LIETUVIŲ KALBOTYROS KLAUSIMAI XXXV (1995)

LIETUVIŲ LEKSIKOLOGIJOS TYRINĖJIMAI

Angelė VILUTYTĖ

J. PABRĖŽOS BOTANIKOS TERMINŲ ŽODYNAS ”SRYJE BALSENYNYNY” (1834)

For many years J. Pabrėža gathered material about the flora of Samogitia and undertook the enormous task of writing botanical works in Lithuanian. This was difficult work, because he had to create botanical terminology himself and adapt Lithuanian names for plants. J. Pabrėža worked alone, with no one to rely on, but, being extraordinarily industrious and persistent, he compiled extensive botanical dictionaries that remain important to scholarship today.

J. Pabrėža collected plant names from spoken language and used the material he gathered to create scientific terminology. This work required thorough theoretical analysis.

In 1921, J. Elisonas found, among J. Pabrėža’s manuscripts in the library of the Kretinga monastery, the manuscripts of a large botanical terminology dictionary, ”Sryje Balsenyny,” and of an article with the same title. Recognizing that the article was the first to examine interesting issues in botanical terminology, J. Elisonas published it as — ”Notes relating to the composition of a complete Samogitian flora” (Uwagi łączące się ulozenia doskonaley Flory Zmudzkiej)¹. J. Pabrėža’s article in question, written in Polish in 1834, can be regarded as the theoretical basis for the dictionary examined further in this study (Sryje Balsenyny. Būluu Žemayt. Lotinyyniu Par Kónyga Ambrozieejó Paabrezá sóórinktu. Metusy 1834. Kretingoo. — ”Lithuanian-Latin dictionary of plant morphology”). Since J. Pabrėža discusses in the article the same terms as in the dictionary, the article can even be considered an introductory part of the dictionary. The author used the article published by J. Elisonas.

The article sets out seven notes (sections) in which J. Pabrėža explains how plant names are formed, provides an etymological classification of Samogitian names, and examines in detail the words from which the respective names are derived.

In the first note of the article, J. Pabrėža says that Samogitian plant names are generally used in the plural (in plurali numero), e.g.: avietes (f. pl.) ~ avietes Rubus idaeus, kvijte (m. pl.) ~ kviečiai Triticum hybernum, dagė (m. pl.) ~ dagiai Centaurea benedicta, gailė (m. pl.) ~ gailiai Ledum palustre, etc. When used in the singular (in singulari numero), these names refer instead to the seed or fruit. Tree names are used only in the singular: ašis (m. sing.) ~ uosīs Fraxinus excelsior, gtūsnis (m. sing.)

¹ Elisonas J. Notes relating to the arrangement of the Flora of Samogitia. — Kosmos 1, 1922, 46—51; 2, 1923, 183—186; 3, 283—294.

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~ gluostis Salix fragilis. Mushroom names have both singular and plural forms. The plural forms, however, denote a family: barawijks ~ barawijnkã (m.) ~ baravukai, kelmutis ~ kelmutė (m.) ~ kelmučiai.

In the other notes of the article, J. Pabrėža states that Samogitian plant names can be divided into two main classes: simple (voces simplicae) and compound (voces compositae). In J. Pabrėža’s view, plant names may be derived from various parts of speech. For example, from adjectives (voces derivatae ab adjectivis): gayle (m. pl.) Ledum palustre (ab adjectivo gaytus), aklė (m. pl.) Galeopsis versicolor (ab adjectivo aklas), kulė (m. pl.) Angelica silvatica (ab adjectivo kultus); rūksžtijnes (f. pl.) Rumex acetosa (ab adjectivo rugsztus), rėtynos (f. pl.) Scabiosa succisa (ab adjectivo retas). Plant names may also derive from verbs (voces derivatae a verbis): kibe ~ kibiai (m. pl.) Aretum Lappa (a verbo kibti), dagė ~ dagiai (m. pl.) Centaures benedicta (a verbo dijgti), wyturės ~ wyturės (f. pl.) Convolvulus arvensis (a verbo wyturti).

