释回鹘文契约中的ygn

AnExplanation of the Word "ygn" in Uygur Contracts

在山田信夫刊布的回鹘文买卖契约中,有一个词出现过六次,它的转写字有三种:“ygn”、“ygn”、“yign”,均译作“甥”。他还把ygntaγay释为“甥舅”。其他学者也有类似的解释。但是,笔者认为ygn的汉译应该是“嫂子”或“婶子”,ygnimtaγaym的汉译应该是“我嫂(婶)子、我叔(舅)”。这个词组多出现在违约赔偿的句子里,即发生了违约现象,当事人的兄弟、子女、嫂(婶)子、叔(舅)都要承当后果。这个现象反映出在古代吐鲁番的普通家庭里,作为妇女的嫂子或婶子是有一定的社会地位的。

In the Uygur contracts for buying and selling published by山田信夫, a word that can be writtenin three phonetic forms, 'ygn,' 'ygn,'and 'yign,'is translated into nephew. And 'ygn taγay'is translated into 'nephew and uncle.' There were also some similarexplanations by other researchers. But this paper argues that 'ygn'and 'ygn-im taγayam'should be translated into auntor sister-in-law and my sister-in-law (aunty) or uncle. The phrase 'ygn'usually emerges in the sentence meaning compensation for breaking contracts. That is, if litigant broke the contract, his brothers, children, sister-in-law (aunty), or uncle must boreresponsibilityfor the consequence. The fact shows that as a sister-in-law or aunty, the woman in ancientTurpan family can be regardedas someone with social status.