The Romance Balkans
The Romance Balkans
The Romance Balkans
BALKANOLO[KI INSTITUT
POSEBNA IZDAWA 103
ROMANSKI BALKAN
Zbornik radova sa me|unarodnog nau~nog skupa odr`anog 46. novembra 2006. Urednici Biqana Sikimi} Tijana A{i}
Beograd 2008
Belgrade 2008
Published by Institute for Balkan Studies Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Belgrade, 35 Knez Mihailova St. e-mail: balkinst@sanu.ac.yu www.balkaninstitut.com
Editorial Board Tijana A{i}, Andrej N. Sobolev, Biljana Sikimi}, Annemarie Sorescu-Marinkovi}, Julijana Vu~o Editor in Chief Nikola Tasi}
Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Loma, corresponding member, SASA Prof. Dr. Vesna Polovina
Publication of this collection of papers was financed by the project Ethnic and social stratification of the Balkans supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.
CONTENTS
Klaus Steinke: Contribution of Latin to the Balkansprachbund . . . . Helmut Schaller: Balkanromanischer Einfluss auf das Bulgarische . Alexander Falileyev: Roman and Pre-Roman: the Balkans and Hispania. A case of mal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anna Kretschmer: Djordje Brankovi} as etymologist: ethnonyms and toponyms in the Balkans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maslina Ljubi~i}: Geosynonyms in the seventeenth-century Croatian dictionary. About some Italianisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maja Kalezi}: Calamus (reflexes of Latin names as designations for the plant species Acorus calamus L. in Serbo-Croatian language) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ljiljana Dimitrova-Todorova: Sur letymologie de quelques mots demprunt roumains en bulgare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Todor At. Todorov: Trois mots demprunt roumains dans les parlers bulgares: kornica, p, trantuvam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Language Contact
17 27 37 45 65
73 83 89
Christian Voss: Romanisch-slawische Sprachkontakte: Balkanisierung, Akkommodation oder Gegenakkulturation? . . . . . . . . . . Xhelal Ylli: Aromunische Interferenzen in den slavischen Minderheiten Albaniens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrej N. Sobolev: On some Aromanian grammatical patterns in the Balkan Slavonic dialects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thede Kahl: Does the Aromanian have a chance of survival? Some thoughts about the loss of language and language preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kleanti Anovska: Sociolinguistic aspects in the Aromanian folk tales
97 107 113
123 141
Anna A. Plotnikova: RussianRomanian contacts in folk culture in the Balkans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Petya Assenova, Vassilka Aleksova: Observations sur la romanite balkanique en Bulgarie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annemarie Sorescu-Marinkovi}: The Bayash in Croatia: Romanian vernaculars in Baranja and Medjimurje. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Biljana Sikimi}: Karavlachs in Bosnia and Herzegovina today . . . . Corinna Leschber: RomanianSerbian code-mixing phenomena . . . Marijana Petrovi} Rignault: Do- : etude dun prefixe verbal en valaque . Ingmar Sohrman: A cognitive approach to case-marked and prepositional genitival constructions in Romanian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jelena Filipovi}, Ivana Vu~ina Simovi}: Language and identity among the Sephardim in the territory of the former Yugoslavia . . . . . Ana Jovanovi}, Marija Mati}: Language acquisition through exposure to Hispanic telenovelas: an excuse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tatjana [otra: Autour de la francophonie et de la francophilie en Serbie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tijana A{i}, Veran Stanojevi}: Lemploi des temps verbaux chez les locuteurs non-natifs du franais le cas de gastarbeiters serbes, valaques et tziganes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julijana Vu~o: Foreign language policy: the Italian language in Serbia and Montenegro today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
151 161 173 227 247 261 289 303 319 339
351 375
LANGUAGE CONTACT
Collection of papers THE ROMANCE BALKANS Published by Institute for Balkan Studies Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Belgrade, 35 Knez Mihailova St. e-mail: balkinst@sanu.ac.yu www.balkaninstitut.com Graphical Design Davor Pal~i} Cover Design Sladjana Rajli} Cover Vlach traditional costume at the village fair in Urovica, north-eastern Serbia, photo by Annemarie Sorescu Marinkovi} Copy Editor, Translator and Lector Aleksandra Popovi}, Vladimir Pavlovi} Printed by PUBLISH Printed in 500 copies CIP Katalogizacija u publikaciji Narodna biblioteka Srbije, Beograd 811.13(082) 811.16 (082) INTERNATIONAL Concerence The Romance Balkans (2006 ; Beograd) The Romance Balkans : collection of papers presented at the International Conference The Romance Balkans, 46 November 2006 / edited by Biljana Sikimi}, Tijana A{i} ; translator Aleksandra Popovi}, Vladimir Pavlovi}. Belgrade : Institute for Balkan Studies SASA, 2008 (Belgrade : Publish). 386 str. : ilustr. ; 24 cm. (Specijal Editions / Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Balkan Studies ; 103) Na spor. nasl. str. : Romanski Balkan. Radovi na engl. , franc. i nem. jeziku. Biljana Sikimi} and Tijana A{i}. Napomene i bibliografske reference uz tekst. Bibliografija uz svaki rad. ISBN 978-86-7179-060-4 a) Romanski jezici Zbornici b) Slovenski jezici Zbornici COBISS.ST-ID 150841612
structures of local dialects of the languages spoken in this area are actually very perspicuously similar to each other (Mi{eska Tomi} 2004). Nonetheless, these are only papers collected from the conference (with minimal subsequent editorial intervention), and the objective is not to offer a representative overview of the present situation in European Balkan linguistics. The Commission on Balkan Slavic Linguistics of the International Committee of Slavists, founded in 1993, holds regular meetings in various Balkan studies centres as part of topic-focused scholarly conferences. The official Commission meetings were held in April 1997 in Marburg (Germany) under the title Current Problems of Balkan Linguistics. Basic questions of the Balkan Linguistic Atlas; May 2001 in St. Petersburg (Russia) Current Problems of Balkan Linguistics and Questions of Elaboration of the Balkan Linguistic Atlas; October 2002 in Sofia (Bulgaria) Current Problems of Balkan Linguistics. Aspects of research of a Common Balkan Lexicon; August 2003 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) as part of the 13th International Congress of Slavists, in June 2004 again in St. Petersburg The Languages and Dialects of Small Ethnic Groups in the Balkans, and in November 2006 in Belgrade (Serbia) The Romance Balkans. The Romance Balkans conference was organized by a research team from the Institute for Balkan Studies, Belgrade, engaged on a multidisciplinary project called Ethnic and Social Stratification of the Balkans financed by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia. This international linguistic conference focused on the diachronic and synchronic dimensions of Romance languages in the Balkans, the historical influence of Latin and the Romance languages on other Balkan languages, and the current state of linguistic research (Romanian dialects, Sephardic Spanish). The papers presented covered comparative linguistics, etymology, onomastics, geographical linguistics, socio- and anthropolinguistics, applied linguistics, theoretical and methodological issues, while addressing various questions and phenomena linked to the presence of Romance languages and culture on the Balkans. Many were described and elucidated from different scientific standpoints. The variety of topics and approaches suggests that both Romance and Balkan studies should be broadened and adapted to meet the exigencies of contemporary study. The beginning of the 21st century in Balkan Studies saw growing interest in the vernaculars of small ethnic groups in the Balkans, evident at the previous conference of the Commission on Balkan Linguistics, held in St. Petersburg in June 2004 (a collection of papers appeared in 2005, six dealing with Aromanian issues). The interest in Aromanian studies continues in this volume (Xhelal Ylli: Aromunische Interferenzen in den
slavischen Minderheiten Albaniens, Andrej N. Sobolev: On some Aromanian grammatical patterns in the Balkan Slavonic dialects, Kleanti Anovska: Sociolinguistic aspects of Aromanian folk tales, Thede Kahl: Does Aromanian have a chance of survival? Some thoughts about loss of language and language preservation). As in modern Slavistics, current Balkan linguistic research is interested in non-standard varieties, especially from the point of view of a combination of functional and typological approaches: each non-standard variety is a self-contained system. The fundamental postulate of linguists working in Balkan dialectology today is that any dialect is as good and systemically complete as any other, whether standard or non-standard. A key difference is that a standard is the object of conscious intervention, whereas a non-standard is not. In recent years, there has been too much emphasis in Slavistics on standards and not enough on dialects as non-standards (as opposed to the sense of systemic language variant be it standard or non-standard). There is a long and rich tradition of Balkan linguistics, but it has by and large focused on historical issues and mainly dealt with phonology and morphology. Traditionally, far less attention has been directed toward the syntax of the Balkan languages per se or to its place in Universal Grammar (Rivero/Ralli 2001). The situation can be compared to that of Slavic linguistics which has deep roots in its philological origins. While the study of linguistic systems has diverged considerably from theories of literature in recent decades, Slavic linguistics remains firmly committed to the pursuit of synchronic and diachronic knowledge that often simply cannot be captured by formalist approaches. In fact, Slavic linguists continue to engage in diachronic studies where many linguistics departments do not. As the next feature of this collection, we would point to a new approach to the now classic but rare 1718th century sources on the Balkans. Maslina Ljubi~i} in a paper called Geosynonyms in the 17th Century Croatian dictionary. About some Italianisms analyses Ivan Belostenecs Latin-Croatian and Croatian-Latin two-volume dictionary, written in the 17th century and edited more than sixty years after the authors death. Belostenecs lexicographic approach is defined as tridialectal, so his dictionary, consisting of kajkavian, ~akavian and {tokavian components offers many geosynonyms. The paper focuses on some Italianisms found among Dalmatian words of the Gazophylacium. Anna Kretschmer reexamines the historical beginnings of scientific etymology, especially in examples of Romance toponyms and ethnonyms in the study Djordje Brankovi} as etymologist: ethnonyms and toponyms in the Balkans.
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This volume draws particular attention to Daco-Romanian vernaculars in the diaspora, with as many as four studies devoted to Romanian Bayash speech patterns across an extensive geographical area stretching from Croatia through Bosnia-Herzegovina to Bulgaria (Petya Assenova, Vassilka Aleksova: Observations sur la romanite balkanique en Bulgarie ; Biljana Sikimi}: Karavlahs in Bosnia and Herzegovina Today; Annemarie Sorescu-Marinkovi}: The Bayash in Croatia: Romanian vernaculars in Baranja and Medjimurje and Corinna Leschber: Romanian-Serbian code-mixing phenomena). These anthropological and socio-linguistic articles endeavour to avoid the traps of inventing new ethnic myths in the construction of small ethnic groups, or the myth of Roma nomadism in opposition to the myth of territory among sedentary peoples. The stress on the Romance, apart from traditional Balkan linguistic fields and a diachronic approach (etymology, onomastics, folk-etymology), points to current research in Balkan linguistics, whether mutually coordinated or not. This is a new anthropologically oriented approach to fieldwork, and consequently more care has to be paid to research ethics. Extensive audio material gathered during field research has enabled a growing interest in dialect syntax, which correlates to a growth of interest in these topics in Europe. The volume further points to the notion of the boundary as important for modern Balkan studies and to the role of religious language in identity construction. Certain Balkan specifics have been observed in contact-linguistics, and possibilities of applying the results of cognitive linguistics. In the light of this re-examination of the boundaries of Balkan linguistics, it is the editors desire to contribute to moving on from the present situation in the humanities on the Balkans (a period which we might characterise as post-Todorova, an era of reinventing the Balkans and of post-colonialism). The collection begins with some contributions to the diachronic, theoretical in nature, such as Klaus Steinkes Contribution of Latin to the Balkansprachbund , etymological (Ljiljana Todorova, Todor T. Todorov, Maja Kalezi}) and onomastic research such as the work of Xhelal Ylli referred to above: Aromunische Interferenzen in den slavischen Minderheiten Albaniens, and Alexander Falileyev: Roman and Pre-Roman: the Balkans and Hispania. A case of mal. Papers on anthropological linguistics follow: Anna A. Plotnikova: Russian-Romanian contacts in folk culture in the Balkans, and socio-linguistics. Christian Voss, in his theoretical paper: Romanisch-slavische Sprachkontakte: Balkanisierung, Akkommodation oder Gegenakkul-
11
turation? discusses with Uwe Hinriks the issue of creolisation of Balkan languages, with the acceptance of Dieter Sterns views, developed more recently in the Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie magazine. Voss proposes to the Balkanologists the Matrix Language Frame model of Carol Myers-Scotton, an expert in Africanistics. Marijana Petrovi}-Rignault explores a very interesting linguistic micro-phenomenon, the grammatical influence of the Serbian language on the Vlach dialect spoken in Valakonje, a bilingual village in eastern Serbia. The transcripts she collected show that a verbal prefix do-, conveying a variety of spatial and abstract meaning in Serbian, is used in Vlach as a marker of aspectual transformation or aspect-related intentionality: it denotes that a process in question is accomplished or the speakers objective is to accomplish it. It should be noted that a similar phenomenon has been observed in Romanian dialects in some Banatian villages situated on both sides of the Serbo-Romanian border. The prefix is mainly found in verbs of motion and mental states, for which the aspectual information is extremely relevant. However, the author emphasizes that this type of prefixation is still contextually constrained and occasional: it is much more common in dialogues then in narratives (in which the aspectual opposition perfective-imperfective is still expressed by verbal tenses). A very important theoretical question raised by the paper is whether this dynamic grammatical process, exclusively due to a superposition of two languages, will affect the way the Vlach articulates the category of aspect in general, and consequently restrict the procedural information encoded by the verbal tenses in Vlach. The paper by Ana Jovanovi} and Marija Mati} investigates the role of exposure to Hispanic telenovelas (soap operas) in the acquisition of Spanish. The starting point of the research was a multiple choice test (based on a model of an on-line Spanish placement exam) given by the authors to a group of telenovela viewers, all native speakers of Serbian having had no formal instruction in Spanish, and to a group of native speakers of Serbian attending Spanish courses at A1 and A2 levels. The results show an advantage on the part of instructed learners over telenovela viewers in the language test. However, while instructed learners generally had difficulties in the fluent reproduction of spontaneous speech, most of the telenovela viewers were able to participate actively in meaningful conversation. This suggests that the input received through telenovelas was processed by the viewers, that it helped them to improve their pragmatic competence and hence was creatively used in language production. Besides the immediate implications for language instruction (con-
12
cerning the significant role of the interlingual caption), further research on this subject may offer additional insight on second language acquisition. The problem of non-guided and informal acquisition of a second language is also treated in a paper by Tijana A{i} and Veran Stanojevi}. This study (based on field work in Eastern Serbia in 2006) examines the usage of verbal tenses in French in the discourse of Serbian, Vlach and Gypsy Gastarbeiters. They all acquired French in an entirely spontaneous way by living and working in France and interacting with people. As methods to evaluate the informants linguistic knowledge, the authors used dialogues, narratives and questionnaires. The findings show that the process of natural acquisition generally results in two types of linguistic competence: a) The system of verbal tenses in French is mastered to a larger extent. Naturally, there are some irregularities but they do not destabilize the system. b) The system of verbal tenses is absent in the informants discourse. The reduced and deformed verbal forms they use give only conceptual information about the type of action but do not encode any temporal and aspectual information. The temporal reference is either given by adverbs or has to be contextually inferred. The question raised by authors is how to account for these substantial differences in linguistic competence. According to A{i} and Stanojevi}, three groups of factors are responsible for it: innate linguistic exposition (talent for language), propensity (motivation, attitude towards language and the environment in general, the desire to make a good impression etc.) and exposure to a foreign language (both quantitative and qualitative). The outcome of this research is twofold: on the one hand it should stress the essential role of motivation in language acquisition and apply this finding to didactical methods in the teaching of foreign languages, and on the other, it concerns some psycholinguistic issues by challenging the Critical Period Hypothesis. In fact, both this paper and the one on the acquisition of Spanish through watching Hispanic telenovelas raise an extremely important theoretical question: Does the natural acquisition of language really stop at a certain age or can adults master language similarly to children, since they do not lose access to the language acquisition device? The complex relation of language to identity among the Sephardim in the territories of the former Yugoslavia is the topic of Jelena Filipovi} and Ivana Vu~ina Simovi}s paper, in which they investigate the process of the disappearance of Judeo-Spanish. The analysis (based on relevant data from periodicals, books and some unpublished archival documents) suggests that a specific language ideology has played a crucial role in the language shift in favour of the majority languages in the region. The general social context, historical circumstances, along with a set of ne-
13
gative attitudes towards the ethnic language (a belief that Judeo-Spanish was degenerate Spanish, inferior to the dominant language) opened the way to a language shift which affected all Sephardic communities in the Balkans in the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. This linguistic process facilitated social progress and interethnic cooperation. This paper not only treats an important sociolinguistic topic (the factors causing language shift in a certain community) but also addresses the larger culturological and sociological problem of the importance of language for preserving ethnic identity. The study confirms the hypothesis that the preservation of ethnic identity among Jews over the centuries has often been strengthened by cultural (religious, traditional, literary, etc.) rather than linguistic criteria. In her paper entitled On francophonia and francophilia in Serbia, Tatjana [otra gives a brief chronological overview of the main factors that contributed to the promulgation of French language and culture in Serbia. Among many historical and sociological data that the author presents, two stand out as the most significant: first of all, the fact that in the 19th century many young intellectuals from Serbia went to French universities to develop and deepen their knowledge in various fields. As a result of this, French became a language of the intellectual and cultural elite in Serbia and also a sign of prestige. Julijana Vu~os paper Foreign Language Policy: The Italian Language in Serbia and Montenegro analyses the language policy underlying the study of foreign languages in Serbia and Montenegro, rarely based on any identifiable feeling or clear strategy. The place of the Italian language and the motivation for studying it have changed in the last twenty years: besides traditional reasons for learning this language relating to cultural needs, there are also those of a communicative type, relating to the uninterrupted political and cultural and to a certain extent economic ties, as well as a response to contemporary motives and migrations: emigration to Italy (the Po`arevac area) and the need for work contacts (Vr{ac, Kragujevac). In examining existing linguistic knowledge of the Balkans and opening up new topics for research, the The Romance Balkans collection of articles becomes an integral part of a series of editions dedicated to marginal, ethically challenging or urgent issues of very widely understood Balkan linguistics (Hidden minorities in the Balkans, Belgrade 2004; Bayash in the Balkans, Belgrade 2005; Refugee Kosovo, Kragujevac 2004; Life in the enclave, Kragujevac 2005; Torac, metodologia cercetarii de teren, Novi Sad 2006; Kurban in the Balkans, Belgrade 2007), part of the
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project Ethnic and social stratification of the Balkans, by the Institute for Balkan Studies, Belgrade.
