2017/01/01 by Naďa Vaverová · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Linguistics and language evolution #European Linguistics and Anthropology
paper · pdf · doi:10.22364/vnf.8.18
openalex publication_date 2017/01/01 · openalex created_date 2019/12/26 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
The article analyses expressions for the otherworld in Baltic languages. Attention is given in particular to expressions containing the lexeme 'world' and to the lexeme's origin -literally 'a place under the sun' -is highlighted. Comparison with close languages (Slavic) and not only linguistic approach, but also some data from folkloristics and mythology research seem to be important. Based on the linguistic analysis, comparison and folkloristic data, up to three groups of placement could be found in the analysed expressions -first: 'beyond', 'behind', included in the Latvian prefix aiz-, Lithuanian u-. Second 'opposite to', 'across', 'on the other side', represented by the pronoun part vi in Latvian compounds and anas, kitas the Lithuanian set phrases. There is also possibly a third: a location conveyed by a taboo-induced concealing term in the pronoun part of the expressions. Nevertheless, the main distinction which defines the 'otherworld' in Baltic languages seems to be the contrast to 'our world', 'the world upon which the sun is shining'.