Fast facts and trivia

23 Culture of Kazakhstan. Kazakh Yurt

A YURTA is a transportable collapsible dwelling that came to us from ancient times.

It consists of wooden framework, covered with felt. The framework ("kerege") forms walls of the dwelling made of latticed wooden poles; "uyuk" - long wooden poles serve as a cover for the upper spherical portion of the yurt; "shanrak" is the top most open part of the yurt, serving as an outlet for the smoke raising from the hearth, for purposes of ventilation and scanty lighting of the yurt’s interior. Depending on the air temperature the yurt is covered with two if not more layers of felt. The outermost layer is coated with flat for it to be impenetrable for rain or snow.

The yurt’s area ranges from 6-7 m. to 30-40 m. Spherical form makes it an exceedingly heat-consuming dwelling. They would enter the yurt through folding carved doors made of pine or birch-tree. They were a sort of touchstone testifying to aesthetic taste, social status and well being of its master. In real fact, fretwork motifs reflected Kazakhstan’s flora and fauna.

Right in the center of the yurt one finds a hearth with a cauldron ("kazan") suspended there above. The place at the hearth is regarded as that of honor meant for particularly respectable, distinguished guests.

The main decoration of the yurt is no doubt carpets ("tekemets") made mostly of felt.

Besides the interior looks quite bright owing to a multitude of colorful carpet-strips and ribbons manufactured of wool (by filling), of felt (by in- laying), of such other materials by weaving, embroidery, wicker-work and all.

Every little corner in the yurt has a purpose of its own - a part for men, a respective portion of the area - for women, for clothes. Besides there is enough room for a "shop" where they repair harness, accomplish other works, room for preparing meals, for bed, for horse's gear, for children, for the son and the daughter-in-law.

Simplicity and feasibility of manufacture, easy and quick assembly, use of natural materials and high transportability turned yurt into an ideal dwelling of a nomad. Even now you may encounter a yurt in the steppe.

23.1 Exclude a word which is not synonymous with the word "collapsible"

a) folding;

b) portable;

c) multiple;

d) portative;

e) recognizable;

23.2 What is the upper part of the yurt?

a) kerege;

b) uyuk;

c) shanrak;

d) tekemets;

e) kazan;

23.3 The yurta consists of:

a) wooden framework and felt;

b) a brick;

c) blocks of ice;

d) sand and stones;

e) animal bones;

23.4 Insert the articles:

Traditional yurts consist of __ circular wooden frame carrying a felt cover. __ felt is made from the wool of ___ flocks of sheep that accompany the pastoralists. The timber to make the external structure is not to be found on ___ treeless steppes, and must be obtained by trade in ___ valleys below. The frame consists of one or more lattice ___ wall-sections, ___ door-frame, bent roof poles and ___ crown.

23.5 Discuss these issues with your classmates

a) How do you think is it really comfortable to live in a yurt?

b) If you had a yurt how would you have decorated it?
24 Kazakh National Games
KYZ KUU ("Overtake the girl") - young boys and girls are participants in this game. The girl on the horse does her best to gallop from the young man but as soon as the latter tries to overtake (approach) her she lashes him with a whip. If - up to a certain place - the young boy fails to overtake her she would "reward" him with whipping again. If he is a success he earns a kiss.

AUDARYSPAK ("Wrestling on horseback") - this kind of national sports requires skills both in hand-to-hand fighting and in trick riding. In fact two men fight while on horseback. Wins the one that brings his adversary down of his horse.

KUMIS ALU ("Pick up the coin"). The essence of the game is that while galloping at full speed a young man should pick up a silver ingot off the ground - such had been condition of the game in old days. Nowadays a handkerchief replaces the ingot. This contest particularly impressed

When Alexander the Great visited Central Asia. according to historians' evidence, watching on kumis alu exclaimed "That's a sort of training worthy of a warrior on horseback".

KOKPAR ("Fighting for a goat's carcass"). A most popular game. It stems from an ancient custom according to which one, who wants to get rid of all evil, should sacrifice a goat. Not infrequently taking part in the game is up to 1,000 horsemen. The game unfolds on an almost infinite steppe range.

On the opposite ends of an immense field they arrange goals of teams - adversaries. It is into them that the symbolic carcass of the goat should be thrown, while the throw proper is preceded by a desperate flight between the teams to get hold of the carcass.

24.1 Who plays in the Kyz kuu game?

a) Young boys and girls;

b) Only young boys;

c) Only young girls;

d) Elders;

e) It is a family game;

24.2 How many participants can play in the Aydaryspak game?

a) Twenty;

b) Three;

c) Five;

d) Two;

e) unlimited number of players;

24.3 Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

a) Nowadays a young man in the Kumis alu game should pick up a silver ingot off the ground.

b) The essence of the Aydaryspak game is to pull the opponent off his saddle to the ground.

c) The goal of the guy in the Kyz kuu game is to reach the girl and kiss her.