Biljana Sikimi} and Tijana A{i} References
Lindstedt 2000 J. Lindstedt: Linguistic Balkanization: Contact-induced change by mutual reinforcement, Languages in Contact (D. Gilbers, J. Nerbonne, J. Schaeken, eds.), Studies in Slavic and General Linguistics, vol. 28, Amsterdam Atlanta, GA: Rodopi, 231246. Mi{eska Tomi} 2004 O. Mi{eska Tomi}: The Balkan Sparchbund properties: An introduction, Balkan Syntax and Semantics (O. Mi{eska Tomi}, ed.), Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 155. Rivero/Ralli 2001 M. L. Rivero, A. Ralli: Introduction, Comparative Syntax of Balkan Languages (M. L. Rivero, ed.), Cary, NC: Oxford University Press, 316.
1. Introduction Before discussing the essential contribution of the Latin language to the Balkansprachbund, a brief general remark about the present situation of the corresponding discipline seems to be called for. The Balkans or Southeastern Europe represents an important area not only of language contacts,1 which for a long time attracted the attention of many linguists,
1 At the end of the 20th century, this area again became the focus of European politics and a battleground for various wars as it had been in the 19th century. Old prejudices about the Balkan peoples were revived, as M. Todorova (1997) showed in her well-known
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beginning in the 19th century with B. Kopitar and Fr. Miklosich. It is mainly to their names that the emerging branch of knowledge is linked, its final denomination deriving from the fundamental work of Kr. Sandfeld (1930) Linguistique balkanique. Interest in this matter was based on certain structural similarities in Balkan languages such as Albanian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and, at least partially, Greek. It has never totally diminished, but there has been a complete change of emphasis in recent decades. The first theoretical concept for explaining the linguistic features claimed the influence of a distinct substratum2, which seemed to supply a satisfying answer to the question of the origin of specific Balkan elements: the balkanisms.3 This substratum was considered to be the starting point for establishing the Balkansprachbund and later dominated scientific discourse. Quite early on, however, St. Mladenov (1929 : 3) criticized the use of the substratum as an adequate explanation of all common features in the Balkan languages, because as he formulated it, in this case x is replaced by y, i.e. one largely unknown by another. At the same time linguists also looked for other and more convincing arguments to elucidate the origin of balkanisms and thought they had found them in a superstratum or adstratum, chiefly Greek and Latin, which seemed to have caused or at least influenced the development of the balkanisms. This argumentation is based on the long and enormous cultural dominance of these languages in Southeast Europe. The Roman Empire in particular for several centuries covered the main parts of the Balkans, and Latin was from the outset the language of the administration and the army in the newly occupied territories. After the extensive Romanization of the local population, it went on to fulfill the function of a mother tongue. Together with Greek it became the language of culture, religion and theology (of the latter from the very beginning). The southern and eastern Slavonic tribes in the territory of the later Bulgaria and of Kievian Russia were converted and acculturated mainly from Byzantium. Finally, more substantial doubts have been formulated in recent decades against traditional approaches in Balkan linguistics focusing exclusively on the Balkansprachbund as an explanatory model. New theoretical
and detailed study of the image of the Balkans in public opinion, and even in academic circles in the western world. 2 In fact, different languages were introduced into the discussion, such as Thracian, Illyrian, Dacian etc., but factual knowledge of them is very fragmentary and therefore the argumentation, lacking adequate and convincing linguistic material, remains unsatisfactory. 3 This term was neither invented nor introduced by M. Todorova, as some recent comments on her book suggest. It comes from a much older tradition, especially in linguistics.
19
discussions are connected to recent progress in linguistics, which offers a broader perception of Balkan problems. Sociolinguistics and contact linguistics in particular opened up new horizons for the interpretation of balkanisms. One of the most serious critics turned out to be N. Reiter (1994) whose book, Grundzuge der Balkanologie, placed him in the vanguard of the argument against established, traditional Balkan linguistics. He removes the restrictedness from the Balkan linguistic issue and indicates a way out of an awkward situation:
sie fuhren sogar aus der Balkanologie selbst hinaus, indem sie die balkanischen sprachlichen und sonstigen Verhaltnisse in einen groeren Zusammenhang einbetten. Fur mich ist er zunachst der gesamteuropaische (689).
His line of criticism finds firm support in several articles in the Handbuch der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik edited in 1999 by U. Hinrichs. Incidentally, the different denomination given to the particular area of study additionally illustrates these diverse approaches to linguistic research (Steinke 1999). 2. Balkan linguistics vs. Sudosteuropa-Linguistik This differentiation between two theoretical concepts, the one of Balkan linguistics and the other one of Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, has some close connection with the subject of this paper, because the position of the Latin language, or more precisely of her descendants in the Balkansprachbund, remains a matter of controversy (Steinke 1999: 69). Romanian philologists especially frequently object to the use of the term Balkan language for their own mother tongue, and therefore have for some time now favored terms such as studii sud-est europene or lingvistica sud-est europeana for this domain. Long before M. Todorova (1997) wrote her famous book Imagining the Balkans, for them the term already had a distinct and rather negative connotation. Usually, their disagreement is based on a geographical argument: they simply consider their country is not part of the Balkan Peninsula which starts further to the south, from the mountains of the Haemus.4 This is only part of the truth, however, because they also want to underline their Roman descent and do not want to be confused, as often happens, with their Slav neighborhood. This is one of the crucial points, why, for instance, the Slavonic influence on Romanian
4 The inflationary use of this term, losing its initial restricted sense, is demonstrated by the recent formula the Western Balkans, used by politicians to include Albania, Macedonia, Serbia etc. in their agenda.
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is often discussed and variously evaluated, and the role of Latin on linguistic contacts or the contribution made by the Roman element in the Balkansprachbund, is not always appreciated as it should be. Independently of how the role of Latin is evaluated in the context of Balkan linguistics or Southeast European linguistics, the importance of that language for this area cannot be neglected and remains one of the most important elements in the linguistic landscape of the region. Naturally, if we take Romanian in consideration, any unilateral approach to this complex problem should be avoided. Of course the fact that Latin has without a doubt contributed much to the Balkansprachbund does not mean that Romanian has taken nothing from neighboring languages.5 On the contrary, the numerous parallels with Albanian and with Bulgarian are too apparent and cannot be reduced to the influence of Latin alone. The long symbiosis of the Balkan languages has left evident traces in their physiognomy. 3. Balkan Latin Without any reservations, many Romanists since Kr. Sandfeld, G. Weigand, P. Skok, G. Reichenkron etc. have participated very actively in the development of Balkan studies. G. Weigand, P. Skok (1926ff) and R. Solta (1980) even introduced the central term Balkanlatein (Balkan Latin). A very profound description of Balkan Latin, with a wide-ranging and extensive discussion of its position in the context of Roman languages, was provided recently by R. Windisch (1998) in his exhaustive article for the voluminous and fundamental encyclopedia Lexikon der Romanistischen Linguistik. In its peripheral position Romanian6 has on the one hand some evident and surprising parallels with Spanish and on the other more substantial ones with Italian, which forms a bridge to the other central Neolatin idioms in the west. The common features with extinct Dalmatian idioms are important, because these were direct neighbors before the Slav invasion of the Balkan began. However, despite the numerous achievements, the participation of Romanists in Balkan linguistics has always been quite restricted. A rather skeptical attitude to these studies characterizes mostly Romanian philologists, who sometimes completely deny the membership of Romanian in the Balkansprachbund. In his extended polemic with A. Rosetti against the relevance of Balkan linguistics and against the classification of Roma5 6
The various elements of the lexicon are analyzed e.g. in M. Sala (1998: 35ff). Cf. also M. Trummer 1998: 165.
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nian as a Balkan language, I. I. Russu (1969: 214ff.) uses similar arguments to support his criticism from A. Meillet, G. Anagnostopulos, Al. Graur and A. Beli}. In his book about the language of the Thraco-Dacians he qualifies the common characteristics of the Balkan languages as too insignificant to establish Balkan linguistics as a new discipline with its own specific problems:
Die gemeinsamen Zuge sind zu gering, als da man von einer Balkanlinguistik sprechen konnte. Die Einordnung des Rumanischen als Balkansprache sagt nichts und erklart nichts von alledem, was seinen nichtlateinischen, vorromischen Inhalt ausmacht (Russu 1969: 218/221).
Certainly this is a very extreme and unilateral position, which accepts only genetic explications as relevant in the history of languages. But without any doubt, the divergence presents only one aspect in the development of languages, and in its favor convergence as an evident result of language contact should never be neglected. 4. Nature of linguistic contacts Independently of what we think about the diverse possibilities of Balkan linguistics in explaining frequently mentioned, very specific phenomena, many characteristic linguistic features detected in Southeastern Europe demonstrate sufficiently that the Latin element has an extraordinary significance for the creation and evolution of intensive linguistics links in this area. Linguistic contacts always have social reasons and depend mostly on extra-linguistic factors. The direction of influence is primarily determined by differences in social power among the affected groups in the contact zone. H. Becker (1948) created for the giving part in this process the term Master languages (Meistersprachen) and for the taking part Pupil languages (Schulersprachen) in his generally unknown book: Der Sprachbund. As a striking example of the first category, Becker pointed to Latin. In current sociolinguistics, his idea matches the related term prestige and therefore in modern, more sociolinguistic orientated terminology, the terms dominant and dominated languages could be used in this case (Steinke 2007), because the influence is controlled and directed less by pedagogic than by political reasons. The different political, social, and cultural prestige enjoyed by the languages in direct contact determines the direction and extent of influence between them. In general, languages in contact do not have equal rights. Usually, only one language is dominant and the others are dominated. Southeast Europe saw several dominant
22
languages that followed one another in history, e. g. Greek, Latin, Turkish and, in fact, English. They all left deep traces in the linguistic landscape of the Balkans. Contact linguistics was inaugurated as a distinct discipline by the fundamental work Languages in Contact by U. Weinreich (1953), which has meanwhile attracted the attention of many researchers. A fundamental state-of-the-art report for this discipline appeared recently in two volumes of the international handbook Contact Linguistics. They indisputably enlarge the theoretical base for Balkan linguistics. In recent articles, U. Hinrichs (2006) uses an interesting theory to explain the origin of balkanisms. He recognizes oral speech as the main place for generating similar linguistic features and in this context discovers remarkable parallels with the development of Creole. Probably he is right, that the origin of balkanisms does not always have to be connected with one distinct language as the giving part. The processes are more complex and new solutions should be sought also in other disciplines:
Die Balkanlinguistik/Sudosteuropa-Linguistik muss sich in der Zukunft starker Disziplinen zuwenden, die auf den ersten Blick weiter entfernt liegen; hier mussen Scheuklappen abgelegt werden, insbesondere in den Landern des Balkans selbst. Die BL muss sich auf den kreoliden, kontaktinduzierten und oralen Grundcharakter ihres Objektbereichs besinnen (Hinrichs 2004b: 169).
5. Roman Empire on the Balkans The influence of Latin on the Balkans throughout history was manifold, long-lasting and massive. For several centuries large parts of Southeastern Europe were under the rule of the Roman Empire. Roman culture left deep vestiges here and Latin became the primary instrument of communication in this area (H. Mihaescu 1978). By the second century BC, Rome had conquered the Illyrian coast and some centuries later Dacia was taken by Trajan. However, this province in fact remained for only a short time as an integral part of the Empire. The Roman period of Dacia began after the final victory in 106 and ended in 270 with the complete withdrawal of the Roman army and administration under Aurelian. It remains a mystery why this short period was sufficient to romanize the territory completely, a status that never changed. The very controversial discussion about the enduring presence of a Romanized population in Dacia, i.e. north of the Danube, continues. Fortunately, in the meanwhile the political dimension of this question has become less significant.
23
Incidentally, at the outset Latin was the mother tongue of only a small part of the Balkan population, the officials and settlers coming from the capital. Very quickly the process of acculturation amplified the assimilation of the indigene population on a large scale. Development was not homogeneous in this large region, as the neat subdivision into a Roman and a Greek cultural zone shows, and as has been detected by C. Jire~ek. The Jire~ek line separates the more Latinized from the more Hellenized area on the Balkans, which is not congruent with the subdivision into Eastern und Western Rome. For a long period the links of the Western Balkan especially of the Adriatic coast with Rome were very close. It will be sufficient to recall that Diocletian built his famous residence here. Even in the history of Italy the area preserved its significance and the Adriatic was considered to be an inland sea. Later, however, this part was given up completely and the new Slav states took solid, long-lasting root. 6. Latin and Balkanisms Inquiring into the contribution of Latin to the creation of balkanisms in this historical context, H. Haarmann (1999) comes to the surprising conclusion that, despite all the cultural, political and religious influences, the part played by Latin in the creation of common linguistic features in the grammatical structure of Balkan languages cannot be proved: Hat das Lateinische in nennenswerter Weise auf die Formation balkanischer Sprachstrukturen eingewirkt? Diese Frage ist wohl negativ zu beantworten (573). Obviously, the problem of finding a convincing origin for balkanisms remains open, and the role of Latin as a master language in this context has to be reexamined in the light of modern contact linguistic procedures. Formerly, G. Cychun (1981) persuasively showed in his areal-typological study that the development of diverse balkanisms began at different times and places. Therefore one substratum, adstratum or superstratum cannot be sufficient to explain all the common features. Furthermore the predominantly or almost exclusively oral character of communication on the Balkans from antiquity to more recent times makes the development of creolized features very plausible. In these circumstances, to exclude Latin from the mixing and amalgamating of linguistic structures would appear precipitate. Another problem is the reduction of the common features to the oldest period. Certainly language contact is a perpetual phenomenon and therefore the formation of a Balkansprachbund or more precisely of diffe-
24
rent balkanisms, i.e. of common features in the Balkan languages, can hardly be reduced to one factor or one period. One particular aspect in this context seems to us very surprising. We have a stronghold of Latin in Dacia, a far distant part of the Roman Empire. On the other hand, the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the immediate vicinity of Rome, became almost completely Slav. This peculiarity was remarked on by R. Solta (1980):
Es gehort zu den groten Merkwurdigkeiten der Weltgeschichte, da jenes Gebiet, das am langsten einem roman. Einflu ausgesetzt war, namlich die dalmat. Kuste mit ihrer Stadtkultur, vollig slavisiert wurde, da aber in dem Gebiet, das nicht einmal zwei Jahrhunderte zum Rom. Reich gehorte, wo die Stadte keine Bedeutung hatten bzw. nicht existierten da ausgerechnet dort sich eine ruman. Sprache und eine ruman. Nation entwickelt haben (66).
