Venjukov’s [1858] 1862/1868 Nanai materials

Helsinki: University of Helsinki. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja (SUSA) / Journal de la Société Finno-Ougrienne (JSFOu) 93, 2011. — 11-35 pp. Editor: Rigina Ajanki.The goal of this paper is to offer a linguistic analysis of the Nanai word-list by M.I. Venjukov, published in the mid-19th century in two language versions (French and Russian). Most dscriptions of this word-list - which are usually based on Kotwicz's brief report - agree the both versions are identical. I am to demonstrate that the two versions differ on some crucial points and, more importantly, (b) Venjukov’s lists hide the materials of both the Kilen and Kili languages (formerly the Sungari-Bikin and Kur-Urmi sub-dialects of the Upper Amur Nanai dialect).