Objectification of the Concept “Theft” in the Kumyk Proverbial Worldview
The high concentration of zoonyms in the Kumyk paroemias about cattle theft is not an accident, but a direct reflection of the key role of cattle in the economy and social relations. The language has fixed this reality by using animals as natural ethical markers: through them, the people understood and evaluated their actions, making moral lessons clear and accessible. The objects of theft are classified according to their symbolic value into those representing: a) minimal prosperity and b) material well-being. In the Kumyk worldview a person becomes a thief once and for all, regardless of the severity of the offense, as a tendency to steal is considered an incurable vice. Paradoxically, small thefts are more severely condemned than larger ones, and the negligence of the owner who allowed the family's property to be stolen is condemned more severely than the thief's actions. Ultimately, stealing eliminates the possibility of good fortune for a person.