'I Dream of Becoming Part of the International Semantics Community'

As a student, Stepan Mikhailov took part in an expedition to the Urals and became so deeply engaged that he eventually wrote his dissertation on a related topic—possessive constructions in the Khanty language. In this interview for the HSE Young Scientists project, he talks about bridging syntax and semantics, the importance of making time to cook and eat breakfast in the morning, and his favourite place in the village of Kazym.

How I Started in Science

It all began in a somewhat naïve manner. I was deciding which university programme to apply to, based on the subjects I excelled at in school—mathematics and English. I came across linguistics, and although I knew nothing about it at the time, I tried solving a few linguistic problems and realised that I enjoyed it. That’s how I ended up enrolling in the relevant bachelor’s programme at HSE University. While already in the programme, I realised from the very first introductory linguistics classes how deeply interested I was—and perhaps likely to succeed. I found my place there fairly quickly and understood that this was what I wanted to do. Here, I am surrounded by people who explore language with genuine curiosity—both language as a whole and individual languages—and are always willing to ask questions, creating a highly supportive and stimulating environment for doing science.

How I Began Studying the Khanty Language

I was inspired by my senior colleagues. After the first year of my bachelor’s programme, I went on an expedition to Dagestan to interview native speakers of the Rutul language. It was a great experience, but there was no follow-up. In my second year, I did not go on any expedition but instead attended a summer school, where at one point Alexey Kozlov sat down next to me and asked, 'Why aren’t you going on expeditions, Stepan? Come with us to the Urals.' Initially, we worked with native speakers of Hill Mari and later focused on Khanty. As a result, the Khanty language eventually became the focus of my dissertation.

Why Khanty Is a Fascinating Language

Khanty has definite articles—several of them—and they are used extensively. Similar patterns can be found in other Uralic languages, but there, articles tend to appear only in isolated cases. In Khanty, by contrast, articles are present in almost every sentence.

What are these articles? They are essentially grammaticalised possessives used in constructions such as your dog, my house, or Peter’s car. In Russian, the possessor is marked with the genitive case, whereas in Uralic languages, possession is typically expressed by a possessive marker attached to the possessed noun.

For example, my dog in Khanty is ma ampem, which literally consists of the pronoun ma ('I') in the nominative case, followed by amp ('dog') with a suffix that agrees with the first-person singular. The resulting phrase literally translates as 'I dog mine.'

Similar possessive constructions can also be found in Hill Mari, Meadow Mari, Udmurt, and Samoyedic languages. However, they are not as widely used. In Khanty, however, they occur so frequently that I argue in my dissertation that they have been grammaticalised into articles. They now carry a different meaning and follow a different morphosyntactic pattern.

Just as demonstrative pronouns in English and other Germanic languages were grammaticalised into articles and broadened in their usage, in Khanty, according to my hypothesis, the same process occurred with possessives rather than demonstratives.

Which Dialect of Khanty We Study

The Kazym dialect. It is endangered: in the village of Kazym, where we conduct our research, only people over the age of 50 speak it, while younger generations no longer learn the language.

We chose the Kazym dialect because it is very well documented. There is a dictionary of this dialect by Valentina N. Solovar and a grammar by Andrei D. Kaksin. Both scholars are ethnic Khanty. Therefore, we had the opportunity to explore various grammatical topics in depth.

The Subject of My Dissertation

My dissertation focuses on possessives/articles in the Kazym dialect. I am particularly interested in theories of definiteness and articles, but most existing research is based on European languages. In recent years, however, scholars have increasingly turned their attention to data from other languages, language families, and linguistic areals.

I found it interesting to compare the situation in the Kazym dialect with existing theories, as it is quite unusual both within the Uralic languages and from a global perspective. A separate chapter of my dissertation focuses on demonstrating how grammaticalisation actually occurred. At this stage, we are no longer dealing with extended uses of possessives but with fully developed articles, which differ from basic possessive forms in a number of ways.

I also propose a set of diagnostic tools that could potentially be applied to other Uralic languages exhibiting a similar but less developed pattern in order to identify atypical uses of possessives in these languages. I hope that my dissertation will not only provide an in-depth study of the Kazym dialect’s grammar but also help other researchers of Uralic languages better understand extended possessives and, hopefully, contribute to the typology of definiteness.