24.4 The sacrifice of a goat in the Kokpar game due to the …

a) good mood;

b) bad weather;

c) ancient custom;

d) charity;

e) anger in the goat.

24.5 Tell your classmates what else you know about the Kazakh games.

25 Traditional Holidays and Entertainments
NAURYZ - a holiday of spring, it is the most momentous and ancient festivity of Oriental nations.

In fact, it is a New Year's eve according to the ancient Oriental calendar.

It has yet another name "Ulys Kuni"("The first day of the New Year") or "Ulystyn uly kuni" («The great day of the people"). They say that the more you are in celebrating the Nauryz holiday, the greater success will attend you throughout the year. Hence abundance of festive rites and attributes.

When the holiday comes, Kazakhs would put on festive clothes, pay visits to each other, exchange congratulations, best wishes of well-being and good luck in the coming year.

Universal merry-making, games, traditional horse races, and various amusements accompany festivities.

Traditionally they cook and roast and make all sorts of tasty meals during the holidays, for they should symbolize well-being and abundance in the coming year. The feast is usually timed to the noon; it is preceded and followed by a prayer in honor of the forefathers read by the mullah. In conclusion the eldest of those present gives his blessings (bata) so that year in year out prosperity be part and parcel of the family.

When Kazakhs celebrate Nauryz, presence of the figure of "7" is indispensable - it embodies 7 days of the week - time units of universal eternity: in front of aksakals ("white beards» or old men) they would put 7 bowls with the drink of "Nauryz-kozhe", prepared of 7 grades of 7 types of cereals.

25.1 The phrase "bread buttered on both sides" means …

a) abundance;

b) well-being;

c) holiday;

d) delicacy;

e) mood;

25.2 Write complete answers to these questions

a) When the Nauryz holiday is celebrated?

b) Which amusements are accompanied festivities in this holiday?

c) What is the figure of "7" means in the Nauryz holiday?

25.3 Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

a) Nauryz - a holiday of summer.

b) The Nauryz holiday is a New Year's eve according to the ancient Chinese calendar.

c) They say that the more you are in celebrating the Nauryz holiday, the greater success will attend you throughout the year.

25.4 Insert the article "the" where it is necessary

a) Nauryz holiday is one of __ oldest holidays in ___ world, ___ holiday of spring renewal.

b) This day has been celebrating among the peoples of ___ East long before the adoption of ___ Islam, that is why is devoid of ___ religious rituals and directions.

c) By __ eastern calendar Nauryz is the beginning of the new year. It coincides with the day of ___ vernal equinox.

d) For Kazakhs this holiday is a symbol of spring renewal, ___ triumph of love, fertility and ___friendship.

25.5 Discuss these issues with your classmates

a) How your family celebrates the Nauryz holiday?

b) What do you think the components of "Nauryz-kozhe" symbolized?
26 Berkutchi - Hunting With A Golden Eagle
A tradition that has already been practiced for ten centuries. They say that presenting a youngster with a fledgling of a hunting bird is tantamount to wishing him to be brave and strong young fellow.

Virtually training of a golden eagle is a rare and painstaking art. The bird just caught is being slowly trained to its master (a berkutchi). For the purpose the man doesn't get a wink of sleep for several nights with the bird being subjected to similar discomfort. The bird must take food (pieces of raw meat) from its master's hand only. When the eagles has got used to the hunter, its horse and its dog, it undergoes training: first it "hunts" stuffed foxes and only then proceeds with real hunting.

26.1 Exclude a word which is not synonymous with the word " tantamount"

a) equal;

b) match;

c) significant;

d) equivalent;

26.2 Who is berkutchi?

a) experienced bird catcher, who is engaged in their schooling;

b) italian designer, who makes the hats of feathers eagle;

c) predator of the family of birds;

d) stuffed fox;

26.3 Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

a) Virtually training of a golden eagle is not difficult and rare art.

b) The bird just caught is being quickly trained to berkutchi.

c) First the eagle "hunts" real foxes.

d) The eagle eating pieces of raw meat.

26.4 Complete the sentences with prepositions below

Over, from, of

A steppe hunter derived great pleasure ___ the tandem of a dog and a hunting bird.

Golden eagle hunting is one ____ the oldest methods of food hunting.

People from all ___ the world come to Kazakhstan to obtain valuable antlers of hoofed animals.

26.5 How many centuries hunting with a golden eagle has been practiced?

a) Two centuries;

b) Five centuries;

c) Ten centuries;

d) Twelve centuries;

e) Twenty centuries.

