GRAPHIC AND ORTHOGRAPHIC PECULIARITIES OF VOWELS IN A 14TH CENTURY MAY-JUNE MENAION FRAGMENT FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE RUSSIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY (ОЛДП, Q. 180)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the graphical spelling system of the vowels of the preserved passage of the Minaea for May-June of the 14th century, which has not been introduced into scientific circulation until now. Based on a detailed study of the manuscript, systemic patterns in the use of graphemes denoting vowel phonemes, including reduced letters, have been identified. The analysis revealed the composition and frequency of these graphemes. It has been established that the manuscript is characterized by a fairly strict adherence to the graphic and spelling norms of Church Slavonic writing of the 14th century in the field of vowel transmission. The manuscript contains only isolated deviations from the norms, which could be related to the position of the word in the text or sentence, variability or morphological analogy. During the study, grapheme links а-ꙗ-ѧ, е-ѥ, и-ї, o-ѡ, у-оу-ю were considered, each of which illustrates a stable system of functioning of a particular vowel. The analysis of word forms with tense reduced ones revealed that along with the traditional designation by graphemes ꙑ and и, their replacement by ь is also common. Of particular interest was the spelling after sibilants and ц, where the vowels а, ю, and е are consistently used, apart from isolated cases of deviations from spelling norms related to morphological analogy, the influence of iotation in certain forms, and the peculiarities of word formation. The result of the study is a detailed description of the vowel phoneme system in Minea for May-June of the 14th century. A new source is being introduced into scientific circulation, expanding the base for studying the vocalism of ancient Russian writing of the 14th century.