humanities,
• foreign languages ​​and cultures,
• social sciences and law

Each faculty has several departments, of which there are 19 in total. Scholarships are provided to foreign students studying in some programs. The university also regularly organizes short-term summer courses.

The Career Service deals with the employment prospects of future graduates. She organizes various seminars, trainings and master classes on job search, as well as meetings between students and employees of HR departments and recruitment agencies; advises students on career issues and provides information about vacant positions from its database.

After classes

The extracurricular activities of the student community are also quite active - especially since at an institute of such specialization, studies and social life are closely interconnected. Thus, in the gallery of Brunei (built with donations from the Sultan of this state) various exhibitions of works of art from the countries of the East are periodically held, and on its roof in 2001 a real Japanese garden was laid out as a place for relaxation and meditation.

But students have something to do besides self-contemplation, because... There are approximately 50 different interest clubs here - sports, culinary, political, cultural (including its own radio station with programs about modern world culture) and others. And since SOAS is actually a branch of the University of London, its students can join its communities.

Accommodation

Visitors can stay in 2 hostels, located near St Pancrass and King's Cross stations and offering 510 and 259 en-suite rooms respectively. Each of them has a common room with TV and DVD, vending machines and laundry facilities.

Accommodation is also possible in 7 inter-university residences of the University of London. Telephone and Internet are available everywhere.