What Is Unusual about Kazym Possessives

When considered as a system of articles, Kazym possessives are highly unusual. It is striking to have so many articles, and they do not correspond to the more familiar types found in other languages, such as the broad definite article in European languages or the narrower articles seen in some Germanic languages. The four types of articles I identified in Khanty are unlike anything observed elsewhere. One of them is used exclusively with personal names—a pattern found in a few other languages worldwide. The other three, however, have functions that are more difficult to describe. Overall, the Kazym system is truly unique on a global scale.

What Possessives/Articles Reveal about the Khanty People

Nothing in particular. In linguistics, grammaticalisation is generally understood as a process that is not tied to cultural identity or traditional beliefs. While certain trends may be characteristic of language families, most are relatively random and primarily influenced by language contact. For example, Hungarian, which is also a Uralic language theoretically related to Khanty, is in some grammatical respects closer to European languages—and its articles are of the European type.

What I Take Pride In

I take pride in my dissertation research, which I have been conducting since 2018. Gradually, I began to make sense of what initially seemed like chaotic data and found a framework for navigating it. Now, it seems to me that I have as clear a picture as is possible. Before this, there had never been such a comprehensive discussion of atypically used possessives in Uralic languages, let alone one supported by extensive theoretical modelling.

How Fieldwork Is Organised

All our fieldwork is based on direct engagement with native speakers. We visit them in their homes, turn on a dictaphone, and ask how they would express various concepts in Khanty, including whether alternative formulations are possible. We record their responses using a convenient Latin-based transcription system, following the international tradition of Uralic studies, and later analyse the collected data at home.

My Dream

I dream of becoming part of the international semantics community. I believe that my primary focus is semantics—specifically, grammatical semantics, which concerns the meaning of grammatical expressions, suffixes, and similar elements. I hope to publish in leading international journals on theoretical semantics and actively participate in this global scholarly dialogue.

Throughout my academic career, I have been at HSE University, and I do not regret it for a moment—it’s a wonderful place. However, when I attended international summer schools, I realised how much one can gain from engaging with the global academic community. These events were attended by researchers from top universities such as MIT. First, talking to them is a great pleasure, and second, their different perspectives can give your ideas an unexpected twist, inspire you, or suggest new directions to explore.

In principle, I would like to investigate a different topic and shift my focus somewhat away from field linguistics. However, first we need to publish more research on the Khanty language. My colleague and I plan to submit an article to Natural Language Semantics and see how it goes.

Today, all reputable journals express their appreciation for research on lesser-studied languages and are open to publishing relevant papers. Our submission might therefore be met with a respectful nod and comments like, 'Oh, the Khanty language—wonderful, very interesting.' However, their rigorous reviewers will likely critique our analysis to pieces. We will then reflect on their feedback, make the necessary revisions, and resubmit.

What Science Means to Me

To a large extent, the HSE School of Linguistics embodies science for me. It is about studying how things work in the world, and it is deeply collegial. There is a community of people genuinely interested in understanding how things function and willing to pursue this knowledge together. Although my field is quite individualistic—most articles are written solo, without co-authors—I recognise that my dissertation builds on the tremendous efforts of my colleagues, my Khanty advisors, and all my professors. Science is a collective endeavour, even when only my name and that of my academic supervisor appear on the paper.

If I Hadn't Become a Scientist

I would still work with texts in some other way. Perhaps I could be the editor of a cultural magazine. I enjoy writing, and sometimes I jot down little notes for myself about life. However, I realise that I wouldn’t be able to write a full book yet, because all my productive energy is currently devoted to academic writing.

Who I Would Like to Meet

Barbara H. Partee, who, in fact, has visited us. She is a professor of semantics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In the 1970s, she was one of the founders of linguistic semantics. Before that time, the formal semantics I now study was practically non-existent. Philosophers approached semantics by applying logic to language, but they were more interested in constructing formal languages than in analysing natural language.

It was only in the 1970s that significant developments occurred, in which Barbara played an active role as a linguist. She was able to engage with philosophers and demonstrate that linguists are neither inferior nor less capable, showing that they can bridge syntax and semantics. And she is absolutely charming, highly supportive, and a brilliant scholar.

A Typical Day for Me

My schedule varies from month to month, but the main elements today are generally the same. I usually start my morning by preparing cereal for breakfast. Over the years, I’ve realised the importance of setting aside time in the morning to ease into the day calmly, rather than rushing around and feeling like I’m falling behind. This way, I can begin work at a comfortable, steady pace.

