Covid-19 Realities In Yakut Media Texts

Neologisms, borrowings

The nature of the new words and expressions that emerged in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis investigated and analysed many researchers (Asif et al., 2020; Mweri, 2021; Saleh & Haider, 2021).

In the Yakut media discourse the most preferred term for designation of this infection is the English abbreviation “COVID-19” (Coronavirus disease 2019), although, according to monitoring data, in the beginning such designation as “коронавирус” (coronavirus) was the most widespread. For example, “Россияҕа утары охсуһууга көмөлөһүөн сөптөөх үс эми оҥордулар” (Three drugs have been invented in Russia that can help fight COVID-19); “Саха сиригэр суох” (there is no coronavirus in the Republic of Sakha); “Саха сиригэр тиийэн кэллэ” (Coronavirus reaches the Republic of Sakha).

According to the analysis, in newspaper articles there is a parallel use of phrases “коронавирус эпидемията” [koronavirus epidemijata] (coronavirus epidemic), “коронавирус инфекциятын тарҕаныыта” [koronavirus infekʦijatɨn tarǧanɨɨta] (spread of coronavirus infection), “коронавирус пандемията” [koronavirus pandemijata] (coronavirus pandemic), which in the linguistic consciousness of the Yakuts appear as combinations that completely coincide in meaning in a certain context. Thus, the formation of various kinds of collocations is caused by the novelty and unconsciousness of new lexemes, terms of foreign language origin: “Аан дойду үрдүнэн туран” (With the emergence of the coronavirus epidemic around the world); “ утары сэрэтэр үлэни кытта сибээстээх” (The order is related to work to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection); “ сэрэтиигэ суһал штаб тэрилиннэ” (An operational headquarters for the prevention of the spread of coronavirus infection has been created); “, Саха сиригэр атын регионтан кэлээччилэр, 14 хонуктаах харантыыны ааһаллара булгуччулаах” (In connection with the coronavirus pandemic, those who come to Yakutia from other regions are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine); “” (coronavirus cold).

The Kyym newspaper article makes an attempt of structural transformation of the “coronavirus” term to “a virus of corona”, as shown in the following example, “сарсыардааҥҥы брифиҥҥэ Ил Дархан өссө үс киһи анаалыһа бигэргэммитин туһунан иһитиннэрдэ” (at the morning briefing, the head of the region said that tests for the ‘virus of corona’ of three people were confirmed to be positive).

It is noticed that in the Yakut media texts the neolexeme “ковид” (covid) is used very rarely in comparison with the Russian language, into which it not only entered, but also began to form new words according to the derivational models of the language.

Interesting from the cognitive linguistic point of view is a combination of the "self-isolation" lexeme with the word “regime”, which was borrowed in this context from the Russian language and found its use on the pages of Yakut newspapers in its original form of writing, but in quotes: 65-тэн үөһэ саастаах олохтоохторугар булгуччулаах буолла” (“Self-isolation” regime has become mandatory for residents over 65 years); “Дьокуускайга «самоизоляция»олохтонно” (In Yakutsk has been established a regime of "self-isolation").

The combination of the “self-isolation” lexeme with the word “regime” is perceived as an order for home isolation imposed from above, which is subject to regulation and control. In Yakut media texts it is often directly understood as “sitting at home” (stay-at-home regime): “Мукучу олохтоохторо быыһык кэмигэр доруобуйаларын бөҕөргөтүнэллэр” (Residents of the village of Mukuchu improve their health during stay-at-home regime); “Бэрэсидьиэн В.Путин быһаарыытынан бары биир ыйдаах “” бардыбыт” (By the decision of President Vladimir Putin, we are going to the "stay-at-home" regime).

Actualization of common words

According to the newspaper "Sakha Sire", starting from March 2020 the lexeme “дьаҥ [djaŋ]” has been used to denominate the COVID-19 infection. It is originally known to the native speaker as “a rapidly spreading infectious disease, epidemic”. One should note that this word was not frequently used before in the contemporary Yakut language, but as monitoring shows, it quickly began to acquire its relevance in the context of the changed reality. In the examples, the use of the lexeme “дьаҥ” is allowed both with and without reference to the key concept of COVID-19. For example, “медицина тэрилтэлэригэр утары эбии миэрэлэр ылылыннылар” (additional measures were taken against the spread of the epidemic in medical institutions); “Трутнев Чайыҥдаҕа салгыы тарҕаныытын таһаарбаттарыгар сорудахтаата” (Trutnev instructed to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in Chayngda); “ кытта охсуһар медицина үлэһиттэрэ” (Healthcare workers fighting the epidemic of coronavirus).

