Russian-Chukchi phrase book reissued for the first time in 20 years

Russian-Chukchi phrase book reissued for the first time in 20 years

A new Russian-Chukchi phrase book will be released in the fall of 2023 to replace the previous version, which was published more than 20 years ago. Publication will be paid for by a grant from the Chukotka Autonomous Area.

According to the head of the public organisation Chychetkin Vetgav (Native Word) Viktoria Kavry, a longtime local teacher well familiar with the Chukchi language and culture, Vera Grachyova, is working on the new edition, which will be based on the Uelen dialect and will include words, phrases and sentences.

“We are also planning to include QR-codes leading to a voiceover website. At present, the phrase book is at St Petersburg’s Almaz-Graf publishing house. It will be published in 500 copies and paid for by the regional grant. We plan to present it in October-November 2023,” Viktoria Kavry said.

Chychetkin Vetgav is also working on two more projects with the North-Eastern Federal University – the book Uelen’s Memory by Tatyana Pechetegina, a native of the Uelen village, and The Lessons of Our Ancestors’ Lives by Irina Gyrgolnaut, a keeper of traditions. The books are to be written this year and published in 2024.