Said Bargandzhia

The book-questionnaire for the work of specialists in the collection of Abkhaz folklore was presented at the Abkhaz State University (ASU).  This is a practical guide for folklorists with detailed questions that need to be asked to the narrator (narrator of works of folklore - ed.) when collecting information.

“The questionnaire is necessary for field work, for collecting folklore and ethnographic material. It will help to build a conversation with the narrator correctly and find out as much details as possible,” explained the book’s chief editor, Professor Zurab Dzhapua.

He said that the idea of ​​drawing up such a questionnaire came to him immediately after the end of the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia.  At the same time, the ethnographer began work on the book, but it was interrupted for various reasons.  In 2016, in the framework of the agreement of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Abkhazia and ANO “Alashara”, it was possible to resume it, and in 2018 the questionnaire was issued.

Over its content, in particular, the compilation of questions, worked folklorists and philologists Saida Hadzhim and Naala Bartsyts.

“Their are a lot of questions in the book.  For example: what fairy tales were told to you in childhood?  Do you remember the main characters?  And many others.  The main purpose of this questionnaire is to let the folklorist leave the narrator with the most complete information,” said Saida Hadzhim.

The presentation of the book was attended by the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Abkhazia Adgur Kakoba, who noted the significance of the publication of this manual for science and for the folklore of Abkhazia as a whole.

“For us it is a great joy, especially for those who are engaged in folklore and ethnology.  First of all I want to note that the questionnaire meets modern requirements and reveals all genres of Abkhaz folklore.  This is a tremendous job that will help you competently approach the collection of folklore.  We really lacked such literature,” said Adgur Kakoba.

The circulation of the questionnaire is limited to 350 copies.  Some books will be available in bookstores of the capital, and the other part will be stored in libraries of Abkhazia.