Nazwy istot demonicznych i ich eufemizmy w gwarach śląskich
Names of Demonic Beings and Their Euphemisms in Silesian Dialects

Summary/Abstract: This article presents and discusses the names of demonic beings and their euphemisms, using Silesian material excerpted from the index of the „Dictionary of Silesian Dialects” (Silesian Institute). The names of demons were listed and discussed according to the following categories: demons of evil, i.e., devils; demons taking on a female form; water demons; fire demons (associated with fire); demons that torment and harm children; household demons; and semi-demonic beings: witches, night hags, phantoms, monsters, apparitions, and specters. The article also highlights related vocabulary found in Silesian dialects, such as adjectives and verbs, as well as diminutives, idiomatic expressions, and swear words that are directly linked to the categorization proposed in this article. Where possible, phonetic variants of individual lexemes were provided, including both those resulting from the dialectal system and those resulting from euphemization. The analyzed material presents the lexical and phraseological richness of Silesian dialects regarding the names of demonic beings.

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