Actualization of the meaning of this lexeme in most cases is accompanied by the adjective “сыстыганнаах” [sɨstɨgannaax] in the meaning of “contagious, carrying an infection”, which gives the phrase a degree of special danger, even though actually there is a duplication of a certain semantic element: “ааспыт сууккаҕа эбии 52 киһи сутулунна” (an additional 52 people have become infected with an infectious epidemic in the last 24 hours); “37 киһи сутуллубута билиннэ” (It became known that 37 people were infected with an infectious epidemic); “Коронавирус: 116 киһи сутулунна, икки ыарыһах ыарахан туруктаах” (Coronavirus: 116 people became infected with a contagious epidemic, two of them are in a serious condition).

In connection with the linguistic render of the new reality, the usage of the “хамсык” [hamsɨk] lexeme has noticeably intensified. It should be noted that according to the Explanatory Dictionary of the Yakut language, this word is considered outdated and means “pestilence, loss of cattle”. In the Buryat language the word ‘хамшаг’ means 'epidemic', in the Tuvan language ‘камдьык’ has a meaning of 'plague, infection’ (Sleptsov, 2016). In its modern meaning, this word acquires a "second wind" in a different context, expanding the scope of its use. It must be assumed that the observed semantic shift of the word, in this case the expansion of its meaning, occurs due to extralinguistic factors that caused its semantic transformation: “ быһыы бастакы түһүмэҕин 54 тыһыынча киһи ылла” (The first stage of vaccination against the coronavirus epidemic passed 54 thousand people); “турбутунан сибээстээн” (Due to the coronavirus epidemic); “ кыайыахпыт, ол биһиги барыбыт кыайыыбыт буолуоҕа!” (We will defeat the epidemic, this will be our common victory!); “ тарҕаныаҕыттан өрөспүүбүлүкэҕэ 31 тыһ. тахса киһи ыарыйда” (Since the beginning of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the republic, more than 31 thousand people fell ill).

According to the above publications, the usage of medical terms such as ‘quarantine, observator, sick leave, temperature measurement, protective mask, disinfection, doctor, symptom, high temperature, patient, analysis, medic’, etc. became noticeable: “Учуонайдар 14 күннээхнаадатын бигэргэттилэр” (Scientists have confirmed the need for 14-day quarantine); “Үгүс улууска о бэлэм буолла”/ (Observators are ready in many districts of the republic); “Ньурбалар Кытай норуотуттан дьаҥтан туттулар” (Nyurba received protective masks from China); “ сөпкө кэтиэххэ” (Let's put on the mask correctly); “. коронавирус бастакы сибикитин эттэ” (Hyperthermia. WHO named the first sign of coronavirus); “Улуустарга элбэх кыбартыыралаах дьиэлэри тириэрдиэхтэрэ” (Means for disinfection of apartment buildings will be transferred to the regions of the republic); “коронавирустаахтарын билэр эрээри, мааскаларын усталлар, итинэнкутталы үөскэтэллэр” (Knowing that they are sick with coronavirus, they take off their masks, thus they pose a danger to medical personnel); “Коронавируһу кытта охсуһар кулун тутардааҕы төлөбүр барыллаан 20 мөл солк тэҥ” (The total payment to doctors for the fight against coronavirus will be 20 million rubles for March); “Алданнааҕы балыыһаҕа биэс тиксэрдилэр” (Fivedelivered to the hospital of Aldan); “Алдан киин балыыһатын инфекционнай отделениетыгар 11 баар” (There are 11 patients in the infectious diseases ward of the Aldan hospital); “Саха сиригэр медиктарга анаан тигиини саҕалаатылар” (Protective suits for doctors began to be sewn in Yakutia); “Бүгүн Алдаҥҥа арыллар” ( opens in Aldan today); “Офтальмология балыыһатын ыарыһахтарын киллэрдилэр” (Ophthalmology hospital patients placed in observatory).

Derivational models

In the analyzed newspaper articles we can observe a number of verbs derived from other parts of speech with the use of affixes, in particular, from the word “coronavirus” using "noun +“–таа” affix” model -> “коронавирустаа” [koronavirustaa] (to be ill with coronavirus): “Саха сиригэр ааспыт сууккаҕа 81 киһи эбии, 12 киһи дьаҥтан үтүөрдэ, биир киһи суорума суолланна” (In Yakutia, over the past day, 81 people became infected with coronavirus, 12 people recovered from the epidemic, one person died).

