Original scientific paper

Greek and Latin Idioms with Toponymic and Ethnonomic Components

Anita Bartulović orcid.org/0000-0003-0077-2775 ; University of Zadar, Department of Classical Philology, Zadar, Croatia
Linda Mijić orcid.org/0000-0003-3246-7652 ; University of Zadar, Department of Classical Philology, Zadar, Croatia

Abstract

Many idioms motivated by an ancient event or figure, which can be historical or mythological, have become commonly European. Their meaning and background are pretty transparent (e.g. Trojan horse, Gordian knot, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, and similar). However, it is sometimes difficult to fully perceive the context of the background of idioms with toponymic and ethnonymic components. This is motivated by some lesser-known cultural and geographical features, mythological scenes, or historical and political events and relations because the preserved literature and ancient lexicographical sources are fragmentary. The paper contrastively analyses Greek and Latin and the corresponding Croatian idioms with the abovementioned components based on the lexicographic sources. Similarities and differences in the motivation, background and meaning of idioms, grouped in different concepts, are explained utilising semantic and conceptual analysis. Contrastive analysis showed that most phrases in the analysed corpus have complete de-semantization and an anthropocentric orientation. Motivational non-transparent national idioms with ethnonymic and toponymic components are mostly negatively connoted.

Keywords

idiom; toponymic and ethnonymic component; contrastive analysis; Greek language; Latin language; Croatian language

Hrčak ID:

266303

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/266303

Publication date:

7.12.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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