Folk plant names in modern Lithuanian children’s prose Cover Image

Liaudiški augalų vardai šiuolaikinėje lietuvių vaikų prozoje
Folk plant names in modern Lithuanian children’s prose

Author(s): Aurelija Gritėnienė
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas
Keywords: modern Lithuanian children’s prose, lexis, dialect, names of plants, style

Summary/Abstract: This article provides an overview of plant names, which were found in works of modern Lithuanian children’s prose, which in some way (may it be through phonetics, formation, root or meaning) differ from the scientific names of those plants. Those sort of phytonyms were found in 76 works from 46 different authors. In the article the main emphasis is put on the usage of such names and also on their motivation, formation and functions in the text. Based on the tendencies of their usage, two large groups of phytonyms emerge: 1) names that are commonly used in spoken language by the folk (one-word genus and two-word species names); 2) vernacular plant names. Another large group is plant names, which have been adopted from other languages. In works of prose folk plant names enliven the style of the piece of writing, provide it with nationally specific features, widen children’s vocabulary, enrich their language and encourage them to comprehend reality better. Authors commonly use such names to create denominations for different places and characters. It has been noted, that the larger proportion of folk plant names are found in the works by authors of older generation. Authors with a dialect have a richer, more imaginative lexis, their texts are fuller of intonations of the living language. The chosen topic of the piece of writing is another factor that influences the usage of such phytonyms.

  • Issue Year: 16/2014
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 50-61
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Lithuanian