Peculiarities of the use of Armenian script by representatives of steppe nomads

Abstract

The article examines the issue of the Armenian script used by the Kipchaks, who are recognized as prominent representatives of the steppe nomads, and establishes its place in the history of writing. The study analyzes the stages of the Kipchaks' use of the Armenian script and based on the language of specific written monuments, explores the function of this script within the disciplines of writing history and cultural studies. It provides a brief overview of Armenian-Kipchak written monuments from Eastern Europe and Crimea and critically reviews scholarly opinions concerning the language of these monuments. The research investigates the distinctive features of Armenian graphemes as applied to the phonology of the Kipchak language, examining the relationship between the writing signs and phonological units. An extensive review of the work of scholars who have engaged with these texts is presented, along with an analysis of the challenges they faced during transliteration and transcription processes. Studying the periods of Armenian script usage by the Kipchaks uncovers new linguistic data and allows for a deeper understanding of the functional characteristics of this writing system. The analysis of differing scholarly perspectives on the language of Armenian-Kipchak monuments highlights the complexity and diversity of academic approaches and reflects the evolution of research methodologies. The difficulties encountered by researchers in transliteration and transcription are identified as significant ongoing issues within contemporary philology.