I try to follow my instincts. If I realise that I don’t have the energy to write an article at the moment, I focus on simpler work tasks instead.

Eating regularly is essential—without it, no work is possible. Treat yourself occasionally, especially after completing a difficult task. In between, relax—read articles, watch anime, and when the workday ends, have some fun. I try to work on weekdays and rest on weekends, which is also important, because I now remember the times I worked on weekends as unhappy.

Whether I Have Experienced Burnout

I experienced burnout at the end of my second year of master’s studies, precisely when I was working on weekends, and it was very challenging. It so happened that I was assigned a fairly heavy teaching load while simultaneously taking master’s courses and preparing my thesis. By April, I was so overwhelmed that I had almost no energy left and completed my thesis largely on inertia, relying heavily on the support of my supervisor. Nevertheless, it eventually turned out quite well.

I remember that period as very sad and stressful. Thankfully, since then, I don't think I have experienced anything like it. I realised that it was a critical mistake and that I must do everything possible to prevent it from happening again—take time to rest, let go of unnecessary work, and avoid nonessential projects.

My Interests besides Science

I have several hobbies centred on content consumption, including anime, TV shows, video games, and, to a lesser extent, books. My priorities have shifted over the years. For example, at the moment, I mostly play video games and don’t watch or read as much.

The Bear, a TV series set in a kitchen, has recently left a strong impression on me. It’s beautifully shot and is, at its core, a family drama. The chefs and waiters form a kind of working family—a very dysfunctional one at that—but gradually they learn to communicate better with one another. The main character’s family also face their own problems, yet they strive to overcome them out of love. I deeply relate to these values.

In addition, I play the guitar. This is an important part of my life, although I neglected it for a time while focusing too much on science. It was only toward the end of my doctoral programme that I gradually returned to playing.

I bought a guitar stand so I wouldn’t have to put the instrument back in its case every time, and now it occupies a prominent place in my room. I enjoy picking it up periodically and playing a few songs for myself between work sessions.

I would like to start playing more systematically, learning new pieces and perhaps revisiting some classical guitar repertoire. At the moment, I mostly play songs, but as a child I also played classical pieces. Bach composed lute works that the guitarist John Williams has arranged for classical guitar—I really enjoy both their sound and the pleasure of playing them.

In general, I most enjoy three types of music: popular Korean music (both pop and hip-hop), progressive metal and rock—especially the band Tool—and indie rock, such as Big Thief and their frontwoman Adrianne Lenker. Over the past two years, I’ve listened to them a great deal and have even learned to play a couple of their songs. 

It’s an absolute balm for the soul: the songs are gentle and kind, yet not overly simple, so they’re never boring to play. The lyrics often feature touches of humour and unexpected rhymes, which makes them especially catchy.

Advice for Aspiring Scientists

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In my experience, senior colleagues are often the best source of knowledge and guidance for navigating the chaotic world of science. Many people are willing to help, even if they live in other countries and don’t know you personally. For example, if an author has published a new article on a topic and you don’t have access to it, you can reach out to them directly—most of the time, they will send you a copy.

My Favourite Place in Moscow

Mission, a bar on Staraya Basmannaya not far from HSE University. The place is charming—a small, one-story space, where you can see the arched ceiling. The interior is decorated in pleasant colours, with flowers, and they serve delicious craft beer along with amazingly tasty vegan food. Even though I’m not a vegan, I enjoy eating there, and I especially like going there with my colleagues.

My Favourite Place in Kazym

It’s the Khanty village we visit on our expeditions. Kazym lies along the Amnya River, which meanders beautifully through the village and splits into two branches. The village is full of houses, and there are only two spots where you can reach the riverbank.

One of these spots is a clearing between rows of village houses. From there, on the right, you can see the branches of the Amnya River. It’s beautiful at any time of year. When the river is frozen, you can go out onto it, ride snowmobiles, or slide on banana sleds.

Kazym is quite popular with tourists. There’s a wonderful ethnographic museum with engaging exhibitions and delicious food. The museum’s mission is to showcase traditional Khanty life. It displays traditional costumes, toys, dishes, and decorations, and even features a Khanty hut that visitors can explore.