27 Dastarkhan
Kazakh dastarkhan has a long story of its own, its own traditions, and its specifics inherent to Kazakh nation only, known for a quite particular manner of receiving and serving guests.

The part tea plays in the Kazakh dastarkhan is altogether remarkable. In fact any Kazakh feast invariably starts with a minutely itemized process of tea drinking. The host welcomes his guests, invites them to the table.

Incidentally, it is only up to girls and young women to pour the tea. And they do this wonderfully though it is far from easy. For one should see to it that the guests' drinking bowls be always full, there must be no confusing them, there must be no tea leafs remains on the edge of the bowls. Even if the guest gives to understand that he has already quenched his thirst he must not be left unattended - the hostess must offer him a so- called "sui-ayak" - a tea bowl of honor. Tea is normally accompanied with cream, butter, jam, dried and fresh fruit, nuts, cakes, other sweetmeats.

Tea is but an introduction, an invitation to a capital meal - a festive feast.

First they serve all sorts of appetizers, mostly meat ones - prepared of horse flesh and mutton. They are quite plentiful and their diversity is just as great, all made of smoked, semi-smoked and boiled meat. Added thereto are flat cakes and such milk tonics as koumyss, shubat and katyk...

They are followed with vegetable titbits with invariable flat cakes. Next the guests are treated with a kuyrdak - hot rich roast meat prepared of mutton by - products mostly of liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and tail's fat.

After a small break the guests are treated with all sorts of patties: "samsa"- with meat, "puktermet"- with by- products, "belyash", "kausyrma" and all...

Finally there comes the capital treat - besbarmak. First they cover a large round or oval dish with small round flat pieces of boiled paste followed by small bars of boiled horse-meat or mutton, then comes onion cut in rings and scalded with hot broth, all this strewn with a green mixture of fennel, parsley and kinza...

The most honored guest is usually offered a koy-bas (a boiled sheep's head). The guest is to dress it and distribute among the other participants to the dastarkhan. One should mind that each part of the head is attached particular significance and meaning: young men are treated with ears for them to be attentive, girls - with a palate (it is believed that this would make them more diligent). The head having been divided the host proceeds with cutting meat on the main dish and shares it with his guests.

Here too one has to mind certain habits and superstitions. For instance, hipbones and crust are offered to most honored guests while the breastbone goes to the son-in-law or daughter-in-law, cervical vertebra - to marry women, pregnant ones first and foremost.

Certain bans are also to be observed. Thus even the most honored guest may not be treated with a "koy-bas" if his father is present at the table.

Children may not be offered brains (they might become weak-willed), just as an elbow bone - to a young girl (she might be "left on the shelf")...

The meat is usually accomplished with flat cakes with onion (ak nan). A rich broth (sorpa) is poured in separate bowls.

However in many areas of Kazakhstan besbarmak on the dastarkhan is replaced with "kespe", Kazakh noodle soup: in a drinking bowl or a soup-plate they put warmed up noodles and pour tuzdyk on them, a gravy consisting of meat, black radish, sweet pepper, onions, tomatoes and green kinza.

The feast is finalized with a dessert abounding in all sorts of sweetmeats.

27.1 How does any Kazakh feast start?

a) With dressing in festive clothing;

b) With a minutely itemized process of tea drinking;

c) With seating guests to places;

d) With the introduction of guests;

e) With an introduction to home owners;

27.2 Write complete answers to these questions

a) How the tea is should be poured?

b) How the besbarmak looks?

c) What is the “kespe”?

d) What with the feast is finalized?

27.3 What part of the boiled sheep's body is offered to the most honored guest?

a) Koy-bas;

b) Brains;

c) Ears;

d) Eyes;

e) Lap;

27.4 Ak nan is:

a) a flat cakes with onion;

b) a rolled dough;

c) a fluffy white bread;

d) a grainy bread;

e) a sausage-roll;

27.5 Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

a) At the festival first served besbarmak, and then tea.

b) Snacks are prepared from the meat of the horses and sheep.

c) In many areas of Kazakhstan besbarmak on the dastarkhan is replaced with "kespe".

d) Young men are treated with eyes for them to be attentive, girls - with a palate.