J. Pabrėža also gives compound names (vocabula composita), which may consist of two nouns (substantivum cum substantivo), e.g.: wyłkadalge ~ wilkadalgaı (m. pl.) Iris pseudacorus (ex Wylk’s et·dalgis), warnakė ~ varnakiai (m. pl.) Senecio Jakobea (ex Warna et akis); or of a noun and an adjective (substantivum cum adjectivo): geltongalwe ~ geltongalviai (m. pl.) Ranunculus acris, baltagalwe ~ baltagalviai (m. pl.) Anthemis arvensis, etc. According to J. Pabrėža, to form plant genus names that accord with the spirit of the Samogitian dialect, a calque from Latin may be used, or a name (designation) may be formed from a characteristic root plus an appropriate suffix.

This terminological work served as a kind of guide for J. Pabrėža’s botanical works.

Before writing his largest work on plant systematics, ”Tayslõus augalų mynnys” (”Plant system”), J. Pabrėža (1821—1834) wrote several preparatory works, namely: ”Dictionarium Botanicum Latino Samogiticum” (”Latin-Lithuanian plant-name dictionary”), prepared around 1821; ”Vardaa tayslyvnee Augimiu (”Systematic plant-name dictionary”); and the previously mentioned ”Sryje Balsenynny Biluu Žemayt. Lotinywny” (”Alphabetical dictionary of Lithuanian-Latin plant morphology terms”). J. Pabrėža wrote the latter dictionary in 1834.

This article aims to examine the sources and lexicographic structure of the dictionary ”Sryje Balsenynny.” The manuscript is held in the library of the Lithuanian Botanical Society. The author used a photocopy held by the Dictionary Department of the Institute of the Lithuanian Language. No one has written specifically about this dictionary by J. Pabrėža. The manuscript of ”Sryje Balsenynny” (hereafter SB) has 505 pages. It is written in ink. The handwriting is elegant and neat, although not all the pages are the same size or equally legible. In the dictionary text, after the Latin terms, we find several abbreviations: Blaff (in some places Bluf and Bl), Bess, Pers, Link, Rich, Wach, Grec, etc. J. Pabrėža does not explain these abbreviations anywhere in the SB dictionary, but in the preface to ”Taisliaus,” ”Prajows weykala,” in the section ”Paagalbas, kokių datiriaua

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“... of our glorious Samogitian language, in this matter”² he thanks Jonas Wolfgang, who gave him the very excellent Latin work by M. Bluffo and C. Fingerungo, “Compendium Florae Germaniae” (Norimbergae 1825). In the same place J. Pabrėža also mentions other works whose titles correspond to the abbreviations mentioned above: V. S. Besser, Enumeratio plantarum hucusque in Volhynia, Podolia, Gubernia Kijovien­si etc. collectarum (Vilnae 1822). Species plantarum seu Enchiridium Botanicum etc. Curante Dr. C. H. Persoon (Petropoli 1817). C. Linnei Genera Plantarum etc. Curante Dr. Joan. Jac. Reichard (Francofurti ad Moenum 1778). Linc. Handbuch zur Erkennung etc. (Berlin 1829). Monografija Skrzypow przez J.P.Vaucher Genewy. Tłumaczenie z francuzkiego przez W.J.Pannę Alexandrę Wolfgang. (Wilno 1826).

There is no evidence that J. Pabrėža used any dictionary of botanical terminology. In the introduction to SB, “A Few Words for the Reader,” J. Pabrėža explains the purpose of the dictionary: it is said to be very valuable to the reader, since it contains not only Latin “words” (terms), but also Samogitian ones; moreover, the dictionary is said to be the only one, because “the reader will not find any more Samogitian works of this kind.” The dictionary includes the abbreviation Grec, indicating that J. Pabrėža translated term names not only from Latin but also from Greek. In some places, a Greek word appears alongside a Latin term, for example: augime (~ augymė) — planta (phytos), barzda — barba (pogon), dagtys (~ dantys) — dens (odon), akouts (~ akuotas) — arista (athera), aplink — circa (peri), po — intra (hypo), balnaskūris (~ balnaskūris) — leucodermis, etc.

