Toponymic Legends of Ural Amateur Miners

This article analyses the legends of Ural amateur miners (gorshchiks) — people who recover precious stones and gemstones as their private business. The folklore still remains virtually unstudied; that differentiates it from professional (gorniaks). research is based on field records various periods, both published unpublished. These are part card index Vocabulary, Toponymy, Ethnography Stone kept at Department Russian Language, General Linguistics Verbal Communication (Ural Federal University). demonstrates spring real working practices miners; traditional motifs, including fantastic ones, add to these legends. centres toponymic which considered a source for deriving inner form motivation place name (toponym). author points out applying historical comprehensive ethnolinguistic analysis help establish if toponym given in legend correct or erroneous. reveals correlation between firmly established legendary motif nominative model helps correctly determine toponym. In addition, miners’ seen studying way life worldview. following motifs characteristic legends: stroke luck chance discovery gemstones, not treasure unlucky development mine, prophetic dream, violation taboo punishment greed, miraculous richness mines. highlights specific interpretations well-known acquire Specifically, self-burial Chud replaced by burial.