BORGOYAKOVA, T. and SUBRAKOVA, O. (2009). Khakas Epics: Performance and Proper Names. Altai Hakpo 19: 173-183. The Altaic Society of Korea.

This article provides a short introduction to Khakas people (Abakan Turks) history and Alϊptϊy Nϊmax ― heroic epics’ record and research. It gives a description of traditional style of epic performance with xayĵϊ (narrator of epics), xay (special performance genre) and čatxan (musical instrument), and epic heroes’ naming ceremony. Analyses of epic heroes’ proper names show that more than 90% of them have two nouns structure of typical Turkic models. Human and natural environments serve as two main naming resources. The most often used components are from the areas of titles, names of colors and metals, physical strength and astronomical bodies. Xan, Altïn (Gold), Arïγ (Pure), Ay (Moon), Alïp (Warrior) are on the top both as the first and second components. Most of the constituents of epic proper names belong to the basic segment of Khakas language. The rating of most often used ten components as well as thematic classification based on the meaning of the first component is suggested.

Keywords: Xakas, Xan, proper names, Siberia, Turkic epics