The structure of SB is simple: words are listed in Lithuanian alphabetical order in two columns; on the left are single-word and compound Lithuanian terms, and on the right their Latin equivalents. A hyphen separates the Lithuanian words from the Latin ones. All Latin words are underlined with a straight line. The margins contain numerous additions. In some places, grammatical labels are also given alongside words, e.g., adjec., adver., conjunctio, etc.

For a term, the dictionary’s author also provides diminutive forms, adding the appropriate suffixes, e.g.: warpa ~ warpeely (little bell), warpuuty (~ little bell), warpyyky (~ tiny bell), žyydis (~ flower), žydeelis (~ little flower), žyiditeelis (~ tiny flower), gisla (~ vein) (vena), gisleely (~ little vein) (venula). Alongside other similar terms, forms of denominal adjectives are also given, e.g.: blakstienaa (~ eyelashes) — blakstieniigs (~ eyelashed), blakstienots (~ eyelash-like), skiida (~ shield) — skidoots (~ shield-shaped) — skidoouts (~ provided with a shield), kóópka (~ cluster), kóúpkkóóuts (~ clustered), kóúpkinynis (~ cluster-like), etc.

As in other dictionaries of the period, verbs are given in the first person, e.g.: atweró (~ I open) — aperio, dabojó (~ I observe) — observo, dalyjó (~ I divide) — divido, geemó (~ I am born) — nascor, etc.

To describe plant stems, leaves, inflorescences, and other parts, J. Pabrėža also provides participial phrases, e.g.: atsyremąs strajós (leaning against a stem-

² P a b r ė ž a A. Prajows weykala. — P a b r ė ž a A. Botanika arba Taislius Auguminis (manuscript), 1843, III.

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(stem) — incumbens anthera, atgaal kni̇̇ḃas (~ leaning back) — retro spectans, nóóslẹṅkas laps (~ a descending leaf) — decurrens folium, kyylsṫas žydis (~ an ascending flower) — ascendens flos, kyylsṫati siekla (~ an ascending seed) — ascendens semen, prikliṁbati kaaruna (~ an adhering corolla) — adhaerens corolla, priṡykyyṡas koots (~ an adjacent stem) — contiguus stipes. It is unclear whether this is because SB was a preparatory work for J. Pabrėža’s other works, or because he understood the terminology of plant morphology too broadly, but the dictionary also includes separately listed adverbs, numerals, pronouns, prepositions, and even particles: abejur (~ on both sides) — utrimque, apaar (~ besides) — praeter, auksztaa (~ high) — alte, auksztesnee (~ higher) — altius, daar (~ still) — nondum, jpate (~ especially) — deorsim, jaau (~ already) — iam, dó (two) — duo, seeptiny (~ seven) — septem, pęękts (~ fifth) — quintus, etc.

The dictionary contains numerous compound terms, mostly two-word terms. Two-word terms are most often formed from a noun and an adjective, or an adverb and an adjective. They are generally listed alphabetically by the second element, with the first element repeated, e.g.: sieklyniič́zė daugiawaly (~ many-valved seed vessel) — pericarpium multivalve, sieklyniič́zė dwykiawaaly (~ two-valved seed vessel) — pericarpium multivalve, sieklyniič́zė ketórkiawaaly (~ four-valved seed vessel) — pericarpium tetravalve, nóóugs akouts (~ naked awn) — nuda arista, nóóugs ražis (~ naked culm) — nudus culmus, nóóugs styibs (~ naked stem) — nudus caulis, nóóugs žydis (~ naked flower) — nudus flos, laapinta galweely (~ leafy capitulum) — foliosum capitulum, laapinta keeky (~ leafy raceme) — foliosus racemus, laapinta koupka (~ leafy calyx) — foliosus calyx, laapinta paklooty (~ leafy involucre) — foliosus involucrum, laapinta waarpa (~ leafy spike) — foliosa spica, kekieetaa rypkóóuts (~ racemosely whorled) — racemoso verticillatus, kekieetaa sodieets (~ racemosely arranged) — racemoso compositus, kekieetaa waarpots (~ racemosely spicate) — racemoso spicatus, paarmaatomaa plieweets (~ transparently membranous) — pellucide membranaceus, paarmaatomaa spóágóóuts (~ transparently dotted) — pellucide punctatus, etc.

