Izvorni znanstveni članak
Plants and Geographical Names in Croatia
Hrvoje Čargonja
Branko Đaković
Antun Alegro
Sažetak
The main purpose of this paper is to present some general observations, regularities and insights into a complex relationship
between plants and people through symbolic systems like geographical names on the territory of Croatia. The
basic sources of data for this research were maps from atlas of Croatia1 of the scale 1:100000. Five groups of maps or areas
were selected in order to represent main Croatian phytogeographic regions. A selection of toponyms from each of the
map was made in which the name for a plant in Croatian language was recognized (phytotoponyms). Results showed
that of all plant names recognized in geographical names the most represented are trees, and among them birch and oak
the most. Furthermore, an attempt was made to explain the presence of the most represented plant species in the phytotoponyms
in the light of general phytogeographical and sociocultural differences and similarities of comparing areas.
The findings confirm an expectation that the genera of climazonal vegetation of particular area are the most represented
among the phytotoponyms. Nevertheless, there are ample examples where representation of a plant name in the names of
human environment can only be ascribed to ethno-linguistic and socio-cultural motives. Despite the reductionist character
of applied methodology, this research also points out some advantages of this approach for ethnobotanic and ethnolinguistic
studies of greater areas of human environment.
Ključne riječi
plants; geographical names; phytotoponyms; toponyms; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
27055
URI
Datum izdavanja:
2.9.2008.
Posjeta: 1.081 *