7. Ethnolinguistic vitality in Romania and Dalmatia Ethnolinguistic vitality is a new parameter, recently developed and discussed in sociolinguistics to characterize the different surviving forces and techniques of endangered languages in perilous situations. In this regard the fate of Roman languages in Southeast Europe described above by R. Solta (1980) seems to be somehow abnormal. It is an enigma why a Latin idiom survived in the remote and only briefly occupied province of Dacia, but lost its solid position in the west on the Dalmatian littoral, where contacts with the Neo-Latin world were never interrupted. In spite of more favorable conditions for survival, the colonies in the west became completely Slavic. The reconstruction of the main factors for the continuation of Latin in isolated linguistic islands, and its decline in the immediate neighborhood of Rome is an interesting question for the future. The prestige of Latin was higher here than in the east, where for a long time Slavonic was the language of the church and administration.
References
Bahner 1970 Werner Bahner: Die lexikalischen Besonderheiten des Fruhromanischen in Sudosteuropa, Berlin. Becker 1948 H. Becker: Sprachbund. Erkenntnisse und Probleme aus allen Gebieten der Geistes- und Naturwissenschaften. Band 1. Sprachwissenschaften, Leipzig. Cychun 1981 Genadij A. Cychun: Tipologi~eskie problemy balkanoslavjanskogo jazykogo areala, Minsk.
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Georgiev 1968 Vladimir Georgiev: La linguistique et la langue roumaine / Lingvistica balcanica i limba romana, Bucureti. Haarmann 1999 Harald Haarmann: Der Einflu des Lateinischen in Sudosteuropa, Uwe Hinrichs (ed.), Handbuch der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, Wiesbaden, 545584. Hinrichs 1999 Uwe Hinrichs (ed.): Handbuch der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, Wiesbaden. Hinrichs 2004a Uwe Hinrichs: Sudosteuropa-Linguistik und Kreolisierung, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie 40, 1732. Hinrichs 2004b Uwe Hinrichs: Orale Kultur, Mehrsprachigkeit, radikaler Analytismus: Zur Erklarung von Sprachstrukturen auf dem Balkan und im kreolischen Raum. Ein Beitrag zur Entmystifizierung der Balkanlinguistik, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie 40, 141174. Mihaescu 1978 Haralambie Mihaescu: La langue latine dans les sud-est de lEurope, Bukarest, Paris. Mladenov 1929 Stefan Mladenov: Geschichte der bulgarischen Sprache, Berlin, Leipzig. Reiter 1994 Norbert Reiter: Grundzuge der Balkanologie. Ein Schritt in die Eurolinguistik, Berlin. Rosetti 19782 Alexandru Rosetti: Istoria limbii romane. I. De la origini pina in secolul al XVI-lea, Bucureti. Russu 1969 Ion Russu: Die Sprache der Thrako-Daker, Bucureti. Sala 1998 Marius Sala : De la latina la romana, Bucureti. Sandfeld 1930 Kristen Sandfeld: Linguistique balkanique. Problemes et resultats, Paris. Skok 1926ff Petar Skok: Zum Balkanlatein IIV, Zeitschrift fur romanische Philologie 46 (1926): 385410; 48 (1928): 398413; 50 (1930): 484532; 54 (1934): 175215, 424499. Solta 1980 Georg Renatus Solta: Einfuhrung in die Balkanlinguistik mit besonderer Berucksichtigung des Substrats und Balkanlateinischen, Darmstadt. Steinke 1998 Klaus Steinke: Balkanlinguistik als linguistisches Propadeutikum, Die Welt der Slaven XLII: 161172. Steinke 1999 Klaus Steinke: Zur theoretischen Grundlegung der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, Uwe Hinrichs (ed.), Handbuch der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, Wiesbaden, 6690. Steinke 2007 Klaus Steinke: Dominante und dominierte Sprachen (Von Herrschaftszu Minderheitensprachen), Acta Baltico-Slavica (in print). Steinke 2008 Klaus Steinke: Rumanisch und der Balkansprachbund, Omagiu Marius Sala, Bucharest (forthcoming). Steinke/Vraciu 1999 Klaus Steinke/Ariton Vraciu: Introducere in lingvistica balcanica, Iai. Todorova 1997 Maria Todorova: Imagining the Balkans, Oxford. Trummer 1998 Manfred Trummer: Sudosteuropaische Sprachen und Romanisch, Gunter Holtus et al., Lexikon der Romanistischen Linguistik VII, 134184.
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Weinreich 19748 Uriel Weinreich: Languages in contact. Findings and Problems, The Hague, Paris. Windisch 1998: Rudolf Windisch: Die historische Klassifikation der Romania II. Balkanromanisch, Gunter Holtus et al., Lexikon der Romanistischen Linguistik VII, 907937.
Bei der Entstehung der Ubereinstimmungen der Balkansprachen im Rahmen des Balkansprachbundes durfte neben dem Griechischen das
28
Lateinische die grote Bedeutung gehabt haben. Beim Lateinischen als einer Adstratsprache auf der Balkanhalbinsel handelte es sich um eine der Vertretungen des Vulgarlateinischen oder um das Altostromanische, wobei einer der wichtigsten Zuge der Entwicklung des Lateinischen zum Vulgarlatein bzw. zu einer lateinischen Verkehrssprache der Ubergang von einer synthetischen zu einer analytischen Nominalflexion war. Demgegenuber blieb aber das lateinische Verbalsystem weitgehend erhalten. So hat das Ostromanische in der Deklination einige alte synthetische Formen entsprechend dem Lateinischen erhalten, Genitiv und Dativ fallen jedoch in einer Form zusammen, womit sofort die Parallele zum Bulgarischen deutlich wird. Andererseits wurde das lateinische Zahlensystem von 11 bis 19 grundlegend verandert und dem balkanischen Typus, der moglicherweise auf das Slawische zuruckgeht, angepasst. Alleine schon diese wenigen Tatsachen legen die Vermutung nahe, dass das Altostromanische nicht nur andere Balkansprachen beeinflusst hat, sondern selbst auch in bestimmten Bereichen beeinflusst wurde, so dass hier die wechselseitige Einwirkung der Balkansprachen aufeinander deutlich wird. In seinen Veroffentlichungen hat Gunter Reichenkron von dem Ausdruck Vulgarlatein Abstand genommen und dafur die beiden Begriffe lateinische Verkehrssprache und lateinische Umgangssprache eingefuhrt, wobei er mit dieser Benennung nach eigener Aussage Ernst Gamillscheg folgte. In seiner richtungweisenden Abhandlung zum Ostromanischen hat Reichenkron auch auf die zentrale Bedeutung des Romanischen und Slawischen neben dem Griechischen fur die Herausbildung der Besonderheiten der Balkansprachen hingewiesen, wenn es bei ihm heit: Wenn unter diesem Gesichtspunkt das Turkische als nachste Sprachgruppe ausfallt, so deshalb, weil zur Zeit der Osmanenherrschaft in Sudosteuropa die sogenannten Balkansprachen in ihrem Aufbau fertig vorlagen und hochstens noch, dann allerdings betrachtliche Einflusse auf dem Gebiet des Wortschatzes, der Phraseologie, bisweilen auch auf dem der Syntax erfahren konnten. Somit bleiben das Latein-Romanische und das Slawische als die ausschlaggebenden Faktoren ubrig. (Reichenkron 1959: 153; vgl. hierzu auch Reichenkron 1966: 26). Sprachkonvergenz hat immer wieder weitreichende Ergebnisse in Gebieten gezeigt, wo Adstratsprachen wie Balkanlatein und Balkangriechisch in einer langandauernden bilingualen Phase auf andere Sprachen Sudosteuropas gewirkt haben. Dies gilt besonders fur sudslawische Sprachen, insbesondere das Bulgarische. Sogar Sprachen, die weit voneinander entfernt beheimatet sind, zeigen strukturelle und lexikalische Unterschiede, die von der sprachlichen Umgebung vollig abweichen. Solche Gruppen von Sprachen wurden bisher mit dem Terminus Spra-
29
chbund erfasst, in der englischen Terminologie language league oder convergence area, in der russischen sprachwissenschaftlichen Terminologie jazykovoj sojuz. Das bekannteste Beispiel fur das Modell des Sprachbundes war bisher und wird auch weiterhin noch der Balkansprachbund bleiben, wie Latein und Griechisch einen langandauernden Einfluss auf die sudslawischen Sprachen Bulgarisch, Makedonisch und Serbisch hatten, ebenso aber auch auf das Albanische, in der indoeuropaischen Sprachfamilie einziger Vertreter der illyrischen Sprachgruppe. Ein romanischer Einfluss aufgrund des Balkanlatein oder Balkanromanischen kann an einigen Besonderheiten, Balkanismen des Bulgarischen gezeigt werden, so die Besonderheiten der analytischen Flexion der Nomina, Bildung des Futurs und analytische Steigerung der Adjektiva, wahrend die bulgarischen Ersatzkonstruktionen fur den verlorengegangenen Infinitiv wie auch in anderen Balkansprachen auf griechischen Einfluss zuruckgefuhrt werden konnen. Der Einfluss des Balkanlatein, welches nordlich der sogenannten Jire~ek-Linie, die als Verkehrs- und Umgangssprache nach der Auffassung von Gunter Reichenkron sich durch Albanien, Makedonien und Nordbulgarien zog, stand dem griechischen Einfluss sudlich dieser von West nach Ost verlaufenden geographischen Linie gegenuber (Reichenkron 1966b). Parallel zu diesen strukturellen Besonderheiten der Balkansprachen und damit auch des Bulgarischen findet sich eine ganze Reihe romanischer Entlehnungen zusammen mit romanischen Elementen in der Toponomastik, so z.B. die Lehnworter pogan//paganus, koleda//calendae, banja//balneum, komin//caminus, ocet//acetum, geographische Bezeichnungen wie Ursulica weisen ebenfalls auf romanischen Einfluss hin, geographische Namen wie Timachus//Timok oder Cibrica weisen zumindest lateinische Endungen auf. Sowohl das lexikalische als auch das onomastische romanische Erbe im Bulgarischen zeigt uns den bedeutenden Einfluss des Balkanlateinischen, besonders auch dann, wenn sich in einigen bulgarischen Dialekten eine besonders groe Zahl solcher Entlehnungen findet, wobei die romanischen Namen im Norden Bulgariens haufiger als im Suden sind (Zaimov 1958; vgl. hierzu Schaller 1982: 4149). Hellenisierung und Romanisierung der Balkanlander sind zwei historische Erscheinungen, die in groem Ausma die ethnischen und damit auch sprachlichen Verhaltnisse auf der Balkanhalbinsel verandert haben. In Zusammenhang mit diesen Gegebenheiten stehen nicht nur die sprachlichen Ubereinstimmungen der Balkansprachen im lautlichen, morphosyntaktischen und lexikalischen Bereich, sondern auch onomastische Gegebenheiten, die in ihrer Gesamtheit noch keineswegs durchgehend
30
erforscht worden sind. Der Jahrhunderte andauernde Kampf um die Beherrschung der Balkanlander war bereits um das 6. und 7. Jahrhundert vor Christus mit dem griechischen Vordringen zur Schwarzmeerkuste, dann nach Thrakien und nach Mosien eingeleitet worden und ging erst mit dem Vordringen der Sudslawen auf die Balkanhalbinsel und dem damit zugleich erfolgten Zuruckdrangen der romischen Herrschaft zu Ende. Am starksten war sicher die Wirkung der Hellenisierung auf die Balkanlander und ihre Bewohner, wahrend die Romanisierung weitaus weniger Spuren zuruckgelassen hat. Ein wichtiger Faktor fur die Verbreitung der lateinischen Sprache im Osten des Romischen Reiches war auch der Handel. Uberall, auch in kleineren Stadten, fanden sich namlich die conventus civium Romanorum. Bereits 1907 hat Ludwig Hahn von dem gewaltigen Kampf zwischen Romanismus und Hellenismus auf der Balkanhalbinsel berichtet, wobei die Zahl der romischen Burger im Osten wie im Westen durch die Erteilung des Burgerrechtes an Soldaten und Veteranen vermehrt wurde. Das romische Heer war ganz offensichtlich der Grundstein romischen Wesens. Dem Militar folgten die romischen Kaufleute. In welchem Ausma der romanische Einfluss im Osten der Balkanhalbinsel zunahm, lasst sich am sichersten an den Sprachzeugnissen beobachten:
Jedem, der die Sprachenkarte Europas uberblickt, fallt wohl ein von einer Bevolkerung romanischer Zunge bewohntes, aber von den ubrigen romanischen Landern weit entferntes Gebiet auf, das im Osten, im sogenannten Halbasien, zu finden ist, Dasselbe umfasste bekanntlich Rumanien, das ostliche Ungarn mit Siebenburgen, die Bukowina, Bessarabien und einige Landschaften sudlich der Donau auf der Balkanhalbinsel, die von den sog. Zinzaren oder Kutzo-Wlachen bewohnt sind Trotz der kurzen, nicht zwei Jahrhunderte dauernden Besetzung Daciens durch die Romer, trotz der Sturme der germanischen und dann der slawischen Volkerwanderung hat sich an der unteren Donau die lateinische Sprache als Mischsprache bis auf den heutigen Tag erhalten und gewinnt noch an Terrain. Noch jetzt heit sie die rumanische, d.h. romische Sprache und, die sie sprechen, nennen sich stolz Rumuni d.h. Romani. (Hahn 1907).
Das hohe soziale und kulturelle Prestige einer hochentwickelten Standardsprache wie dem Lateinischen hat sicher dazu gefuhrt, dass Merkmale des Lateinischen in die in der Entwicklung stehenden Balkansprachen ubernommen wurden. Andererseits muss man auch davon ausgehen, dass umgangssprachliches Latein und Griechisch regionalen Einflussen unterworfen waren. Die Notwendigkeit, sich gegenseitig zu verstandigen, die passive und die aktive Kenntnis von Sprachen hat zu einer Instabilitat der lautlichen, morphologischen und syntaktischen
31
Verhaltnisse und letztendlich auch zu einer Vereinfachung einer Sprache wie dem Bulgarischen gefuhrt, denkt man nur an das Deklinationssystem in seiner Entwicklung vom Altbulgarischen zum Neubulgarischen. Als weitere Faktoren, die eine gegenseitige Beeinflussung der Balkansprachen forderten, ist die Transhumanz, die Wanderungsbewegungen, der Wechsel der Weidegebiete, wirtschaftliche Kontakte sowie auch die Folgen militarischer Besatzung zu sehen. Die Grenzen der Ubereinstimmungen der Balkansprachen, der Balkanismen, sind keineswegs mit den Sprachgrenzen der heutigen Standardsprachen Bulgarisch, Makedonisch, Serbisch, Albanisch und Rumanisch ubereinstimmend, sondern spiegeln spatere soziale, okonomische und kulturelle Entwicklungen wieder. Eine genaue historische Untersuchung von balkanischen Konvergenzen vor dem Hintergrund des Lateinischen und des Griechischen ist wohl nur auf der Grundlage sowohl der historischen als auch der synchronischen Dialektologie moglich. Ein besonders interessantes Beispiel fur den parallelen griechischen und romanischen Einfluss im Wortschatz und in der Toponomastik ist Bulgarien, vor allem auch deswegen, weil sich durch das heutige Bulgarien die bereits erwahnte alte griechisch-lateinische Sprachgrenze zog. Die lateinischen Lehnworter im Bulgarischen machen nicht mehr als etwa hundert aus und zeugen damit nur von der vorubergehenden Herrschaft der Romer in diesem geographischen Bereich. Zudem sind noch viele Worter lateinischen Ursprungs uber das Griechische in das Bulgarische gelangt, andere lateinische Lehnworter sind auch uber das Italienische, Albanische und uber das Turkisch-Osmanische in das Bulgarische gelangt. Hieraus kann man folgern, dass keine direkte Aufeinanderfolge der Ubernahme romanischer Elemente im Zuge der Romanisierung in den fraglichen Gebieten erfolgte, vielmehr war der griechische Einfluss weitaus starker. Dass der Grad der Romanisierung des Bulgarischen im heutigen Bulgarien relativ niedrig geblieben ist, durfte auch durch die Tatsache bestatigt werden, dass die Zahl der Toponyme lateinischen Ursprungs relativ gering ist. Die Zeit, wahrend der romanische Elemente in der Balkantoponomastik auftreten, lasst sich allerdings nur schwer bestimmen. So gibt es auch keine sicheren Hinweise auf charakteristische Merkmale des Lateinischen der Balkanhalbinsel gegen Ende der romischen Herrschaft. Fur die Zeit vom dritten Jahrhundert nach Christus bis zur slawischen Landnahme der Balkanhalbinsel konnen keine genaueren Angaben dazu gemacht werden, wann ein Ortsname erstmals auftritt und durch welche sprachliche Vermittlung er fur das betreffende geographische Objekt zur Anwendung kam.