When species terms are listed under the subordinate (adjectival or participial) element, the natural order of the elements in the word combination is retained, e.g.: sóódieta keeky (~ arranged raceme) — compositus racemus, sóódieta kóóupka (~ arranged calyx) — compositus calyx, sóódieta óóuga (~ arranged berry) — composita bacca, sóódieta waarpa (~ arranged spike) — composita spica, etc.

Compound terms of three or more words are also usually listed alphabetically in the dictionary, with the words combined successively, e.g.: dóbóltaa atrýristy taapa (~ doubly unfurled leaves) — duplicato revoluta folia; dóbóltaa dweeytos laps (~ doubly folded leaf) — duplicato binnatum folium; dóbóltaa isiaussty taapa (~ doubly enveloped leaves) — duplicato involuta folia; plaaukaa penóklyynee szakoothyjyn skidooty (~ fine-haired, branched, shield-shaped) — pili lymphatici ramosi scutati; plaaukaa penóklyynee szmotóóutyjyn (~ fine-haired, jointed) — pili lymphatici articulati, etc. For some Lithuanian terms, international terms are also given in round brackets, sometimes after the word kyteep (~ in another way), such as: rasodnós (kyteep iinspekts)

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~ rasodnas (otherwise inspektas), wylnieets (otherwise rólngiǿóts) ~ vilnetas (otherwise rulongiuotas).

The dictionary contains terms translated into Polish: augimniíčźe istoryynu (~ Botanika historyczna), augimniíčźe nó’mriedy (~ Botanika ekonomiczna), augimniíčźe skyrtynyyny (~ Botanika opisowa), augimniíčźe zolyny (~ Botanika lekarska).

J. Pabrėža was from the Lenkimai area. He wrote his botanical works in his native coastal Kretinga Samogitian dialect.

Already in the introduction to “Taislius,” J. Pabrėža said: ”I wrote not for Lithuanians (who may find scribes far better than me for themselves), but for true Samogitians”³. The language of the dictionary ”Sryje Balsenyny” is also Samogitian (in phonetics, morphology, and lexicon alike). However, J. Pabrėža’s spelling is highly distinctive. In the preface to ”Taislius,” J. Pabrėža discusses the spelling of his work (Apey Rasztuyny (Ort-hographia) kokios čźe jėmiaus apey apsyyrykymus wertus pataysyyty). Here the author says that ”I wrote the words as they are spoken in the old Samogitian language”⁴.

In the dictionary, J. Pabrėža uses the Polish alphabet, adapting it to the phonetics of the dialect. ”I wrote the sounds (Litera) just as they were used in Polish speech at the end of the century”⁵. The consonants č, š, ž correspond to cz, sz, z, for example: dwysz oonis (~ two-sided), szaknys (~ root), aszeely (~ axil). Softly pronounced č, š, ž are marked ćź, śź, ź, for example: ćźesnakinis (~ garlic-like), śźerióóuts (~ bristly), sieklyniíčźe (~ seed pod). The hard consonant l is marked ł: blakstienaa (~ eyelashes), taps (~ leaf), but: daugeleee (~ many), aukszliis (~ aukšlys).

The vowel i corresponds to y in standard language, and at the end of a word to i or į, for example: augimys (~ aygymės), ira (~ is), bi (~ by), pati (~ oneself). The vowel ó is midway between o and u and corresponds to Samogitian ǫ, for example: dóbóltaa pjuklóóuts (~ double-sawn), atbókósee dątiets (~ bluntly toothed), kódla (~ kudla).

The diphthongs ay, au, ey, yi, óy, óu correspond in standard language to ai, au, ei, ie, oi, uo, for example: labay (~ very), lapóóuts (~ leafy), lyižów eelis (~ little tongue), kóupka (~ kuopka), styibs (~ stem), ketwersyynis (~ four-sided).

The diphthong ei is written in word endings instead of iai: dydeesney (~ larger), labiausey (~ most), but sometimes J. Pabrėža also uses ee: daugelItee (~ many-thinged).

