A Contrastive Analysis of the Vocabulary of the Izhma Dialect of the Komi-Zyryan Language (Based on Materials from M. A. Castrén’s Dictionary and Modern Audio Documentation)

Introduction. Currently, there is no verified basis for assessing the accuracy of early field recordings of the Izhma dialect of the Komi-Zyrian language or for determining the facts of phonetic changes that have actually occurred in the dialect over a nearly two-hundred-year period. Despite the existence of individual descriptions, the scientific literature on the Izhma dialect of the Komi language lacks systematic research based on a direct comparison of historical material with digital audio recordings, which provide more accurate documentation of speech parameters. A gap remains in understanding the dynamics of dialectal vocalism and consonantism, as well as the mechanisms of their evolution. This article seeks to fill this lacuna by integrating sources from different periods into a unified digital format, LingvoDoc, and creating a methodological foundation for future historical-phonetic reconstructions. The aim of the study is to identify phonetic correspondences and describe processes that may indicate both the preservation of archaic features and the gradual formation of new tendencies in the development of the dialect. Materials and Methods. The research material comprised M. A. Castrén’s dictionary, presented in the book “Elementa grammatices Syrjaenae” (1844; critical edition 2022) – 1,146 lexical units, and the audio dictionary of the dialect of the village of Beloyarsk, Priuralsky District, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (2012) – 1,455 lexical entries, including phonological transcription and audio recordings. The comparison was carried out using the LingvoDoc digital platform, employing the tools “Inventory of Phonemes/Allophones,” “Spectrogram Analysis Results,” “Search for Cognates in Different Dialects of One Language,” and “Cognate Analysis”. The analysis was conducted in stages: first, regular correspondences between the 19th and 21st-century data were identified, followed by the clarification of positional patterns. Results and Discussion. A comparison of the data from the experimental-phonetic analysis of the modern Beloyarsk dialect with the materials from M. A. Castren’s dictionary demonstrates the high accuracy of his documentation. Thus, the double vowel graphemes recorded by Castren, although not always corresponding to distinct phonemes in the modern dialect, in most cases correspond to longer vocalic realizations. Of particular interest is the grapheme ä: previously, it could have been considered an irregular notation with no direct parallels either in Proto-Komi or in modern dialects; however, the analysis has shown that its usage followed positional rules. The study also established the approximate timeframe for the development of labial harmony in the Izhem dialect (late 20th – early 21st century). Alongside general trends characteristic of many Komi-Zyrian dialects, specifically Izhem innovations such as ӧ > ɒ have been identified. The modern consonant inventory is supplemented by peripheral sounds [f], [x], [ɣ], found primarily in borrowed vocabulary. Conclusion. A comparison of M. A. Castren’s dictionary with contemporary audio material of the Beloyarsk village dialect allows us to speak of regular phonetic correspondences and generally consistent directions of change in the vocalism and consonantism of the Izhma dialect. The integration of instrumental analysis using Praat and the digital environment LingvoDoc has proven effective for verifying historical recordings and clarifying positional patterns. The obtained results establish a foundation for further comparative studies within the area of Komi-Zyrian dialects and for a more detailed interpretation of the observed processes.