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Eine erste Abhandlung, die sich mit den Lehnwortern lateinischen Ursprungs im Bulgarischen befasste, geht auf den bulgarischen Sprachwissenschaftler Stojan Romansky zuruck, der unter der Anleitung von Gustav Weigand in dem von diesem herausgegebenen Jahresbericht des Instituts fur Rumanische Sprache zu Leipzig 1909 seine Dissertation zu diesem Thema veroffentlichte. In einer zusammenfassenden Ubersicht schreibt er:
Die hier besprochenen Worter geben uns ein ziemlich deutliches Bild, auf welchen Wegen lateinische Worter ins Bulgarische gelangt sind. An erster Stelle kommt eine Anzahl von interessanten Wortern im Bulgarischen, die direkt aus dem Balkanlateinischen oder Balkanromanischen, wie man es auch nennt, stammen. Die meisten von diesen Wortern, existieren auch im Rumanischen und Albanesischen, wodurch die Existenz der Worter im Balkanlateinischen bestatigt wird, aus lautlichen, semasiologischen oder sachlichen Grunden aber mussen sie direkt aus dem letzteren stammen. Es gehoren vor allem einige Worter hierher, die mit dem Christentum, das die Slaven bei der Einwanderung auf die Balkanhalbinsel zunachst von den romanischen Kolonisten auf der Balkanhalbinsel kennen gelernt haben, in Zusammenhang stehen: komka, oltar, patja, kum, poganin, koleda, vielleicht auch altbulgarisches raka. (Romansky 1909)
Romanski fuhrt weiter aus, dass auch Volkernamen als Entlehnungen in Betracht kommen, so z.B. Grak oder auch Latinin, ferner der Terminus car und auch koruna. Andere lateinische Lehnworter werden von Romanski dem sachlichen Bereich der Gefae, der Tiere und Pflanzen zugeordnet, ferner werden von ihm auch einzelne Begriffe, die Getranke oder Kleidung bezeichnen, angefuhrt. Unsicherheiten ergeben sich bei der Frage, ob romanische Elemente des Bulgarischen erst aus dem Rumanischen oder Albanischen entlehnt wurden. Eine groere Zahl von Wortern romanischen Ursprungs scheint aber auch durch griechische Vermittlung in das Bulgarische gelangt zu sein, eine geringere Zahl romanischer Elemente ist sicher uber das Turkisch-Osmanische in das Bulgarische gelangt (Romansky 1909: 133134). Das Zentrum sprachlicher Ubereinstimmungen auf der Balkanhalbinsel Bereich ist ohne Zweifel in Makedonien zu suchen. Das Vorkommen sowohl flektierter als auch isolierender Nominalformen kann zum Beispiel in zentralen bulgarischen Dialekten beobachtet werden. In den Rhodopendialekten finden sich weit mehr Flexionsendungen neben den isolierenden Formen, z.B. staru (starom) ~uleku//na starek ~uleka. Auf der anderen Seite findet man in der bulgarischen Deklination auch Belege fur einen romanischen Einfluss auf das Bulgarische. Demgegenuber verfugt das Rumanische uber funf Flexionskasus, die zum Teil auch durch
33
nachgestellte Artikelformen oder durch die Prapositionen a, de, la, pe bezeichnet werden konnen. Damit werden im Rumanischen funf Kasus verwendet, namlich Nominativ, Genitiv, Dativ, Akkusativ und Vokativ. Man kann von einem slawisch-romanischen Einfluss ausgehen, wenn man z.B. an den rumanischen Vokativ auf -o denkt, der nur aus dem Slawischen ubernommen worden sein kann. Man kann sogar annehmen, dass das gesamte Deklinationssystem des Rumanischen nach dem Muster des Slawischen erhalten blieb, wahrend es sich in anderen romanischen Sprachen vom Synthetismus zum Analytismus entwickelt hat. Es scheint so zu sein, dass die bulgarische Deklination mehr einem romanischen Einfluss unterworfen war als einem griechischen, da im Neugriechischen Genitiv und Dativ in einer Form zusammenfallen, wahrend Nominativ und Akkusativ durch unterschiedliche Formen vertreten sind (vgl. hierzu Schaller 1974/75). Ausschlaggebend konnten ethnolinguistische Vermischungen von Rumanen und Bulgaren in der Epoche des Zweiten Bulgarischen Reiches als grundlegender Faktor fur die Entwicklung des Balkansprachbundes gewesen sein. Schriftliche Zeugnisse, u.a. die wlachobulgarischen Urkunden des 14. und 15. Jahrhunderts zeigen deutlich analytische Zuge im Gegensatz zu schriftlichen Zeugnissen Sudbulgariens in dieser Epoche, hinzu kommt noch die Verbreitung von Verbalkonstruktionen mit da als Folge des Verlusts des Infinitivs, die Verdopplung von Objekten. Analytische Formen finden sich in diesen Denkmalern fur den Akkusativ, den Genitiv, Instrumental, Lokativ und Dativ. In seiner richtungweisenden Darstellung der bulgarischen historischen Dialektologie hat der russische Sprachwissenschaftler Samuel Bern{tejn eine Reihe von Beispielen angefuhrt, die deutlich den Ubergang von der synthetischen zur analytischen Flexion in Nordwestbulgarien zeigen (Bern{tejn 1949): 1. Akkusativ: Kogy natovarit kola s riba. (S.249) I poslali mi ste kniga kraleva. (S.249) 2. Genitiv: ot vola ili ot krava. (S.255) 3. Instrumental: u~inite nad glave im (S.269) i namertili su nekoe `ene sirote sas kola. (S.258) 4. Lokativ: da prebivate sa mirom i u dobrom volju. (S.271) kolika koni u kola. (S.271) 5. Dativ: i po va{emu volju (S.264) po va{ech mesta i po va{u dar`avu. (Sprachliche Belege nach Bern{tejn 1949, S.264)
34
Verglichen mit der Manasses-Chronik finden sich dort noch viele synthetische Formen der bulgarischen Nominalflexion, z.B. fur Genitiv, Dativ, Akkusativ, Instrumental und Lokativ: 1. Genitiv: i v tomi otoce be{a vitezi nektora krale. (Sprachliche Belege nach: Die Slavische Manasses-Chronik, Munchen 1966, S.59) 2. Dativ: iskaza bratu svoemu agamenu carju (S.55) 3. Akkusativ: da naide{i ~isti i sramota da ostavi{i. (S.55) 4. Instrumental: az te~achu svoima nogama. (S.57) 5. Lokativ: i v tomu otoce be{a pirgos krasen (S.56) Gerade dieser Vergleich zwischen Sprachdenkmalern aus dem Nordwesten und dem Suden Bulgariens macht deutlich, dass bereits im 13. Jahrhundert die Flexion der a-Stamme genau so ausgesehen haben muss wie heute. Sicher gab es auch einen griechischen Einfluss auf die Entwicklung der bulgarischen Nominalflexion, die sprachlichen und geographischen Tatsachen weisen jedoch hier auf einen starkeren romanischen Einfluss hin. Wie bereits angedeutet, haben sich im Bulgarischen auch andere sprachliche Beeinflussungen durch das Lateinische gefunden, insbesondere im Wortschatz, ebenso aber auch in der geographischen Terminologie. Weitere Beispiele fur Entlehnungen aus dem Lateinischen sind bulgarisch bivol // zu lateinisch bubalus, bufalar, uber griechisches boufalos oder bulgarisch vula zu lateinisch bulla, griechisch boulla. Ohne griechische Vermittlung findet sich im Bulgarischen koleda, kirchenslawisch koleda, kalandu zu lateinischem calendae neben einem slawischen bo`i~, bo`in fur Weihnachten mit der Verbalbildung koleduvam, Weihnachtslieder singen oder auch koledar, der Sanger von Weihnachtsliedern. Ein Sonderfall durfte das Wort fur Altar sein, das sich in allen slawischen Sprachen findet, namlich bulgarisch als oltar, ebenso serbisch oltar, auch otar, slowenisch oltar, tschechisch altar, polnisch otarz, sorbisch voltar und russisch oltar. Dabei muss es sich um eine elementares Wort gehandelt haben, das erst nach der Christianisierung ubernommen wurde. Auf der Balkanhalbinsel muss das Wort aber spater ubernommen worden sein, da das Christentum dort erst nach der Einwanderung der Sudslawen angenommen wurde. Lateinische Lehnworter finden sich nicht nur im Bulgarischen, sondern auch im Albanischen und im Neugriechischen, im Makedonischen und im Serbischen. Zum Teil sind diese lateinischen Lehnworter uber das Mittelgriechische als sekundare Lehnworter in die Balkansprachen, damit auch in das Bulgarische gelangt. Im Albanischen ist im Gegensatz zum Bulgarischen der Anteil lateinischer Lehnworter so hoch,
35
dass man diese Balkansprache verschiedentlich sogar als eine halbromanische Mischsprache bezeichnet hat. Im Bereiche der Onomastik finden sich Bildungen mit banja, abgeleitet von lateinischem balneum als Gorna Banja, Dolna Banja, Banica, Bansko u.a. Der Frauenname Domna, abgeleitet von lateinischem dom(i)na, griechisch domna. Romanischen Ursprungs ist sicher der Ortsname Bunovo, der sich mit Ortsnamen im rumanischen bereich vergleichen lasst, wo sich u.a. Bunoaica, Bunaiul, Buni, Bunila finden lassen. Eindeutig romanischen Ursprungs sind der Flussname Negarstica, der sich mit rumanisch negru zusammengestellt werden kann, mit einem bulgarischen Suffix versehen, als Schwarzwasser verstanden werden muss. Ursulica als Bezeichnung fur einen steilen Bergabhang, lasst sich mit rumanisch ursul, dem Wort fur Bar zusammenstellen, wobei ebenfalls ein bulgarisches Suffix angefugt wurde. Der Name bezeichnet ganz offensichtlich einen Ort, wo Baren vorkamen. Dementsprechend finden sich auch bulgarische Namenbildungen wie z.B. Me~ka, Me~karica oder Me~karnica. Ein besonders interessanter Fall von romanischer Namengebung ist mit der Flussbezeichnung Valesek, Velesek, Valesek dere, Velesek dere gegeben, einem Gewasser, das in der Stara Planina entspringt. Der Name lasst sich als vale sec, trockenes Tal deuten. Der Wandel von Valesek zu Velesek durfte spater auf turkisch-osmanische Beeinflussung zuruckzufuhren sein, indem hier die turkische Vokalharmonie wirksam wurde (vgl. hierzu Schaller 1978). Es hat sich gezeigt, dass der romanische Einfluss auf das Bulgarische sich vor allem in der morphosyntaktischen Struktur des Bulgarischen nachweisen lasst, wo die heutige Substantivdeklination mehr dem romanischen Muster gefolgt ist, Lehnworter und geographische Bezeichnungen gehen aber ebenfalls auf das Romanische zuruck. Als Aufgabe fur weitere Forschungen in diesem Bereich ergibt sich die Frage nach der geographischen Verteilung dieser romanischen Elemente und nach ihrer Chronologie, d.h. es lassen sich aufgrund der historischen Tatsachen und aufgrund der Gegebenheiten der heutigen bulgarischen Dialekte sicherlich in Zukunft noch genauere Ergebnisse zur Frage des romanischen Einflusses auf das Bulgarische erzielen.
Literatur
Bern{tejn 1949 S.B. Bern{tejn: Razyskanija v oblasti bogarskoj dilektologii, Moskva-Leningrad. Die Slavische Manasses-Chronik, Munchen 1966.
36
Hahn 1907 Ludwig Hahn: Zum Sprachenkampf im Romischen Reich bis auf die Zeit Justinians, Philologus. Zeitschrift fur das classische Alterthum, Leipzig, Supplementband X, 675718. Reichenkron 1959 G. Reichenkron: Das Ostromanische, Volker und Kulturen Sudosteuropas, Munchen. Reichenkron 1966 G. Reichenkron: Das Dakische. Rekonstruktion aus dem Rumanischen, Heidelberg. Reichenkron 1966b G. Reichenkron: Die Bedeutung des Griechischen fur die Entstehung des balkansprachlichen Typus, Beitrage zur Sudosteuropa-Forschung, Munchen, 323. Romansky 1909 S. Romansky: Lehnworter lateinischen Ursprungs im Bulgarischen, Funfzehnter Jahresbericht des Instituts fur Rumanische Sprache zu Leipzig, Leipzig. Schaller 1974/75 H.W. Schaller: Synthetische und analytische Nominalflexion in den slavischen Sprachen. (Eine Betrachtung aus der Sicht des Slavischen und der Balkansprachen), Die Welt der Slaven A.F. XIX/XX, 124141. Schaller 1978 H.W. Schaller: Die geographischen Namen der Balkanhalbinsel Entwicklung der Forschung und Problematik, Sudosteuropa-Mitteilungen 18, Nr.3, 4252. Schaller 1982 H.W. Schaller: Moglichkeiten der Gliederung der geographischen Namen der Balkanhalbinsel, Linguistique Balkanique XXV, H.1, 4149. Zaimov 1958 J. Zaimov: Garcki i romanski elementi v Pirdopskata toponimija, Izsledvanija v ~est na akad. D. De~ev po slu~aj 80-godi{ninata mu, Sofija, 67176.