28 Key
1 The Republic of Kazakhstan

2 а) F b) T c) T d) F e) F;

3b; 4a; 5c; 6c; 7a; 8b; 9b; 10a; 11c;

2 Background, Kazakhstan historical background

2c; 3a; 4b;

5 a) T b) F c) T d) F e) F f) T;

6c; 7b; 8c; 9a; 10b;

3 “Ak Orda” Palace of the President in Astana

1b;

2 a) F b) T c) F d) F e) T;

3c; 4a; 5c; 6c;

4 Must see places in Kazakhstan

2b; 3a; 4c; 5b;

6 a) F b) T c) T d) F e) T;

5 Zhetysu - the Land of Seven Rivers and Hundred Mountains

2 a) T b) F c) T d) F e) T;

3a; 4b; 5a; 6c; 7a;

6 Silk Road Bazaar

2a;

3 a) T b) T c) F;

4a; 5a;

7 History of Cinema in Kazakhstan

2 a) T b) T c) F d) F e) T;

3a; 4b; 5c; 6b; 7c; 8b; 9c;

8 Culture in Kazakhstan

1b;

3 a) T b) F c) T;

4b; 6c; 8d; 9c; 10c;

9 Economy in Kazakhstan

1b;

4 a) T b) F c) F;

6a; 8b;

10 Borovoe - Natural Oasis of Kazakhstan. Borovoe – Kazakhstan

2b;

3 a) F b) T c) T;

5a;

11 Bayan-Aul State National Park

2a; 3b; 5a;

12 Karkaralinsky National Park

2a; 4c; 5a;

13 Kazakh Steppe

2a; 3c;

4 a)T b) F c) F;

5c;

14 Altyn-Emel State National Park

3 a) T b) T c) F;

4a; 5c;

15 The Singing Dunes

2c; 4b;

16 Besshatyr

1a; 2c;

3 a) T b) T c) F;

4c; 5a;

17 Aisha Bibi

3b; 4a; 5c; 6a;

7 a) F b) F c) T;

8 b;

18 Katutau and Aktau Mountains

4a; 5a;

19 Kazakh Traditional Calendar

2a; 4a; 5b; 6a; 7a; 8a;

20 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

1a; 2a; 4c; 6a; 7e;

21 Famous Tombs Of Kazakhstan

1a; 4e; 5a;

22 Mountain lakes of North Tyan-Shan

2с; 3d;

23 Culture of Kazakhstan. Kazakh Yurt

1e; 2b; 3a;

24 Berkutchi - Hunting With A Golden Eagle

1d; 2a;

25 Kazakh National Games

1a; 2d; 3 a) F b) T c) T;

26 Traditional Holidays and Entertainments

1a; 3 a) F b) F c) T;

27 Dastarkhan

1d; 3a; 4b; 5 a) T b) T c) F d) F.

Әдебиеттер
1 Barbara A. Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. – West : New York, 2009. – 1025 p.

2 Pocket Oxford Russian Dictionary. Third edition. Edited by Della Thompson. – Oxford : University Press, 2006. – 920 p.

3 Concise Oxford Dictionary. Edited by M. Wheeler and B. Unbegaun. – Oxford : University Press, 1998. – 1007 p.

4 http://www.native-english.ru/topics/kazakhstan.

5 http://www.answers.com/topic/kazakhstan.

Мазмұны

Алғы сөз …………………………………………………………….	3
1 The Republic of Kazakhstan…………………………………………	4
2 Kazakhstan Historical Background …………………………………	10
3 “Ak Orda” Palace of the President in Astana………………………..	17
4 Must See Places In Kazakhstan ……………………………………..	19
5 Zhetysu - The Land Of Seven Rivers And Hundred Mountains…….	21
6 Silk Road Bazaar…………………………………………………….	23
7 History of Cinema in Kazakhstan …………………………………..	24
8 Culture in Kazakhstan ……………………………………………….	27
9 Economy in Kazakhstan………………………………………………	32
10 Borovoe - Natural Oasis of Kazakhstan. Borovoe – Kazakhstan…..	36
11 Bayan-Aul State National Park…………………………………….	38
12 Karkaralinsky National Park ………………………………………	39
13 Kazakh steppe. The Birds and the Trees …………………………..	41
14 Altyn-Emel State National Park……………………………………	43
15 The Singing Dunes…………………………………………………	45
16 Besshatyr……………………………………………………………	46
17 Katutau and Aktau Mountains……………………………………	47
18 Aisha Bibi…………………………………………………………	48
19 Kazakh Traditional Calendar……………………………………..	51
20 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan……………………………..	57
21 Famous Tombs Of Kazakhstan……………………………………	59
22 Mountain lakes of North Tyan-Shan……………………………….	63
23 Culture of Kazakhstan. Kazakh Yurt………………………………	66
24 Kazakh National Games……………………………………………	67
25 Traditional Holidays and Entertainments………………………….	69
26 Berkutchi - Hunting With A Golden Eagle…………………………	70
27 Dastarkhan………………………………………………………….	71
28 Key………………………………………………………………….	74
Әдебиеттер………………………………………………..………..	76