hrvatski

Kolo starohrvatskih riječi za laž

The article analyses over ten Old Croatian words for 'lie' and 'liar' (himba, vuhva, last, podlasta, podmazica, podjama, podhiba, licemjer, hitrost). In medieval society and in the (Croatian) Christian community, lies were valued as exceptionally negative under the influence of Christian morals (every lie is evil), and the number of lexemes points to the importance placed on lies. Analysis of these words has shown that their meanings are derivations (most often through metaphorisation) of a primary meaning (either of the word or its derivative) that has no negative connotation (except lagati). The semantic development of the meanings of these words points to various motivations. Although a precise reconstruction of the semantic overlap and divisions between the words analysed is impossible, there is a visible semantic difference between the word laž (lie, false statement) and other words with more specific meanings that can carry nuances in meaning when uttered.

laž, starohrvatski leksik, semantika, etimologija

nije evidentirano