The linguistic configuration of tatar weddings in Dobruja

The ethnic diversity in Dobruja influences the wedding ceremony and the traditional prop, which varies according to the community we are referring to: Romanians, Lipovans, Turkish, Tatars, Aromanians, etc. In the current study we will highlight some terms related to the specific wedding attire and props of the Tatars in Dobruja, grouped according to extra linguistic criteria: the gender of the person wearing the wedding attire (bride, groom), colors and symbols, types of items that make up the dowry, etc. Alongside the clothing terminology, we will also take into consideration the elements pertaining to the wedding ceremony: various categories of fabrics and embroideries that make up the bride's dowry in the Tatar community, the collection of gifts that were offered to the bride, to the groom's family, but also to the suitors or to the groomsmen. This paper’s aim is to highlight the linguistic complexity generated by the Tatar wedding ceremony in Dobruja. The language and terms that make up the props of Tatar weddings reveal a mixture of archaisms and ritualistic expressions, loans from Turkish, Romanian, etc. The linguistic elements of Dobrujan Tatar weddings are not mere expressions, but can be considered identity landmarks, which carry on the cultural heritage of the community.