Semantics of Food Taboos in Linguistic Culture of Even People

This article explores the semantics of food taboos within the language and culture of the Even people. The novelty of this research lies in its pioneering examination of food taboos within the system of minor genres of Even folklore, identifying their place and role in the ritual and spiritual culture of the ethnic group. The study introduces materials on food taboos collected during field research into academic discourse. The relevance of this research is underscored by the fact that the significance of taboos in society and traditional culture remains insufficiently explored. Taboos are viewed as an essential part of folklore, customs, and traditions, serving as exemplars of folk culture that underpin popular pedagogy and reflect the moral values and spirituality of the people. The article presents definitions of non-equivalent lexemes characteristic of the language used in the genre of protective prohibitions. It is demonstrated that most food taboos consist of two components: the first part contains a command prohibiting an action, while the second provides an explanation for this prohibition. A classification of food taboos is proposed, organized into eight thematic groups that characterize various aspects of the food code in Even culture. It is emphasized that, according to traditional folk culture, the foundation of this code lies in the fundamental principles of harmonious coexistence between humans and their surrounding environment.