The work of Kadyr Ali-bek: some debatable aspects

Abstract

Research objectives: Examination of the controversial and unresolved linguistic and textual issues in Kadyr Ali-bek’s work “Jami al-tawarikh”. Research materials: For the study, “original” dastans related to the Turkic-Tatar history were utilized. In general, the work consists of three parts: the madhya (eulogy) of Boris Fedorovich Godunov, the translation of part of the work of Rashid al-Din and the dastans about the khans and their protégée Idegei. Results and novelty of the research: In this work, grammatical forms and vocabulary from various dialects of the Turkic-Tatar language are combined. The language used in the original daastans is more formal than colloquial, but it cannot be considered an example of literary style. Regarding the classification of the language of the dastans, it is concluded that the composition is written in Old Tatar language, as indicated by the Tatar vocabulary. When comparing Tatar and Chagatai languages, it is necessary to consider that different traditions were encompassed in the Chagatai classification. Old Tatar language can be attributed to the Chagatai tradition.