I WAS BORN AND GREW UP IN BURMA-SUU
Description: Toktobek Kurmanbakiev, one of the last remaining speakers of the Oirat language amongst the Karakol Kalmyks, shares details about his life and family. Born in the village of Burma-Suu, now part of the Chelpek aiyl (rural district), Kurmanbakiev completed seven years of schooling before serving in the Soviet army. Upon returning to his native village, he completed training as a tractor operator and worked as a tractor driver for 50 years. He is now retired and lives with his son’s family.
Cite as: Bi Burmá-Suudə́ törä́d bödürǘv – I was born and grew up in Burma-Suu; performer: Toktobek Kurmanbakiev, camera: Thede Kahl, interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: sart1247KGV0003a.
MY MOTHER'S BROTHER LIVED IN CHINA
Description: Duishokan Torbatova, one of the last remaining speakers of the Oirat-Kalmyk language, speaks about herself and her family. Originally from the village of Burma-Suu, Torbatova has lived in the village of Börü-Bash for many years. It was also the birthplace of her late husband, Talaibek. Together, they raised five children. Torbatova also mentions her uncle, who lived in the Xinjiang region of China. In her younger years, she had hoped to visit China, but was unable to obtain a visa.
Cite as: Miní eknäní ahə́ Kitɪtté bilä́ – My motherʹs brother lived in China; performer: Duishokan Torbatova, camera: Thede Kahl, interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID number: sart1247KGV0006a.
WE USED TO SPEAK IN KALMYK AT HOME
Description: Toktobek Zholdoshev talks about the current situation of his native Oirat-Kalmyk language, which he learned from his parents. While they were alive, he spoke this language with them. He also shares his wish to visit Kalmykia, Xinjiang and Mongolia, where he hopes to speak Oirat-Kalmyk with others. At the end of the interview, Zholdoshev briefly speaks about his children and grandchildren. He expresses sadness that after he is gone, no one in his family will be able to speak the Oirat-Kalmyk language.
Cite as: Bidɪ́n gerté halʹmygár kelčä́d bilävidɪ́n – We used to speak in Kalmyk at home; performer: Toktobek Zholdoshev, camera/ interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: sart1247KGV0007a.
I TELL MY CHILDREN: <LEARN THE LANGUAGE>
Description: Duishokan Torbatova speaks about the current state of the Oirat-Kalmyk language. She laments that the middle and younger generations of the Karakol Kalmyks no longer speak their ancestral language. Duishokan recalls that in the past, Kalmyk language teachers used to come from Kalmykia, and she expresses the hope that such an initiative might resume, so that children could once again learn their native tongue. She notes that other ethnic minorities, such as the Hui and the Uzbeks, have managed to preserve and actively use their own languages.
Cite as: Bi kövüdmǘste kelnä́b: <Nomščhatýn> – I tell my children: <Learn the language>; performer: Duishokan Torbatova, camera: Thede Kahl, interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID number: sart1247KGV0005a.