Мифолингвистическое исследование некоторых балканских архетипных моделей при номинации ласки
Mytholinguistic Inquiry into Some Balkan Archetype Models in the Nomination of the Weasel

Summary/Abstract: The present research employs the method of mytholinguistics to inquire into certain names for the weasel in the Balkan region in the context of the mythoreligious beliefs and rites related to them. The mytholinguistic analyses demonstrate the existence of a common Balkan archetype model in the nomination of the weasel in Bulgarian and in some other Balkan languages. This model emerges in the names characterized by the internal form ‘young married woman’ as well as in some other names of similar internal form related to the wedding rituals. An ancient model has been explored that explicates the symbolic status of the small predator related to female, pristine (girl-like), and wedding symbolism, which is presumably the result of substrate influence of pre-Slavic or even pre-Indo-European mythological beliefs and rites. The motivation behind these names is connected with the popular ancient ritualistic practice “funeral at a wedding”, relics of which have been preserved in the Balkans. Another archetype model emerges in the Balkan context with certain names for the weasel in Bulgarian and Romanian; this, however, is of Slavic origin. It intertwines structural marriage and kin relations between the weasel and the birds (mostly the swallow).

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