ROMAN AND PRE-ROMAN: THE BALKANS AND HISPANIA. THE CASE OF MAL
Abstract: Attention is paid to a theory put forward quite recently by Spanish sholars. A prominent role in this theory is played by the data of the Balkans. It aims to clarify certain issues relevant to the early linguistic history of the region. Illustrated with some examples from the Balkansprachraum: mal hill, shore and its Aromanian and Istrorumanian congeners. Key words: Balkans, Hispania, Paleobalkan languages, onomastics
Latin linguistic influence in the Balkans and Hispania has been thoroughly studied, and this is quite understandable: in both these regions of the Roman world the Latin impact was so overwhelming that it gave birth to Romance languages, Spanish, Catalan and Portugese in the West, and Romanian, Aromanian, etc., in the East. Needless to say that there exists a certain amount of publication in the domain of Romance philology in which the grammatical structure, vocabulary, etc., of the West Romance languages are contrasted with that of the East Romance ones. The impact of Latin in the Balkans is not confined to the formation of the Romance languages in this part of Europe. As it was also claimed in several papers offered to this conference, the traces of the influence may be seen in the other languages of the so-called Sprachbund. It should be also noted that the Latin of the Balkans and that of Ancient Hispania itself have been studied contrastively. These studies are normally based on the analysis of epigraphy, and as a result we have at our disposal observations on the peculiarities of Latin spoken in the Balkans and Hispania. In this paper I would like to go beyond this historical level. I am going to draw attention to a theory put forward quite recently by our Spanish colleagues. A prominent role in this theory is played by the data
38
of the Balkans. And this is of course quite important for Romance and pre-romance studies of the Balkan peninsula, as it aims to clarify certain issues relevant to the early linguistic history of the region. I will address the theory a bit later; I will start rather with some examples from the Balkansprachraum. Romanian mal hill, shore and its Aromanian and Istroromanian congeners (see Kalu`skaya 2001: 125) have been studied for quite a time. It turned out that they cannot be traced back to Latin or Common Romance vocabulary. The exact match was found in Albanian mal hill / forest by Mikloshich as early as 1861, and since then this pair appears in all collections of Albanian / Romanian correspondences. In 1875 B. Hasdeu compared this pair with the ancient name of a region of Dacia, Dacia Maluensis. Later on G. Meyer added Illyrian place-name Dimallum; and discussed their connection with Latvian mala shore, Middle Irish mala eye-lash, etc. Most of the forms are collected by J. Pokorny in his Indogermanisches etymologisches Worterbuch (IEW: 721; cf. LIV: 4334 for *melh3- hervorkommen; see also Mihaila 2006) in the entry *mel-, mloto rise up, rising land; there the Albanian word is derived directly from the PIE root (alb. mal Berg (*mol-no); alb. mol Wald (Bergwald) aus *melo-). A more popular view is to see in the Albanian and Romanian word a borrowing from an early language of the Balkans. The most recent analysis of the two words within this framework was offered by I. Kalu`skaya (2001: 125129). She has reminded us that Romanian mal should go back to *mal-l, and the Albanian counterpart to *mal- + C(onsonant) (u/v, l, n, s). In fact, the Balkans have preserved ancient place names of this configuration, e.g., Malva in Dacia and Di-mallum in the territory of modern Albania, although one would expect a reverse distribution. Therefore such an approach is permissible, with the only caveat that it should be noted that there are two distinct underlying forms to which the history of Albanian and Romanian words is traced, and not a single one. The question is now from which language were these two words in fact borrowed. According to the majority of scholars, the idiom in question is of course an ancient Paleobalkan language, and a Thracian (resp. Dacian) appelative *mal- has been reconstructed by I. Duridanov (1987) out of the ancient onomastics of the area; see further comparanda and references collected by I. Duridanov (1969: 45) s. v. Malva. However, there are as always some dissenting views. Already in 1928 Karel O{tir suggested that these words are in fact non-IE. He thought that the items in question are related to Iber. Malodes mons and Basque malda shore. O{tir was not of course alone, and later this example has been used to demonstrate a
39
pre-IE substratum; see e.g., Paliga (1999: 134), where a spurious Pre-IE form *m-l, *m-r- hill, mountain is reconstructed on the basis of Malva, Alb. mal, Basque malda hill-side, etc. There is no need here to analyse the methodology on which this study is based; it may be just mentioned that the author includes in this entry the oikonim Moldova, and thinks that -dova rather reflects the typical Thr. word dava, deva, dova fortress, township, which deserves no further comments. It is evident why these attempts to explain seemingly fine Indo-European, be it Dacian or pure Albanian, developments as a result of a pre-Indo-European influence do exist. Ancient and Modern Hispania supplies us with forms, which are at face value nearly identical, both formally and semantically. We know, of course, about coincidences of the type English bad / Persian bad; or in onomastics a river-name, perhaps of Celtic origin in France, Samara and Samara in Russia; see, e.g., the chapter aptly entitled The Long Arm of Coincidence in a comprehensive study of Celtic place-names in ancient Europe by P. Sims-Williams (2006: 2737). Here, however, we are facing a more complicated question, because certain areas of ancient Hispania do indeed attest an unprecedent amount of geographical names in mal-. And here comes a necessity to talk a bit about the recent hypothesis. There were quite a few languages spoken in Hispania before the Roman arrival. Some of them were definitely Indo-European, such as various forms of Hispano-Celtic, the most famous being of course Celtiberian. Another distinctive Indo-European and non-Celtic language was spoken in the Western part of the peninsula, and it is Lusitanian, which is possibly connected with the Italic languages. On top of them there are attestations of a language labelled Tartessian, which is considered by some scholars as Celtic, and by some as non-Celtic Indo-European, and by some as non-Indo-European. On the non-Indo-European side we have Iberians and proto-Basques. There are also some claims that the Old European traces were around as well, although there is no place for this concept in modern linguistics, cf. Isaac 2005: 189190. Quite recently F. Villar (2000, 2001, also in Villar, Prosper 2005) has argued in favour of a distinct Indo-European language (different from Old European) or even a new language family spoken in pre-Roman Hispania the oldest Indo-European layer in the Peninsula. Villars theory is based on a study of ancient toponymy. At first glance it is quite consistent from geographical point of view the clusters of geographical names are mainly attested in the South of the Peninsula. Eventually, however, the geographical distribution within Spain becomes really chaotic, with some examples in the north-west of the area, and some
40
on the north-east (see, e.g., Villar 2000: 226 for the place-name element uc-). As Villar is looking for distinctive new IE language family, he tries to put it into an Indo-European context by postulating isoglosses with other families. He finds plenty of those in the Baltic languages and also in those spoken in Italy (Villar, Prosper 2005: 97117). However, he works with the place-names only, and of course, spotting parallels in Balticum he cannot but point to similarities elsewhere. And here our mal- problem comes back in question. Villar discusses mal- place-names in a chapter dedicated to a pre-roman toponym Malaca (Villar, Prosper 2005: 4571, cf. Villar 2001: 261 and 277) which has been analysed as Phoenician (see Garcia Alonso 2003: 4041, bibl.), and offers a map of the distribution of geographical names in mal- across Europe, Asia and Northern Africa (F. Villar, B. M. Prosper 2005: 60). The immediate problem is that the many items he lists may be in fact just similarly looking entities, coined in given languages spoken in antiquity in the given areas. And sometimes the entries he discusses need reconsideration. For example, Villars map has Malaca (marked as 5) in the territory of Modern Scotland. This form is indeed found, but only in the late (and unfortunately corrupt) Ravenna Cosmography. The earlier attestation has Maleoj (Ptolemy) and its correctness is confirmed by the medieval Irish sources (Maleam in Adomnans Vita Columbae, see Isaac 2005: 197). The etymology of the place-name is Celtic: G. R. Isaac aptly traces is to our IE root (*melh3-, LIV: 433434) and refers to other IE cognates, including Albanian mal; for a different (and hardly justified) approach to Irish maile evel, therefore the evil one (see De Bernardo Stempel 2000: 105). It should be also observed that Villar does not consider all similar looking forms. For example, we do not find on his maps Malliacum (modern Luynes in Central France), perhaps because it was viewed as a Latin-Celtic formation, an -ako- derivative of a Latin personal name Mallius. More surprising is that in this survey Villar did not include a number of place- and river-names from the territory of what is now Poland; however, some place-names in mal-, perhaps of pre-Slavic origins are found there as well; see Babik 2001. I will turn to the Polish evidence a bit later. What is happening? Villar postulates an Early Indo-European linguistic subgroup with affinities with Italic and Baltic. He makes this exclusively on the basis of toponymy. This by default brings into its orbit the data from the Balkans. Now, the Dacian / Thracian data is normally compared with that of Baltic (cf. Duridanov 1969; Toporov 1973; 1977) it has been noted by several scholars that these parallels are striking not just due to their number, but because they involve entire derivations, as in the
41
famous pairs represented by Thracian Kuyela: Lithuanian Kup{-el-iai, Scret-isca : Skret-i{ke, etc. However, this conglomerate has due to obvious reasons never been compared with that of early Italy. Then, Dacian / Thracian is considered to be quite a distinctive entity from what is known as Illyrian. However, the data from these two areas are again used indiscriminantly for comparison.1 Technically speaking, this looks like a going back to a certain update of Alteuropaisch hypothesis. We remember that a century ago the similar looking forms from Hispania to Balticum were claimed to be Illyrian in origin. Later on this data was re-labelled as Alteuropaisch; and its traces are found by certain scholars nowadays as far as Finland. This is not the view favoured by IE scholars as there is no place for Alteuropaisch in the prehistory of IE subfamilies. Although certain scholars still keep this idea going, I think the tremendous blow against this theory was offered by T. Vennemann (see e.g., Vennemann 2003) who used the data of Alteuropaisch to show that this data is in fact proto-Basque. Although Villar, also in case of mala-, shows varieties of derivational patterns and variations in vocalism, these inherited patterns are used in all known Indo-European languages, therefore a coinage of each place-name may be well rooted in the time the actual language was spoken there. Regarding vocalism, it should not be forgotten that apart the full grade, zero grade could offer the results which were looked for by Villar (particularly for mal- see Isaac, forthcoming; and Falileyev 2003). Therefore bringing the mal- place-names under one common umbrella (if it is not a reference to common Indo-European IE origin or borrowing from one language into another) does not seem to be justified. However, the possibility of Mediterranean traces in onomastic landscape of the Balkans and further afield should not be ignored. A recent reconstruction of the face of the woman buried in Little Poland (late La Tene period) by D. Zaidel (see Rudnicki 2005), or archaeological evidence for the movements of Celtic aristocracy from Dacia to the Mediterranean and back home (Rustiou 2006; for a wider context see Adam 2006), does beg questions on the aspects of the Mediterranean presence in this part of the world. This does not affect of course the prehistory of the Eastern Romance and Albanian words, as there is no need to search for their Mediterranean links for they could be easily explained as local coinages. If they are to be
1 It could aslo be mentioned in parenthesis that Messapic and Illyrian linguistic data, which is evidently different from that found in the eastern Balkans, is also sometimes compared with the Baltic data (see e.g., Radulescu 1994), and this undermines the validity of Thracian / Dacian Baltic parallels; and of course a morphological segmentation of a Thracian (Dacian) place-name may be a matter for discussion.
42
traced to a common substratum, the problem is that the underlying forms for each group will be different, which does not seem to be acceptable. A more possible explanation provided that the Albanian form may be inherited from Common Indo-European is that the Eastern Romance item was in fact borrowed from Albanian. Such views have been already expressed (see, e.g., Orel 1998: 243, who postulates Proto-Albanian *mala; cf. Demiraj 1997: 254, who starts with mall-); the place and time of this borrowing remains disputable.
References
Adam 2006 A.-M. Adam: LEurope temperee dans ses contacts avec le monde mediterranen, in Les Civilises et les Barbares du Ve au IIe siecle avant J.-C. (= Collection Bibracte 12/3), 193203. Babik 2001 Z. Babik: Najstarsza warstwa nazewnicza na ziemiach polskich w granicach wczesnosredniowiecznej Sowianszczyzny, Krakow. De Bernardo Stempel 2000 P. De Bernardo Stempel: Ptolemys Celtic Italy and Ireland: A Linguistic Analysis, in Ptolemy: Towards a linguistic atlas of the earliest Celtic place-names of Europe, Aberystwyth, 83112. Demiraj 1997 B. Demiraj: Albanische Etymologien. Untersuchungen zum Albanischen Erbwortschatz, Amsterdam Atlanta. Duridanov 1969 I. Duridanov: Thrakisch-Dakische Studien. Die thrakisch- und dakisch- baltischen Sprachbeziehungen (= Linguistique Balkanique 13, 2), Sofia. Duridanov 1987 I. Duridanov: Die geographische Terminologie indogermanischer Herkunft im Thrakischen und Dakischen, in Studien zum indogermanischen Wortschatz, Innsbruck, 2934. Falileyev 2003 A. Falileyev: Sovremennye balkanskie iazyki i paleobalkanistika, in Aktualnye voprosy balkanskogo iazykoznaniia, St. Petersburg, 165180. Garcia Alonso 2003 J. L. Garcia Alonso: La Peninsula Iberica en la Geografia de Claudio Ptolomeo, Vitoria Gasteiz. IEW J. Pokorny: Indogermanisches etymologisches Worterbuch. Bd. I. Bern, 1959. Isaac 2005 G. R. Isaac: Scotland, in New approaches to Celtic place names in Ptolemys Geography, Madrid, 189214. Isaac, forthcoming G. R. Isaac, Rev. F. Villar, B. M. Prosper 2005, in ZCP. Kalu`skaya 2001 I. A. Kalu`skaya: Paleobalkanskie relikty v sovremennykh balkanskikh yazykakh, Moscow. LIV Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, Zweite Auflage / Hrsg. von H. Rix et al. Wiesbaden, 2001. Mihaila 2006 G. Mihaila: Completari romaneti la Indogermanisches etymologisches Worterbuch de Julius Pokorny, in Antic i modern. In honorem Luciae Wald, Bucureti, 412426. Orel 1998 V. Orel: Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden. Paliga 1999 S. Paliga: Thracian and Pre-Thracian Studies, Bucharest.
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Radulescu 1994: M.-M. Radulescu: The Indo-European Position of Messapic, JIES 22, 329344. Rudnicki 1995 M. Rudnicki: A late La Tene inhumation grave from Peczyska: comments on the cultural situation in the upland area of Little Poland, in Celts on the Margins. Studies in European Cultural Interaction 7th Century BC 1st Century AD, Krakow, 195205. Rustoiu 2006 A. Rustoiu: A journey to Mediterranean. Peregrinations of a Celtic Warrior from Transylvania, in Studia Universitatis Babe-Bolyai 51, 4285. Sims-Williams 2006 P. Sims-Williams: Ancient Celtic Place-Names in Europe and Asia Minor, Oxford. Toporov 1973 V. N. Toporov: K frakiisko-baltiiskim iazykovym parallelam, in Balkanskoe iazykoznanie, Moscow, 3063. Toporov 1977 V. N. Toporov: K frakiisko-baltiiskim iazykovym parallelam II, in Balkanskii lingvisti~eskii sbornik, Moscow, 59116. Vennemann 2003 T. Vennemann: Europa Vasconica Europa Semitica, Berlin; New York. Villar 2000 F. Villar: Indoeuropeos y no indoeuropeos en la Hispania prerromana, Salamanca. Villar 2001 F. Villar: Indoeuropeos y no indoeuropeos en la Peninsula Iberica, in Religion, Lengua y Cultura prerromanas de Hispania, Salamanca, 257283. Villar, Prosper 2005 F. Villar, B. M. Prosper: Vascos, Celtas e Indoeuropeos. Genes y Lenguas, Salamanca.
In this paper I would like to pay homage to one of the greatest and most interesting works of Serbian literature, the Chronicles, and to their author, Djordje Brankovi}. This monumental work was written exactly three hundred years ago while its author was a prisoner of the Austrian government. The author, Djordje Brankovi}, was a member of one of the oldest, wealthiest and most respected Serbian families of the time. He was born about the year 1645 and died in 1711. He spent the last years of his life under house arrest because his influence upon Serbian subjects was regarded as ominous by the authorities of the Austrian empire. In the course of the many years of his arrest he wrote the Chronicles. The original manuscript is deposited at the Library of the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade (Nr. R90). It is a substantial work, consisting of about 2700 pages in five volumes. There are no known copies of the Chronicles, only a few later redactions on the original manuscript with considerable changes to the language. The Chronicles form part of the Old Slavonic Orthodox historical tradition and at the same time bridge the way to the emergence of the new Serbian historiography. It is usual for Serbocroatian studies to identify the new tradition with the name and works of J. Raji}, that is, with the last
46
years of the 18th century, although in fact, Dj. Brankovi}s Chronicles were perhaps the most important source of Raji}s own historical writings. Dj. Brankovi} was certainly one of the best educated Serbs of his time, proficient in several languages: Greek and Latin in addition to German, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish, and like every educated Orthodox Slav in Old Church Slavonic. For many years he pursued a career as a diplomat and was well acquainted with European historiography, from the old Greek and Latin authors to European works of the 16th and 17th centuries. His sources are among others Procopius of Caesarea, Herodotus, Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Georg Kinnamos, Blond of Forli, Martin Cromer, George Kedrenus, Mauro Orbini. Dj. Brankovi} was also well acquainted with the Slavic authors e.g., with the Priest of Diokleia (Pop Dukljanin) and the Archbishop Daniel II, Slavic hagiography and the various Chronicles. He approached sources in a critical spirit, endeavouring to maintain a level of seriousness in his historical work. Certainly, this work was also an attempt at legitimizing his claim to being as he saw it the last real descendant of the old Serbian royal dynasty of the Nemanji}es. In this aspect, the Chronicles are quite subjective, but in his interpretation and presentation of the History of the Slavs and other nations in the Balkans and Central Europe we can consider his work to be a serious document of early European historiography of modern times. The information on the Slavs and their neighbours in the Balkans contained in the first four volumes of the Chronicles is very extensive: the first selection I made covered about 50 pages. The Chronicles have not yet been edited and are, in fact, unavailable to the academic public. However, the first volume of the first edition has been prepared for publication by the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade. The dominant themes of the first volume of the Chronicles are early Christianity and the history of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, the origin of the Slavs and their settling in East and South-East Europe. The second volume deals with three main themes: the etymology of Slavic ethnonyms, the common history of the Slavs, and the history of Serbs and the Nemanji} dynasty. The third volume is dedicated mainly to the history of the Medieval Serbian state. It begins with the early 13th century, i. e., the time of Stefan Prvoven~ani, son of the founder of the dynasty and first king of the Serbs, Stefan Nemanja, and of his brother Sava, who is revered as the greatest Serbian saint. It finishes with the end of both the dynasty and the Serbian state in the late 14th century.
