The researcher and the informant: different meeting (specific features of modern field interviews in Altai)

Abstract

The impact of globalization has led to the aggravation of national identity and ethnic consolidation problems for the Altai people. There appeared a necessity to rethink the traditional knowledge and to adapt the traditional outlook to the new environment. This paper based on a number of the few field recordings describes some peculiarities of interaction of folklorist and informants in Altai nowadays. In the new situation, the researcher becomes involuntarily included in the solution of problem of national identity. The informant acts as interpreter of traditional knowledge and is actively trying to influence the way of thinking of the researcher.