Uyghur Culture as Reflected in Food Vocabulary, Names, and Ancient Choreography

This monograph is devoted to the distinctive features of the intangible culture of the Uyghur ethnic group. These distinctive features are unobtrusively explored through the description of such elements of intangible culture as food vocabulary, anthroponyms, and the performance of an ancient lost dance. Food vocabulary refers to the names of dishes and drinks, their preparation methods, and the internal form of terms. Where appropriate, proverbs and other folklore materials reflecting the Uyghur linguistic worldview are cited. Anthroponyms reveal an interesting aspect of their interpretation through the lens of the concept of "Freedom." Their specificity as an expression of a Turkic worldview in this context is more clearly emphasized when compared with the English language. A unique element of Uyghur intangible culture is the ancient dance "Sama." It is examined in the context of current ideas about the revitalization of lost cultural elements. This allows one to delve into the depths of centuries and experience the dynamics of the transformation of ethnic mentality.