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The small selection presented below contains the following themes: the origin of the Slavs, both anthropological and geographical; the first mentions of the Slavs; Slavic settlement in East and South-East Europe; Slavic ethnonyms and other etymological items; the origin of the Serbs and some other Slavic nations; the first Serbian royal dynasty; the oldest Slavic history; the Slavic pagan pantheon; the origin of the Romanians. The original text of the Chronicles is rendered in modern Serbian Cyrillic. The first (Roman) numeral in brackets corresponds to the volume of the manuscript, the second (Arabic) numeral to the page(s). The language of the Chronicles has not yet been described, indeed, neither has the entire period of the 17th and early 18th centuries in the history of Serbian literature. For this reason, and because of the deliberate and artificial complexity of Brankovi}s syntax, a literal translation is not given but the fragments are followed by some kind of short comments in English (in brackets). First, we present the etymological interpretations given in the Chronicles for Slav ethno- and glottogenesis, and later for the Romanians and/or Vlachs. Etymological speculation on the origin of Slavs and other related peoples /I16/ Theory of the Vandalic origin of the Slavs:
Ot nii `e prvoro`deni biv Vandal; sei Visle teku{toi vodi, i Lehom ime vazdav, da Vandali naricavaemi bivajut (Of those the firstborn was Vandal; from him came the name of the river Visla as well as the name Vandals)
/I1920/ Etymological interpretation of the ethnonym slav- as coming from glory, and the theory of slov- as original ethnonym that later became the toponym, too:
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otsudu `e ubo podo/20/bno bivaet nami znati, Sloveni i Slavni rekomi otkudu tako nazivaemi bivajut, jako ubo ime Slovenom i Slavnim rekomim, pre`de Prokopija i Iornanda i Iustiniana cara vremena, nigde ni va latinski ni va gre~aski sapisateli e{te ne priobretohom otkudu sei slovenski rod ili narod podobnim posobstviem, imenem nazivaem da zrim bivaet. Slovenska `e oblast ubo ot Sloveni, a ne ot slovenskoi dr`avnoi oblasti, Sloveni imenem nazivatelno naricanie vasprieli sut, dovolno biti estestavno su{tastvo samatravaem, jako ubo ot sklonevanija nazivatelnago imena, tako i ot deistvija sija i`e vi{e prevaspomenuema sut (The origin of the name Slavs or Slavni should be known, since before the time of Procopius, Jordanes and the Emperor Justinian this name is not found among either Latin or Greek authors, whence comes the name for the Slav tribe or people. So the Slav country was named after the people and not the reverse, and we consider this to be a natural thing)
/I2021/ According to the theory mentioned above, the original sense of the ethnonym slov- was word, language, while slav-, i. e. glory came later:
Slovenom `e ubo etimologija sire~: pravoizglagolaniem, va prvee Sloveni sebe ime ot slovesnago izglagolanija vasprieli sut, jako ubo naravnim poho`deniem, krome /21/ u~itelnago hudo`astva ro`deni bivahu, povanegda `e ubo dela preveli~ai{a, jasnoizvestnei{a i preslavnei{a, suprotiv Rimskoi oblasti i suprotiv vasa~askimi narodimi, okrst ograni~enija imi bivaemi izsledstvovali sut, vtoriceju sebe ot prefalnoi slavi, ime Slavnim biti vasprieli sut, i takovim Slavnim imenem va zapadni i va poluno{tni stranah, da`e i do sego vremena nazivaemi bivajut, ta~iju va vasto~ni i va poludanni stranah, prvonare~ennim imenem rekomim, Slovesnim ili Slovenim sadr`avaemi bivajut, i`e dialekta radi edinim slovom izglagolanie sakra{tavaemo bivaet, i vaistinu podobnim saposobstvovaniem, sicevoju etimologieju edinosaglasno pa~e bivaet, vs. Greek resp. Latin interpretation of the ethnonym slov- as coming from sklav: ne`eli Grci neci i Italiani i`e radi svoego im im mek~ai{ago saglasovatelnago ezika radi, ina~{im izglagolaniem sabesedovanie sadevajut, jako `e naricavati obi~ai imejut sice rek{im Sklavi i Skla/21/vini, mi `e ubo prebivaniem sadr`avati imeem prvovaspriimatelnim imenem rekomim nam biti, nazvannim Slovesnim i Slovenim bivaju{tim (The Slav name comes from the word for word but later, when they became famous for their deeds against Rome and other peoples, they named themselves again and that from the word glory Serb. slava Slavni and that is what they are called to this day in the western and northern countries. However, in the eastern and southern countries they are
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still called as they originally were, i.e. Slovesni or Slavs Serb. Sloveni one sound being omitted for the sake of easier pronunciation. This etymology is much better than with the Greeks or Italians who pronounce it as Sclavi or Sclavini. We will adhere to the original name Slovesni or Sloveni)
/I23/ The ethnonym morav- being interpreted as coming either from the kings name Marot or the hydronym Morava
novo ninja{ne ime est i Moravom, ili ot Marota kralja i`e mnogo mimo{ad{imi vremenmi, po Attilova vremena bist, ili ot Morave teku{toi vodi nazivaemi bili sut (Todays name of Moravljani comes either from the name of King Marot or much earlier, at the time of Attila from the name of the River Morava)
/I2326/ (1) Origin of the toponym moskov- as coming from modok-, mos(k)ch- as well as from the name of Japhets son Moschim (Mesech); (2) the chronology of the different East-Slavic ethnonyms and (3) the relativ youth of the name moskov-:
(1) Modoki tako`de narodi va Savromatiju asiisku biti, Ptolomei svedetelstvuet, Moshiiskie planini va Kappadokiu, ili va Armeniu biti, toi`de Ptolomei i Plinie svedetelstvuju{tim moskovskie narodi i dr`avu Moskovsku, toi`de privaspomenuet. Stravon geograf tako`de moskovskie narodi sa kolhiiskim narodom, krainim ograni~evaniem susedstvuju{timi se biti pi{et, Iosif `e ubo Evrein moskhiiskie narodi, potom kappadokiiskim nare~ennim biti, ot Moshim, ili Mosoha sina Jafetova poho`ditelnim za~inaniem im biti spisano ostaviv, i modokiiskomu narodnomu imenu, man{im podobiem sli~imo bivaet, moskovskimi `e narodimi pa~e velmi sli~imo bivaet, onemi ubo narodimi i`e ninja va europiisku, tako`de i va asiisku Savromatiu, predl`ai{eju i {irotoju prerazprostrannei{eju ~estiju, va povelitelnu svoju im oblast sadr`avajut, slovenskim glagolatelnim ezikom sa`itelstvujut, i Moskhi ili Mo{ci latinski, Mo{kovite nema~ski, slovenski `e
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ubo Moskva ili Moskvali nazivaemi bivajut, i ot mnogih ubo vekov oni prebivatelnie tie stolici sadr`avajut (2) oba~e `e ubo sie ime Moskvalimi, pre`de sih nemnogo minuv{imi vremenmi, obi~no nazivati ih za~eli sut, ni `e va prvee vasu oblast imi tako imenovali sut, na ubo edinoi dr`avi narod, ot vazgrani~enija mnogimi narodimi, ot teku{toi vodi i prestolnago grada, tamo bivaju{tago Moskva rekomago, tako narica/24/vati se za~et bist, va nem `e prestolnomu i velikotr`i{tnomu Moskovskomu gradu pri letu 1323 Prvi Ioan sin Daniila Kelete mestu tomu okrstnoi dr`avi, gospodarstvuju{tei obladatel biv i prestol svoi tamo vadruziv, jako ubo Kromer tako i Ioan Ludovik Arhontologiu Kozmiku sapisuju{tei svedetelstvujut. Emu `e po nim bivaju{tei sanaslednici, egda na~elstvo svoe prisa~etav{im sebe sa bli`ai{imi nekimi, togo`de naroda i ezika na~elstvuju{timi knezovimi, va dlgotu i va {irotu razprostranevaniem raz{irili se sut, ta `e va skon~avaniju i pro~i rusiiski narodi, dale~e preveli~ai{i, predrevnei{i i blagorodnei{i bivahu, ne`eli Moskvali do togo dna bili sut, jako `e vaistinu sut vladimirski, novogradski, jaroslavski, tverski, mo`aiski, suzdal/25/ski, pskovski, rezanski, severski, i pro~ii, i`e vasi ezici va toi`de oblasti prisa~etavani bili sut, va Moskvalem ime privameneni bili sut, (3) oba~e `e tako ubo i`e vasi tako`de, rusiiskim narodom ime sa radostiju, da`e i do ninja pripoznavajut, i sam patriarha moskovski siju rusiisku titlu, jako pre~astnei{u i previsoko velmi slavnei{u, ne`e moskovsku, sebe prisvoiv{emu sa`itelstvuet, i vaistinu i sami oni moskovski na~elstvuju{tei obladateli, ne vatoliko Moskovskoi jako vasoi Rusii gospodarstvo, va nadpisanijah sebe prisvojavajut, otnudu `e zrimo bivaet, jako ime Moskvalem drevne ne bivaet, i jako rusiiskim narodom ~est bivaet, i jako edinago nekoego naroda imi biti podobno bivaet, ot grada i tr`i{tnoprestolnago mesta, i`e preveli~ai{imi zemljami osoblevaniem udale~evaemi biv{i, ot drevni inogda bivaemim Moskvalem, ili moskhiiskimi narodimi biv{imi, i`e pre`de sih nemno/26/go minuv{imi vremenmi, nazivatelno imi ime privazaimovaemo vasprietie bist (The Modok people were also a people of Asian Sarmatia according to Ptolemy Ptolemy also tells us, as does Pliny, too, that the Moschean mountains lie in Cappadocia and in Armenia he also mentions the Muscovite people and state In the same way, according to the geographer Strabo, the Muscovites settled alongside the Kolchida people According to Joseph the Jew (Iosephus Flavius), the Moschi (later called the Cappadocians) originate from Moschim or Moscha, son of Japhet the similarity to the name Moschi is much less than to the Muscovites, and thus to those peoples who today hold very extensive territories in both Asian and European Sarmatia, use the Slav language and call themselves the
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Latin Moschi or Mo{ci, the German Mo{koviti, and the Slav Moscow or Moskvali, and who have possessed these lands for many centuries (3) But they have been calling themselves Moskvali only lately and their region as a whole did not bear that name before. In the beginning only one people on a limited territory bore that name after the name of the river and city of Moscow)
/I3036/ Origin of the ethnonym/toponym rus-/ros- interpreted as coming (1) from the legendary Rusin (brother of Lech and Czech), (2) from the old state Rosea that is the interpretation by Russian people while Greeks and Latins called them Sauromates or Scythians; (3) from the legendary Sauromatic people of Roksolani/Roksi what author of the Chronicles seems to concern to be the best interpretation:
(1) jako ubo Georgie Hornie va svo Istoriu rek{e; O rusiiskomu isto~noza~inatelnomu poho`deniju, razli~na izlo`enija predavajut sapisateli, toi`de rekomi Petar Lukari glagolet jako imenem nazivaemi Rusin, brat bivi Lehu i ^ehu Slovenom narodno ljudstvo, priseleniem va Roksolaniu privaznosiv, ot nih `e Rusi isto~noza~inatelnim poho`deniem, sebe vlekomo ime prisvoeniem vasprieli sut, (2) Sami `e oni Rusi privazve{tavajut, jako dr`ava ime drevnim nazivaniem Rosea rekoma bist, i narod tai va mnoga mala kne`evstva razdelen bist; Ni va ~em `e ubo va udi/31/vlenie ne bivaet, jako va prvee nijakovo letopisanie va narode varvarskom obretavaemo ne biva{e, i`e poslednim vremenom po vaspriem{emu, verovatelnago zakona hristijanskago, edva za~etiem ot svoi Blgari slova vaspriev, vamale pre`de togo vremena gre~askim podobiem, priobretavaema bila sut, imi `e sa`itelstvovati za~inanie satvoriv, i saposobstviem sa`itelstvuet. Po tom `e nepoznavaem biv{i Grcim i Latinom tai narod, jako `e tako`de i poluno{tnie narodi nepoznavaemi bivahu, ih `e ob{tim naricatelnim imenem, ili Savromati, ili Skiti im biti nazivali sut, egda ubo radi me`du sebe predl`ai{imi zemlnimi udalenmi, osobljavaemi obretavaemi bivahu, i prebivatelnim upodobleniem dr`avi ti neustroeni biv{i, i radi neupitomlennimi nemilosrdnimi, i varvarskimi biv{imi imi obi~aimi, ni va ~to sa nimi vadru`evanie ne imevaju{timi; (3) A{te `e ubo Roksanom ili Roksolanom ime, i`e Rusom ili Rusiom bivaemu imenu, ne vel/32/mi nesli~no bivaet, drevnimi istori~astvuju{timi neznaemo ne bivaet, jako ubo i Ptolomei i Plinie roksolaniiskie narodi va Savromatiu, pri bedru Miotiiskomu ezeri{tu vame{tavajut, i Kornelie Takit va Letapisanija rimskago kesara Silvija Otto vreme tako o nih pi{et rek{e tolmi ubo drznovennei{e Roksolani savromatiiski narod va Misiu napadatelno vaho`denie satvorili sut; Stravon geograf tako pi{et, Roksani ubo pa~e ka severu imeemi bivajut, vame`du te-
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ku{timi vodami rekomi Tanais, i Nipar /33/ suprotiv voevo`dona~elnikov, Mitridata cara Pontiiskoi oblasti va Asiu bivaemoi brantvorenie izsledstvovali sut. usrdstvuju{tei ~atitel, jako ubo tie`de prebivatelnie stolice, toliko drevni i celomudrni bivaemi sapisateli, vanimajut biti Roksolanom ili Roksanom i Trakiom po rek{ago Stravona geografa jako pod imenem Trakiom sadr`avaemi bivajut, Geti, Daki, i Raksii ot nih `e va Srbsku oblast, dr`ava Ra{kova nazivaema bivaet; Simi `e ubo vasemi narodimi Srblem, Blgarom, Roksolanom, Trakiom, i pro~imi Slovenimi mesta, Rusi da`e i do sego dna prebivaniem sadr`avajut, i oni u`e togda Ottonu kesaru, Rimskoi oblasti Misiu va ograni~enie imi biv{u, ista{tevaniem razru{iti za~eli sut /36/ ta~iju ubo onie i`e va ro`deno svoe mesto prebivaniem /36/ ostali sut drevnim Roksiom ime sadr`avali sut, imi `e Roksiom netrudno sklonevanie biti vazmo`et, va naricatelno ime Rusiom, i rusiiskimi biti; otkudu `e i va koe vreme Sloveni va prvee va Vandaliu, va Saksoniu, va Nema~sku, va Dalmatiisku, i va Illiri~aski oblasteh pri{li sut, to znaemo bivaet jako ot Kimmeriiskago Vosfora, i Tanaiskoi vodi, Kimmerion mesto me`du, Miotiiskago ezeri{ta i me`du mora, Eksinopontiiskago vasi geografi Roksanom ili Roksolanom i Savromatiom biti vanimavajut
/I3637/ Origin of Russians up to the biblical Book of Ezekiel legendary Tovel, Mesech and Rosh:
a{te `e ubo nekto vaziskati ho{tet, va prvee Rusi va koe vreme va Savromatiu prebivati za~eli sut, i otkudu tamo pri{li sut, i otkudu sebe rusiisko ime vasprieli sut, vaistinu izvestvuem, jako a{te ubo nam i usrdno iskusiti ponu`denie prilo`ihom, na ubo nezna{tim nam obretavaem bivaem. Oba~e `e ubo priobretavaem va /37/ Ezekila proroka vaspomenuemu biv{u na~elstvuju{tomu ime, Ros, Mosoh i Tuval, po svedetelstvu Kromera sice pisaniju predav{ago, tako ubo ~ateniju predali sut Evsevie Kesariiski, Teodokion, Simmahos o Tuvalu, i Mosohu, o nih `e nami vi{e re~eno bist, Ros, a{te ubo narodu ime bivaet, i toe`de rusiiskomu imenu susedstvuju{tomu se, edinosaglasuemo zrimo bivaet, otnudu `e raznstvenno vaspriemlemo biti vazmo`et, jako Rusom ili Roksanom isto~noza~inatelno poho`denie, ot togo`de Rosa ili Ros rekomago privazvodimo biti vazmo`et, jako `e ubo i va tom javstavno zrimo bivaet i`e rusiiskim imenem, va dr`avu Novogradsku t`i{tno prebivatelno mesto tako nazivaemo bivaet; (It is still unknown from where the Slavs have come as well as the time of their coming to Sauromatia; nor do we know anything about the origin of the name Rus. But in the Book of Ezekiel there are Rosh, Mesech and
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Tovel mentioned (so by Cromer and other historians) which can be consiidered as ancestors of the Russian people)
