The Number üç ‘three’ in the Tuvan Linguistic Worldview
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2026.1.16Keywords:
Tuvan language, numerative, symbolism of number, three, Tuvan folklore, Tuvan culture, Turkic cultureAbstract
The article systematizes examples of the use of the number üç ‘three’ in various domains of the cultural life of the Tuvan people. The analysis is based on texts of Tuvan oral folklore, works of fiction, scholarly literature, as well as the author’s field materials collected in different districts of Tuva in the 1990s–2000s.
Widespread use of the number üç ‘three’ is attested in multiple genres of folklore texts, in the traditions and customs of the people, in Tuvan phraseology, as well as in contemporary literature and in the cultural and everyday life of Tuvans. The Tuvan word for “three” is üç.
In the Tuvan linguistic worldview, the number functions as a symbol of the three-tiered structure of the universe; of the primordial forces from which the world and humankind emerged; of the unity of three notions, qualities, phenomena, or objects; of the success and magical efficacy of fairy-tale actions performed three times; of the triad of knowledge; and of the unity and sacredness of the people, language, and land. The number üç ‘three’ also conveys the completeness and finality of ritual actions performed three times; serves as a symbol of the three main feasts in a Tuvan’s life; marks the transition from infancy to childhood; represents the unity and integrity of the poem constructed as a triad; and functions as a symbol not only of a strong and courageous winner of the three men’s competitions, but also of the warrior-protector.
Furthermore, the number üç ‘three’ symbolizes the separation of the soul from the body of the deceased, thereby completing the three stages of human life — birth, life, and death; it is associated with purification from defilement and evil; with hospitality and the triad of tastes. It also represents steadfastness, reliability, and tranquility; the irreversibility of changes in human life; a test of one’s humanity; and the triune nature of the human being.
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Kara-ool L. S. The Number üç ‘three’ in the Tuvan Linguistic Worldview. New Research of Tuva, 2026, no. 1, pp. 292-306 (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2026.1.16
Author Biography
-
Lyubov S. Kara-ool Tuvan State University
Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor, Head, Department of Theory and Methods of Language Education and Speech Therapy, Tuvan State University.
Postal address: 36 Lenina St., 667000, Kyzyl, Russian Federation.
Email: lkaraool61@mail.ru
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