KAZAKH LEGENDS IN THE TURGAY NEWSPAPER

Abstract

Turgayskaya Gazeta («Turgai» newspaper) was among the first periodicals to systematically publish the folklore heritage of the Kazakh people in the Russian language, with particular attention to folk legends and narratives. From the mid-nineteenth century onward, academic circles of the Russian Empire sought to explore the history of the Kazakh people - then incorporated into the Empire - through oral traditions and legendary accounts.

The aim of this study is to analyze the Kazakh legends published in the «Turgai» newspaper and to determine their place and significance within Kazakh folkloristics. The research focuses primarily on the legends issued in 1895–1896, during the early years of the newspaper’s publication, examining their historical background, genre characteristics, and distinctive features.

To achieve these objectives, both general scientific methods (comparison, analysis, and synthesis) and specific approaches (genre and lexical analysis) were employed. A review of relevant scholarly literature by domestic and foreign researchers was conducted to assess the theoretical foundations and thematic development of legend studies.

The findings demonstrate that the majority of the published texts belong to the genres of historical and toponymic legends. These materials contributed to familiarizing imperial authorities with the history of the Kazakh people and the toponymy of newly incorporated territories. The study clarifies the role of the «Turgai» newspaper as a significant written source in the collection and study of Kazakh legends. Overall, the analyzed texts represent an important contribution to the development of Kazakh folkloristics.