/I3840/ Theory about the Gothic origin of the Slavs while gothic coming from gost- i. e., guest:
Po vi{e `e ukazav{im nam jako slovenski narod, ot mnogorazli~nie narodi razumevaemi bivajut, va prvee ubo va Skitiisku oblast, obretavaemi bili sut, imenem nazivaemi Alani i`e Tatari drevni sut, i`e potom va Europiu razprostraniv{im se, slovenskago ezika glagolaniem sebe Gosti biti naz/39/vali sut, va poruganie onemi imi `e preodolevaniem, prebivatelnie zemle va svoju oblast pritvorili sut, tii `e rekomi Gosti ot Grekov po vi{ere~ennomu, meg~ai{ago im dialekta izglagolanija radi, skitiiski Goti imi biti narekli sut, ih `e i Latini takovim naricaniem saposobstvovali sut, Goti `e ili Gosti rekomi slovenski narodi razumevaemi sut, po svedetelstvu prezvitera Dioklitiiskago sii `e Gosti ili Goti vame`du inemi narodimi, priob{teniem imeli sut i paflagoniiski narod imenuemi Eneti, Paflagonia `e razumevaema bivaet asiiska dr`ava, da`e i do Vitinie ta `e i do Kappadokie ot inie `e strani do Eksiniiskago mora pri granicu Blgarskoi dr`avi vasi `e ubo si vi{ere~eni narodi vadru`eni biv{i Blgarimi, Srblimi, Trakiimi, i Roksanimi i po minuv{imi vremenimi povanegda jako gosti privaseliv{im se, Trakiu, Makedoniu, i /40/ vasu Illiriu va svoju im oblast pritvoriv{im, tako`de i oni Sloveni i`e pri Savromatiiski planinah bili sut, jako gosti privaseliv{im se, va Livoniu i va Prusiu va prvee prebivaju{tim, potom `e i va Vandaliu tii`de slovenski Gosti privaselili se sut (The old Tatars and Alans, since they have come from the Scythia and settled in Europe, used to name themselves (in Slavic language) as Guests; then Greeks named them Scythian Goths, so Latins, too. This name has then been spreaded among the other Slavic tribes they have coming to the new settlement areas as guests, too)
/I208/ Etymological interpretation of the toponym Srem/Sirmium as coming from the name of the Gethic king Sirmo:
Veliki bo Aleksander ne velmi dale~e ot ostrova latinski rekomago Peuce i`e vi{e Vizantiiskago grada va Dunavski ustah bivaemi, tamo sarazitelno borenie satvoriv sa carem getiiskim, imenuemim SIRMO ot nego `e Sremska zemlja nazivaema bist
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krstiti budut va latinski zakon, Ego `e radi pro~i okrstnie narodi latinski zakon vaspriemlju{tie, [okcimi biti nazvali sut ot kr{tavaju{tei ih episkopi {veviiski (Stilicho, the tutor of the emperor, has brought catholic priests in the land, which were called shokach priests then, all the catholic people used to be named so)
/II3/ Etymological approach to the ethnonym Serb- as coming from the toponym Sauromat-:
ot imena `e sauromatijakago bist u~ineno ime Srbi
/II6/ the etymology of the Serbian, Bulgarian and Russian ethnonyms: (1) Serb- as coming from Sauromat-, (2) bulgar- (bugr-) from the hydronym Volga (> Vlgari > Blgari), (3) Russ- from roks- , i. e., from the name of a Sauromatic people:
(1) javstavno znaemo est biti isho`denie srbsko, blgarsko, i roksijsko sire~ rusijsko, ot nih `e i ra{kovsko va Srbskoi zemli imenovani sut, siji vasi narodi sauromatiski sut: (2) Srbi, jako `e pre`de rekohom ot Sauromatiiskoi dr`avi imenovani sut, Bugri, sire~ Blgari, ot `ili{ta pri zovomoi reke Volga prebivania im ja`e pre`de Rha nare~enna bist va prvee ot vode Volga /7/ Vugri ili Bugri potom i Vlgari i Blgari imenovani sut: (3) Roksani `e nazvani ot gre~aski i latinski daskali, jako ot Ptolemeja i Plinija, tako i ot Stravona i Kornelija Takita, roksijskago naroda va Sauromatijskoi dr`ave, pri morskomu ezeri{tu Miotis vame{tavajut, ot nii `e rosiiski narodi imenovani bi{e i`e i do dana{nega dna Sauromatiju obladajut, i rosiiskem imenomstarovremenno nazvano mesto imejut
/II11/ Etymological explanation of the ethnonym Slov- as coming from slovo, i. e. word (= upright, sincere) and later on from slava which means glory, too:
i tako ot slova, im `e slovo svoe vazdali sut i nepremenno glagolatelnago slova svoego prestupiti ne vashotev{e, togda togo dela radi sebe Slovenom biti nareko{e, i vasehfalnoju slavoju svoeju vesele{te se, paki potom ot velike slave imeju{tu im nazva{e se i Slavni, otnudu /12/ `e latinskim ezikom i do nine{nega dna Slavoni imenujut se
/I35 II1213/ Different theories about the origins of Slavic ethnonyms as built from the names of the tribal leaders, from the landnames, from the original inhabitants of these lands, as neologisms, and so on:
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drugo imi opl~enie /35/ i vasu Nema~sku stranu ot Visle do Sala i Albi da`e i do vame`du Karpatiiskoi planini, do Dunavskoi vodi i do okejana Nema~skago prisvoiv{im Egda ubo tii`de oblasti ot narodi prazni bivahu, ot neprestanna brantvorenija, i va inie prebivatelnie stolice privaselevanija radi, i tie`de narodi vaskoro oblastimi osoblevanmi, razli~nimi e{te naricatelnimi imenmi nazivaemi bili sut, tako ubo i`e ~estiju edinoju ot voevo`dona~elnikov, drugoju `e ~estiju ot tamo biva{ti mestah, inoju `e ~estiju ot pre`de tamo prebivaju{tih, vaposledi `e i ot u~enija, i priviknuti obi~aevi bivaemi, ili ot priho`ditelnago slu~evanija, nekaja novonazivatelna imena sebe vasprieli sut; (After their settlement in East and Central Europe, where a lot of areas were uninhabited, Slavs used to name themselves either after their leaders or after the old place names or the old inhabitants etc.) mnogorazli~nimi imenmi potom sebe nareko{e, tako i`e nekie ~esti ot vo`daju{ti ih voivodah imenova{e se, druzi `e ot pomestnie predeli nazva{e se, ini `e ot pre`de va tih dr`avah prebi/13/vaju{ti nareko{e se, i ot va nih imeju{tago me`du soboju obi~aj, ili novoizmi{lena imena sebe vasprie{e, ta~iju oni Srbi, Blgari, i Roksani, i`e svoim imenem ot ro`denija svoego iz Kitskie Sauromatie, i ezera Miotiskago isho`denie satvori{e, va rode svoem imena svoja pridr`a{e, i ot sih vi{ere~eni tri rodov pro~i narodi slovenski vasi isho`denie svoe imejut (Some of them have named themselves after their leaders, the other after the former inhabitants or after some old tradition there; but Serbs, Bulgars und Roxans have kept their old names they have brought with from Scythian Sauromatia; from these three all the other Slavic people come)
/II4243/ (1) Interpretation of the Slavic and Hungarian name Bela as coming from the legendary son of the emperor Licinius; (2) high frequency of the Slavic stem bel- which means white and which was used to be name for areas and people as well:
(1) na pa~e mnju biti, sego Bela Uro{a lozom vlekomim ot Likinia, (2) jako `e ubo semu podobna mnoga mesta i mnozi ~loveci obretajut se va pro~eh slove/43/nskih na{ih narodah sice imenovani biti prvee `e va Moskovskoi, i Le{skoi oblasti da`e i do sego ~asa zrima i zovoma est Rosiiska dr`ava, Bela Rosija, i Crna Rosija, va Alemanskoi `e oblasti ide `e slovenosrbski narod priselenie svoe vamesti{e pri teku{tie reki, ju`e i do ninja latinskim ezikom Alba imenuet se, po na{emu `e Bela razumeet se, Kromeru tako va svo Istoriju svedetelstvuju{tu: Va Slovenougrskie `e zemli i tri
56
kraleva Bela imenovani bi{e, Bonfiniju tako svedetelstvuju{tu: se ubo tako biv{e, i`e starovremennim obi~aem va razli~ni sloveski narodah jako mesta tako i ~loveci mnozi imenovani bili sut
/III111/ Interpretation of the ethnonyms Rasa- / Raksa- / Roksa- / Rashka as Sauromatic ones:
bla`enopametno telo ego prineseno bist va mesto rekomo Rasa, po starovremennomu `e Raksa imenovanna, pri teku{tie reki tim `e imenem nazvanno, jako ubo narod raksiiski ili roksiiski, vanegda priselenie sebe satvori ot sauromatiiski va tih iliri~aski stranah prebivatelna mesta sebe vadruzi{e, i tako ot togo raksiiskago naroda, mesto to sa teku{tom rekom Raksa imenovana bist (His body was brought to the place named Rasa or, in elder manner, Raksa which lies by the river with the same name so named by the Slavs after their coming to these Illyric area from Sauromatia)
/III369/ Origin of the Serbian king names Urosh and Stefan: Urosh interpreted as coming from the biblical name Ur (son of Hur s. biblical Paralipomenon-Book) and Stefan as Greek crown:
Dozde lozu roda Stefana Prvoven~annago sina Prvago Stefana Nemane sa vasemi kralevi i carevi srbski bivaemi sapisuju{te ih, javstavno vidimo est, jako kralevi /370/ i carevi srbski dvemi imenimi sebe imenovati privikli behu, sire~ Uro{em i Stefanom, podobaet ubo vedeti ~eso radi sie biva{e Uro{ preroditel Prvago Nemane ot Georgia kralja slovenskago bist postavlen biti, velikim `upanom Zahlmskoi dr`avi sei Uro{, preroditel vi{eimenuemago Nemane; a{te li `e ho{tet kto znati, sego rekomago Uro{, poho`denie egovo obresti imeet, va prvoi knigi Paralipomenon rek{e, /371/ jako potom Hur rodi Ura, i Ur
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rodi Veseleel, Ur `e haldeiskim ezikom jako i evreiskim ezikom, razumeet se biti ogan gospodan, haldeiski bo ezik, sa evreiskim mnogo edinosagla{enie imejut: vtoro `e ime rekomo Stefan, privikli behu imeti srbski kralevi i carevi, dvo~islnim tazoimstvovaniem, kr{teniem ili na kralevstvo ven~avaniem, ego `e obi~aja ot Grekov radi elinskago ezika vasprie{e, elinskim bo ezikom stefanos imenuet se venac, im `e kralevi i carevi ven~avaemi bivahu, i togo radi na{i srbski kralevi i carevi sija dva starovremenna imena, ili va vreme kr{teniju im, ili va vreme ven~aniju im sebe imenovav{e sadr`avahu
In the Chronicles the history of neighbouring nations of the Serbs is also an important subject: of the Hungarian state, Byzantine Empire and the Romanians. The following fragments show how the origin of the Vlachs and of their ethnonym are interpreted by the Chronicles: Etymological speculation on the origin of the Romanians (Vlachs): /I19/ On geographical position of Vlachs:
Va poluno{tnu `e stranu da`e i do Istriiskoi strani, Dakii sadr`avali sut, i`e ninja zaplaninski Vlahi, i moldovski, i sedmogradski bivajut, da`e i do ^e{skoi oblasti prodl`avaniem sadr`avali sut (In the North until Dacia belonged to the peoples who are now named Back-mountain Vlachs and Moldavian Vlachs, those of Sedmograd, too; they hold the whole area even up to the Czech region)
/III248250/ (1) Personal name giving among Vlachs; (2) the etymology of personal name Basaraba; (3) the origin of Slavic-Valachian people:
(1) Basaraba voivodi sarodstvie ot poluno{tni stranah pri{ad{im Slovenom i va Ni`nu Misiju pri Eksipontiiskom mestu ide `e Dunav va morsko ezeri{te vahodit, neci ot slovenskago naroda tamo vaseliv{im se i prvona~elstvuju{tei narodu tomu obi~ai imehu, /249/ ~edi svoe rodiv{ie se imenovahu, rek{e neci, Bogoslav, ini Bogodan, ini Bo`idar, druzi Bo`irab, (2) ot nih `e i prededovi sego Basaraba voivodi ro`deni bi{e, i lozom vleku{te se do vremena Iraklija cara edin ot nih va supru`nicu sebe vazem da{ter roda Iraklia cara i gre~aski ego sarodnici radi gre~askago tankoslovitelnago im ezika, neka slova primeniv{e vamesto Bo`irab imenuju{te ego Besirab glagolahu, otnudu `e ne ta~iju tai basarabski rod nazva se ot Grekov Besirab, na i vasa dr`avna pomorska wblast roda togo Besirabija nare~ena bist, ja`e i do sego vremena tako zo/250/vet se, va nei `e ninja Tatari
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Nohaiski i Bu`a~ski prebivajut; Vlahi `e debelei{e slovitelnago im ezika radi, tako`de izmeneniem nekim slovam, (3) roda sego ot nego `e tast bist ^etvrtago Uro{a kralja srbskago imenovati naviko{e Basarab Vlahi ubo siji smesiv{i se me`du slovenskim narodom `itelstvom svoim prebivahu, ego `e smesitelnagoo prebivania radi i Slovenovlahi nare~eni bi{e, o sem `e slovenovlahiiskom narode Kromer istorik .. po ni`nemu izlo`eniju sapisuju{te svedetelstvuet. Slovenovlahiiski narod va prvee ot Italianski stranah rekomie Rimskie oblasti, prinesen bist va zemlju Dakiisku, Trajanu kesaru rimskomu, togda vojuju{tu (The name Basarab is interpreted as coming from the old tradition of the Vlachs to give their sons the (Slav) names Bogoslav, Bogodan etc. After one of the Vlach dukes has married a girl from the Byzantin emperors family, the Greeks have changed the name to Besirab because they could not pronounce it; this name was then applied to the whole area and now it is still called like that. The Vlachs then called themselves Basarab. Because of contact and the life together with Slavs, they are also called Slav-Vlachs so mentioned by Cromer)
/III253261/ (1) Origin of Vlach people by mixing of Goth people and remnants of Roman people; (2) the Slavic influence upon the language of Vlachs; (3) meanings by different historians about Vlachs and their lands; (4) different theories about the meaning of the ethnonym Vlach (i.e. as servant) as well as different variants of their ethnonyms (different names for Vlachs are given in Italic):
(1) vaposledi `e Goti Dakiju va svoju oblast pritvoriv{e obladali bili sut, va vreme Gratijana kesara rimskago, i tako ot sme{enija va Dakiju ostav{i rimskago naroda obitaju{teji vakupe sa gotskim i pro~im varvarskim narodom, edino`itelstvuju{tim i bra~nim sa~etaniem samesiv{im se, ot togo smesitelnago isho`denia vlahiiski narod bitija svoego za~etie vazet, (2) ot togo `e starovremennago varvarskago i rimskago ezika same{ennago izglagolanija novi ezik sebe imeti naviko{e, oba~e a{te ubo ruski i slovenski ezik va nih ime|ti navikli sut, obi~aja sego imeti /254/ imejut susedstvuju{tago radi me`du soboju ob{tago `itelstva, ili jako i tai narod ot Slovenov za~etie svoe vazel bist, jako `e i pro~i narodi va toi strani bivaimie predeli i`e ot Miotiiskago ezeri{ta morskago va Skitskoi dr`avi i Eksipontiiskago da`e i do Adriatiiskago rekomago Venedi~skago morskago ezeri{ta, prestoe{tei se dr`avi pod svoju oblast pritvorili behu, (3) Sloveni `e vase Latine ili Italiane, rimskie narode Vlahom imenovahu jako `e i do ninja imenujut; inogda bo nevedomi i neznaemi biva{e narod sei vlahiiski, jako ubo pre`de obrete se va