The participial form with ‘-быт’ [bɨt] as a verbal adjective is equally common: “Хаҥаласка кытта алтыспыт 74 киһи баара билиннэ” (In Khangalas it became known about 74 people, who were in contact with a coronavirus patient); “Саха сиригэр барыта 385 киһи баар” (In Yakutia there are a total of 385 people with coronavirus).

In some cases we can observe an adverb with '-ан' used with an additional ‘баран’ [baran] form combined according to the "adverbial participle + adverbial participle” model. For example, “ бэйэлэрэ эмтэнэ сатааччылар” (getting sick with coronavirus, trying to heal on their own).

Literal translation of words, phrases, expressions

The process of new words introduction into the Yakut language is marked by their adaptation through literal translation according to formal or semantic features: утары охсуһар (fights against a); Коронавирус хайдах ааһыай? (How will of coronavirus go?); Хас биирдиибит тутуһуохтаахпыт (Everyone should wear and maintain); Хамсыгынан сибээстээн үлэ биэрээччилэр үлэһиттэрин көһөрөн эрэллэр (Due to the coronavirus, employers transfer workers; ыарыыны утары ыытыллартутуhуу боппуруоhа биир бастакынан турарын, ыарыы, тымыр дьайыытын уонна симптома суох ыарыыны тарҕатааччылар баар буолуохтарын сөбүн эттэ (the issue of compliance with measures to combat the disease is in the first place, the symptoms of the disease, the effect on the vascular capillaries and there is a likelihood of the spread of the disease in asymptomatic patients); “Бастакы вакцина от ыйын бүтүүтэ баар буолуоҕа” (The first will be at the end of July); Россия олохтоохторугар 2021 сылга саҕаланыан сөп ( for residents of Russia may begin in 2021).

In some cases, when transferring abbreviations (abbreviations), the preservation of the abbreviation adopted in Russian is noted, for example, “ИВЛ” (artificial lung ventilation), “ВОЗ” (world health organization): Алданнааҕы балыыһаҕа биэс тиксэрдилэр (5were transferred to the Aldan hospital); коронавирус бастакы сибикитин эттэ ( called the first signs of coronavirus).

As known, the general information about events is conveyed through the mass media, thus the newspapers show interaction between different discourses, in particular medical, political, economic, legal and other, which have pragmatic function of influencing the reader. The current situation is characterized by a ubiquitous communicative unity, involvement of the population in the development of innovations in all segments of industry and an enormous speed of information distribution. In this regard, we conducted a survey to identify how COVID-19 is perceived and to determine the degree of use of its nomination in the Yakut language among the adult population. An online questionnaire was sent to the informants, where the respondents submitted personal information and answered the question which nomination of COVID-19 in Yakut is preferable to them. In total 350 people were interviewed, they were divided into 5 groups according to their age: 1) from 16 to 25; 2) from 26 to 35; 3) from 36 to 45; 4) from 46 to 55; 5) from 56 and older.

In general, the analysis of the collected material revealed the following:

1) In all groups, respondents do not often use the “coronavirus” lexeme in their speech. Presumably, this is due to a complex component structure, which is not in favour of language economy.

2) In the second, third and fourth groups, preference is given to the word “ковид” (covid), but the older the group is, the less often it is used.

3) The lack of the “ковид” (covid) lexeme use in older groups is compensated by the Yakut “хамсык” lexeme, which has acquired a relevant meaning in the new conditions.

4) The lexeme “ковид” (covid) turned out to be the most frequent, which is explained by the dominance as a unit, which was assimilated and quickly adapted at the lexical-semantic level in Russian, and then in the Yakut language.

5) Attention is drawn to the fact that respondents highlight words that are familiar to them and have become relevant, since they have now undergone a certain semantic shift in their use. These include the lexemes “хамсык”, “дьаҥ”. Interesting is the use of the word “сэбиргэхтэтии” [sebirgextetii] in the meaning of ‘pneumonia’, as it has a colloquial status, it is not found in newspaper articles. However, the respondents record this lexeme as an option for the practice of use.

6) The lexeme “корона” [korona] (crown) is used by a group of informants aged 26 to 35.