Mythological vocabulary in the formulas for intimidating children (based on the Tambov region patois)

We analyze the layer of mythological vocabulary of Tambov patois that functions in the structure of formulas for intimidating children as communicative type texts, related to the sphere of traditional spiritual culture. We identify the structure features of such texts; composition of in-timidating characters; features of their lexical expression, portrait characteristics (local affiliation, presence of hair, body pathologies) and harmful functions. Mythological characters, serving as in-timidators, are deprived most of semantic features; the reduction of such names initial semantics can be compensated by the ideophonic features of these characters' nominations; the uncertainty of characters' appearance for intimidating children determines the inclusion in this set of subjects; the prevalence of folk pedagogical methods of intimidation is associated with the role played by fear and fright in the culture of childhood. For traditional culture bearers, intimidation can be recognized as a significant element of folk pedagogy, since it functioned not only on the verbal, but also on the actional levels.