Culture as a distinctive feature of an ethnic group (based on example of Tatar of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania)

Poland, ID CLEaR2015-255; The article is focused on Tatar ethnic group. It tries to show on its example, how one can be open on other cultures without losing one’s identity and how to persevere in a different cultural environment. It refers to Tatars’ religious writings as the source helpful in maintaining cultural identity. An example of connection between Tatar translations and European tradition of translation, is used to characterize both permeation of cultures and features which served to build cultural separateness of Tatars living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Key words: diachronic linguistics, cultural heritage, research of texts, translation and interpretation, Kitab studies, Koran, Tatar ethnic group