The functioning of the verb bol- in analytical constructions in legal documents of Uyghur civil acts of the 10th–14th centuries

Abstract

This article examines the analysis and functioning of the verb bol- within analytical constructions in legal documents based on Uyghur civil acts from the 10th to 14th centuries. The study focuses on phraseological combinations and the semantics of expressions involving the verb bol-, which plays a key role in forming legal modality, predicative relations, and standard formulas of business writing in Old Uyghur. This study aims to identify the characteristics of the verb bol- in analytical constructions within 10th–14th-century Uyghur civil acts and to determine its semantic functions in the Old Uyghur language. This study employs a methodology comprising comparative-historical, descriptive, structural-semantic, and contextual analyses. The empirical basis consists of Uyghur civil deed texts from the 10th–14th centuries, including sales contracts, promissory notes, marriage contracts, and other legal documents. This work is scientifically novel because it is the first comprehensive analysis of the verb bol- in Uyghur civil documents, identifying the peculiarities of analytical constructions in medieval Uyghur legal discourse. Previous studies did not address these aspects. The study reveals that the verb bol- is used primarily as an auxiliary verb that combines with nouns, adjectives, and participial forms in analytical constructions to create stable legal clichés. The form bolsun is the most common in legal documents. It appears in the imperative mood to express prescriptions, intentions, or normative requirements characteristic of the legal sphere during that period. Through this form, concepts such as property rights, status relations, and legal responsibility are established. Examples frequently found in legal documents include ‘ägkligbolsun’, which denotes ownership; ‘korsuzbolsun’, which denotes exemption from liability; and ‘korlubolsun’, which denotes the imposition of responsibility. These constructions define the rights and obligations of the parties in agreements. The semantic field of the verb bol- expands significantly in the examples presented, encompassing dozens of meanings. While its primary meanings are "to be" and "to become," bol- acquires a modal-legal nuance, conveying meanings of obligation, permission, conditionality, or prohibition. In combination with nominal components, bol- forms predicative constructions that ensure clarity and unambiguity in legal formulations. These constructions contribute to standardizing document language and establishing stable legal terminology.