In the dictionary, the double vowel aa denotes the ending ai, for example: daugingaa (~ plentifully), dątietaa (~ toothily), baltaa (~ white), źyidaa (~ flowers): The vowel ee denotes ~ iai: atbókósee (~ bluntly), gruudla pee (~ grain-leaved).

According to J. Pabrėža, the double vowels aa, ee, ii, oo, uu, yy should be written when a syllable ”has to be pronounced twice as long, not as if it were a single one”⁶. Thus, in a word, double vowels also indicate a stressed or lengthened vowel,

³ P a b r ė ž a A. Ibid., V.

⁴ P a b r ė ž a A. Ibid., XI.

⁵ P a b r ė ž a A. Ibid., XI.

⁶ P a b r ė ž a A. Ibid., XI.

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e.g.: kaszeely (~ käsėlė), keelny (~ kelniė), waarpa (~ varpa), moorkaa (~ morkai), ruutaa (~ rūtai), etc.

J. Pabrėža’s spelling is highly distinctive and inconsistent, and clearly calls for a dedicated, comprehensive study. Some of the terms used by J. Pabrėža in this dictionary are still needed in the terminology of plant morphology today. The “Dictionary of Botanical Terms” (1965) includes the following botanical terms coined by Pabrėža: bristly leaf (folium hispidum, шершавый лист), fleshy stem (caulis carnosus, мясистый стебель), sheathed stem (caulis tunicatus, стебель снабженный оболочкой-туникой), hairy stem (caulis pilosus, волосистый стебель), bare stem (caulis nudus, голый стебель), fleshy stem (caulis carnosus, мясистый стебель), deciduous ring (annulus fugax), persistent ring = persistent ring (annulus persistens), mobile ring (annulus mobilis), eight-flowered whorl = eight-flowered whorl (verticillus octoflorus, восьмицветковая мутовка), true berry (bacca vera, истинная ягода), leafy thallus (frons, листоватое слоевище), cyphellae (cyphellae, цифеллы), etc.

Although many of the terms coined by J. Pabrėža are obsolete and differ from those used today (plant = plant, botany = botany, herbarium = herbarium, umbrella = umbrella, calyx = calyx, fruit = fruit), his botanical works are important as the first attempt to create Lithuanian terminology in this field.

Conclusions

1. In preparation for writing a large dictionary of plant morphology and systematics in the Samogitian dialect, J. Pabrėža produced several supplementary works. His dictionary “Sryje Balsenyyny” is one such preparatory work.

2. In writing this work, the author draws primarily not on any dictionary, but on the Latin-language botanical works of M. Besser, M. Bluff, D. H. F. Link, C. H. Person, and L. C. M. Richard, which were supplied to him by Prof. J. Wolfgang of Vilnius University.

3. Single-word and compound terms are presented alphabetically in the dictionary. Species terms are formed according to the natural word-combination patterns of the Lithuanian language. Alongside Latin terms, there are Greek and Polish equivalents. The lexicographic technique of the dictionary “Sryje Balsenyyny” does not differ from that of other manuscript dictionaries of the period.

4. Some terms used in the “Sryje Balsenyyny” dictionary are still used in the terminology of plant morphology today.

THE DICTIONARY OF BOTANICAL TERMINOLOGY “SRYJE BALSENYYNY” BY J. PABRĖŽA

Abstract

J. Pabrėža (1771—1849) was the first to create Lithuanian botanical terminology. The article discusses the terminological dictionary ”Sryje Balsenyyny”. The dictionary was published in 1834 and consists of 505 pages. The article focuses on investigating two main questions: 1) the sources and

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2) the lexicographical structure of the dictionary are examined. J. Pabrėža’s dictionary contains abbreviations such as Bluff, Bess, Link, and others. These are abbreviated family names on which J. Pabrėža relied when compiling his dictionary.

The botanical terms in the dictionary are presented in alphabetical order. In terms of their formation, the terms can be divided into those formed from one word and those formed from two words (simple and compound).

Some of the terms given in the aforementioned dictionary have not lost their significance even today.

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