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Ugrsku Istoriju ta~iju va vreme vi{e pisannago Karola kralja ugrskago, bran tvore{tago suprotiv Basaraba voivodu, vi{e re~eni /255/ Kromer istorik, po vi{eizlo`enomu podobiju svedetelstvuet Gotofred `e zemlju Sedmogradsku sapisuju{te Dakiju na 6 ~esti i dr`avah razdeljaju{te nekogda, va koja mesta vaseleni bivahu, glagolet Vlahi rekomi Latini ili Italijani rimski narodi, vanegda preselenie svoe tvorahu ot edinago va drugo mesto, inoplemennago radi borenia ratiju suprotiv im i Rimskomu imi kesarstvu, oba~e `e neci glagoljut jako Dakija i Misija ot Sedmogradskie zemle osobiti se imeet, ini `e po Ptolomeevu raznstviju Dakiju osobljajut ot Dunavskago brega, ja`e i Bre`na Dakija nare~ena bist; Eutropie `e sapisuju{te `itie Aureliana kesara glagolet, dr`avu /256/ rekomuju Dakiju ju`e Trajan kesar obon pol Dunava pobednoju siloju svoeju be{e satvoril, ostaviv ju imenem nazvav biti Dakija, sija `e Dakija razdeljaet dve Misiiskie oblasti, sire~ Vi{u i Ni`nu Misiju, Vi{u Misiju obladali sut slovenosrbski narodi, Ni`nu `e Misiju slovenoblgarski narodi obladali bili sut; Lucie `e latinski istorik jako o slovenskom tako i o vlahiiskom narode, izlo`enie predania svoego posledovav{i, po semu podobiju glagolet rek{e: vanegda `e ubo Sloveni Iliriju va svoju oblast pritvorili behu, (4) i tamo prebivatelnago rimskago naroda obretaju{tago se va poddanu slu`itelnu ~est sebe privamenili /257/ behu velefalno vazve{teno ime ono rimsko va slovenskom narode obna`enim zrakom va poddanno slu`itelno posobstvie vameni se, i vanegda kogo Vlahom naricahu, togo poddannago slu`abnika raba biti razumevahu, i`e potom va tom`de slovenskom narode skotskago stada pastirie i ni`ai{ago lika vlahiiski ljudie razprostraneni prebivahu; Togo radi Vlahi va slovenskom narode ot sme{enija smesitelnago ezika rimskago naroda `e latinskago ili italianskago biti razumeet se, ot lika pastirskago va planinski gorah obitaju{tei prebivaniem, i`e slovenskim ezikom Beli Vlahi imenovati se nare~eni bi{e. Vlahi `e i`e va srbski, bosanski, i hrvatski planinski gorah prebivajut, rimskago naroda ostav/258/{i se naslednici biti mnozi tako samatrajut i va vreme egda Sloveni Dalmatiju va svoju oblast vasprieli sut va planinski gorah pribegli sut, sa prezviterom dioklitiiskom tako biti razumejut: Gre~aski `e vivliografi sire~ knigam sapisateli, Zonara, Nikita, Laonik, vlahiiskago naroda va mnogorazli~ni stranah prebivatelnago biti glagoljut rek{e, va Bulgariju, va Trakiju, va Tesaliju, i va stranah Misiiski stranstvuju{teji Vlasi prebivahu va nevame{tena sebe prestolna mesta tako`de `e i va zapadni stranah Moglenu dr`avu, Kedrenoh sapisuet okrst `e Kastorie Anna Komnena Aleksiados va petu knigu svoju ukazuet glagolju{te, potom Aleksie Vlahe vamestiv; hrvatska planinska gora i /259/ inogda Bela Gora imennovanna, ninja Morlaha re~ena, i
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Grci nekie vlahijskie narodi imenem naricahu Morlahi, ini e`e nazivahu Mavrovlahi, jako `e Kodin istorik svedetelstvuet, ini `e re~eni bi{e Kocovlahi, i`e gre~askim ezikom Romivlahi biti razumejut se ratiju pobivaemi biv{im. po Akropolitovu svedetelstvu; va latinski `e istorikov Luitprand, Longin, ili po na{emu rek{e Login Mikhovita i Kromer glagoljut, va prvee Vlahi Piecinoge i Pecinoge imenovani behu radi skotom pastirie biv{im, i pri ognju pare{tim se va gorah Pecinoge nare~eni bi{e, potom vlahijsko ime sebe priobreto{e, i vi{ere~eni istorici svoim svedetelstvom, sa ruskim narodom /260/ susedstvuju{ta se ih vame{tajut, i suprotiv le{skomu narodu vojuju{tei, Rusi va dru`stvo svoe pecinogskago naroda vazem{e bran vakupe satvorili sut tako glagoljut: Longgin ili Login sa Kedrenom i Zonarom edinosaglasuet, jako carstvom gre~askim carstvuju{tu Ioanu Cimishiju, Rusi vrativ{i se ot Blgarskie zemle plenom ot pecinogskago naroda poprani bili sut tako ve{tajut; Login `e izlo`eniem svoim predav, jako Rusi sa voivodom svoim imenovannim Bura, va leto (972) togo`de Cimishija carstvuju{tago ot Gre~aski dr`ava obremenennim plenom vrativ{im se, ot pecinogskago naroda pobe`deni bili sut, plen ot nih vazem{e i voivodu im sam/261/rtiju predaju{te ubien bist, povanegda `e vi{ere~eno varvarsko sme{enie ili smesitelnago ezika rekomi Pecinoge Sloveni Vlahom biti narekli sut, Grci `e mnogorazli~nim Vlahom imenuju{te po vi{ere~ennomu raznstviju Mavrovlahom i Morlakom i pro~, tako`de i Italiani Grekom posobstvuju{tim nekie Vlahe Morlakom rek{e Crnim Vlahom imenujut, sire~ Crni Latini ili Italiani. Slovenovlahiskago sego naroda gospodarstvom obladaju{tago Basarab voivoda, i biv{i tast ^etvrtomu Uro{u re~ennomu i De~anskomu kralju srbskomu
/IV609/ Relationship and spread of the Basarab family and Slavic-Valachian people to the Slavs which were settled in the area between Black and Adriatic sea:
zde o Vlahomoldavski prvoobladatelev, ne~to prostrannei{e vashotehom, o Basarabskom sarodstviju i rodoslovija Slovenovlahiiskago naroda, jako za~e/610/tie bitija svoego vazet, ot sme{enija pro~i slovenskie narodi, i`e ot Miotiiskago i Eksipontiiskago ezeri{ta, razprostraneni bivahu, da`e i do Adriatijskago rekomago Venedi~askago morskago ezeri{ta Martinu Kromeru tako svedetelstvuju{tu; Basarabski `e rod sa Eksipontiiskimi primor(s)kimi dr`avami ime svoe vazet, jako `e pre`de rekohom, va dni Iraklija cara vaselenskago
/IV614617/ (1) Valachian and Moldavian countries; (2) the etymology of the name Moldova; (3) the foundation of the despot Basarab family branch in the 14th century and later division of the state territory
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into an eastern resp. northern part and one southern part which then were ruled by two kings, brothers Stefan and Peter:
(1) Antonie `e Bonfinie, sa Martinom Kromerom, kupno i sa Georgiem Horniem, izvestnei{e javstavno svedetelstvujut, jako Vlahiiska i Moldovska zemlja kralevskoju, togda Grekom rekoma despotskoju titloju obdr`ima bila est, va leto 1300 Vlahiiski `e narod otkudu i kogda sebe vlahiisko ime vaspriet, ne obretaem za~etija imeni togo, ta~iju Kromerovim svedetelstvom glagolemimi istino tako biti, jako `e va istori~astvu svo/615/emu sapisav, rek{e, i`e vasi slovenski narodi ne ta~iju sego vlahiiskago naroda, na i vasego italianskago naroda Vlahom imenujut, ego `e radi sa pro~im svedetelstvuju{tim veruem biti Vlahom italiiskago roda; (2) Moldova `e nazvana bist, ot reki teku{tei posred dr`avi toi imenuemie Molda, (3) otnudu `e starovremenno vleku{te se Basarabskago roda loza, vlahiiski prvi kral vaspomenuet se, imenuemi Vlaiko Basaraba, toi `e kral Basaraba biv va leto 1320 i va leto (1330) ot togo `e roda Basarabskago, va Moldovsku zemlju, ili pa~e va Basarabsku gre~askim ezikom rek{e prvi despot, na{im `e slovenskim prvi kral bist imenuemi /616/ Drgi~ ili Dragoe, va leto 1340 semu `e moldovskomu kralju Dragoju, naslednik bivaet sin ego imenuemi Sas, va leto 1358. Sei `e vlahomoldovski kral rekomi Sas, va poslednja vremena, vlahiiski narod edinago bivaemago, va dva gospodarstva obladaema biti satvoriv, i tako na dvoe razdelennim biv{im, na dve strane imenovati se na~inajut, tako ubo i`e va stranu vasto~nu, i va poluno{tnu sklonena sut, i sa Podolskoju dr`avoju sebe ograni~ajut, Vlahomoldovsko gospodarstvo nazvati se za~inaet, va poludannu `e stranu bivaemo gospodarstvo i Sedmogradskomu boku, prisezaju{tim se Vlahozaplaninskim imenem zvati se za~etie vaspriet; va oblast `e Vlahiiskago kralevstva, po kralju rekomomu Sas, nasledstvuju{tu Ste/617/fanu Basarabu kralju, i po samrti egovoi dva sina va kralevstvu ostav{im se, imenuemi Stefan i Petar
/IV633/ The division (mentioned above) of the Valachian region into Basarabia and Vlahomoldavia, with Belgrade and Suceava as capital cities:
kral poslanniki svoe otslav ka nim radi samiritelnago hodataistvija, i po ni`e izlo`ennomu podobiju, Vlahiiska oblast me`du imi razdelena bist, sicevim posobstviem, jako ni`na i primorska ograni~itelna dr`ava, ja`e po vi{e izlo`ennago Slovenobasarabskago roda, i naroda radi, Basarabija zovoma biti imenuet se oblast ta, va nei `e obretaet se imenuemi grad Basarabski Belgrad, i Kilija, gospodarstva oblasti toi Stefan da imeet, vi{u `e ~est zemli Vlahomoldovskoi, i`e va zapadnju stranu, i sa ruskim narodom
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susedstvuema ograni~uet se, kupno sa prestolnim gradom imenuemim Su~ava, Ilija va oblast gospodarstva svoego da imeet
/IV635/ Slavic origin of the title of Vlach dukes vojvods as coming from Polish tradition resp. from common Slav tradition (as a result of long-lasting cohabitation life with the Slavs and under Slav rulers):
otnud Lesi po vi{evaobra`ennomu, va svoju oblast imev{i vlahiiskago naroda, po svoemu im obi~aju, jako `e va le{skomu kralevstvu na~elnei{i ustroiteli voivodami, imenujut se, tako i vlahiiskie obladatele imenovati naviko{e rek{e, /636/ voivoda vlahiiski, i`e razumeet se biti, vtorona~elstvuju{tei obladatel: Druzi `e glagoljut, jako vlahiiski na~elnici voivodami imenujut se e{te ot vremena slovenogotskie i slovenobasarabskie narodi, vanegda i slovenobosanski narod sa pro~imi iliri~askimi i trakiiskimi Sloveni ot Eksipontiiskie strani, priselenie satvorili sut, po starovremennim bo istori~astvuju{tim, i slovenobosanski narod slovenobasarabski narod imenuet se, i va ta vremena jako `e vi{e prostrannei{e vaobrazihom, vlahiiski narodi brakosa~etatelnim prebivaniem, i me`du soboju prekupleniem trguju{ta se samesiv{i se sa slovenskimi i sa pro~imi varvarskimi narodi, ne ta~iju kupno edino `itelstvo imejahu, na i na~elnike vlahiiskie, slovenskim ezikom voivodami nazivaju{te, imenovali ih sut, /637/ otnudu `e javstavno zrit se jako e{te va prva vremena slovenskim kralem biv{im vlahiiski narodi vtorona~elnie svoe voivodi, pod slovenskago kralevstva oblast imeli sut
/IV679680/ Turk origin of the name of the Karabogdan country as coming from the name of Slavic-Valachian ruler Bogdan, called Black, in the Vlach language Negru:
Pri semu `e vremenu po Kromerovu sve/680/detelstvu, Slovenovlahiiski obladatel imenuemi Bogdan biv, Orbin istorik svedetelstvuet, jako sei Bogdan proricatelnim prezimenom svoim nare~en bist Crni, ego `e Vlahi svoim vlahiiskim ezikom Negru voivoda imenujut, ot imena `e egovago Turci zemlju Moldovsku, turskim ezikom rek{e Karabogdan nazvali sut, tursko bo glagolanie kara, po na{emu crni razumeet se References
Kretschmer 1999 Anna Kretschmer: Od srpskoslovenskog ka ruskoslovenskom (na materijalu Hronika \. Brankovi}a), Nau~ni sastanak slavista u Vukove dane 28/2, Beograd, 197202. Kretschmer 2000 Anna Kretschmer: O kwi`evno-jezi~koj tradiciji do 1800. kod Srba i Rusa (razmi{qawa o slovenskoj istorijskoj standardizaciji), Ju`noslovenski filolog LVI/12 (In memoriam P. Ivi}), 543559.
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Kretschmer 2002 Anna Kretschmer: Uo~i standardizacije srpskog jezika (jezik Hronika \. Brankovi}a), Nau~ni sastanak slavista u Vukove dane 30/1, Beograd, 1119. Kretschmer 2003 Anna Kretschmer: Zur Syntax des serbischen und russischen Schrifttums um 1700, In: W. Gladrow (Hg.), Die slawischen Sprachen im aktuellen Funktionieren und historischen Kontakt. Beitrage zum XIII. internationalen Slawistenkongress vom 15. bis 21. August 2003 in Ljubljana, Berlin, 111131. Kretschmer 2004 Anna Kretschmer: Vom Kirchenslavischen zu Schriftsprachen der Neuzeit (Schriftserbisch um 1700), Welt der Slaven XLIX, 145160. Kretschmer 2005 Anna Kretschmer: Srpski jezik izme|u starog i novog doba (o jeziku Hronika \. Brankovi}a, Nau~ni sastanak slavista u Vukove dane 34/1, Beograd, 4353. Kretschmer 2007 Anna Kretschmer: O sintaksi predstandardnih faza jezi~kog razvoja (na materijalu ruske i srpske pismenosti), Zbornik Matice srpske za slavictiku 7172, Novi Sad, 465480.
Ivan Belostenecs Latin-Croatian and Croatian-Latin two-volume dictionary was written in the 17th century, but the manuscript was kept in the Paulist monastery in Lepoglava for more than sixty years after Belostenecs death. Before the beginning of work on publishing the manuscript, Ivan Kri{tolovec in his Brevis relatio of 1721 testifies that both parts were kept in Lepoglava. He writes about Belostenec Qui florente adhuc aetate comoposuit Ditionarium Latino Croaticum et contra Croatico Latinum, opus plane pro natione eximium sed adhuc hodie ob defectum expensarum in tenebris haerens. Doubts about Belostenecs authorship of the Gazophylacium arose first of all because of its tridialectal nature.1 It was really hard to imagine
1 The doubts increased because of the fact that the Gazophylacium contains some proverbs from Vitezovi}s Priru~nik and words from Della Bellas dictionary, both of which appeared after Belostenecs death.
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how a born Kajkavian speaker (born probably in Vara`din), who lived in the region between Me|imurje on the one side and Vinodol and Istria on the other side, could have included in his dictionary words from Slavonia and Dalmatia, which were then under Turkish and Venetian occupation respectively. On the basis of Hadroviczs study it turns out that Belostenec had been familiar with the Dictionarium quinque nobilissimarum Europae linguarum of Faust Vran~i} (1595),2 and was also able to use Mikaljas Blago jezika slovinskoga (1649)3 in his lexicographic work. These books furnished him with a significant quantity of words from Dalmatia. On the other hand, refugees from Slavonia brought him into contact with Slavonian words, among them Turkisms. Living in Svetice near Ozalj, Belostenec was part of the so-called Ozalj Circle (P. Zrinski, F. K. Frankopan and others), which on the basis of the linguistic strivings of the Glagolitic writers of Pokuplje (l5th century), of the Croatian Protestants (l6th century) and of Franjo Glavini} sought to form a literary language by weaving all the dialects together. This concept, which Belostenec applied in his Gazophylacium, was particularly successful in the Pokuplje region, where mixing of dialects occurred in everyday speech. Belostenecs sermons (published in 1672) testify that he used a mixed language not only in his dictionaries. After the liberation of Slavonia from the Turks, Belostenecs manuscript grew in importance, since it could assist better understanding between the areas separated until recently but now increasingly coming into contact. A patron was found to finance its printing, and the two editors added some material from Della Bellas dictionary,4 but without altering the conception of the work. They also changed the name of the language (Croatian) into Illyrian, which better suited the official name of the region at that time, Regnum Croatiae, Dalmatiae et Slavoniae.
2 Faust Vran~i}, Dictionarium quinque nobilissimarum Europae linguarum Latinae, Italicae, Germanicae, Dalmaticae et Ungaricae, Apud Nicolaum Morettum, Venezia, 1595. 3 Jakov Mikalja, Blago jezika slovinskoga ili Slovnik u Komu izgovarajuse rijeci slovinske latinski, i Diacki. Thesaurus linguae illyricae sive Dictionarium Illyricum, In quo verba Illyrica Italice, et Latine redduntur, Romae: et sumptibus sacrae congregationis de propaganda fide impressum, Loreto, apud Paulum et Io, Baptistam Seraphinum, 1649. 4 Ardelio della Bella, Dizionario Italiano-Latino-Illirico cui si premettono alcuni avvertimenti per inscrivere e con facilita maggiore leggere le voci illiriche scritte con caratteri italiani, ed anche una breve grammatica per apprendere la lingua illirica, Presso Cristoforo Zanne, Venezia, 1728 (2nd edition Dizionario Italiano-Latino-Illirico a cui si premettono alcune brevi instruzioni grammaticali necessarie per apprendere la lingua e lortografia illirica, nella stanperia privilegiata, Ragusa, 1785).
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Belostenecs dictionary was edited in 1740, more than sixty years after its authors death (Zagrabiae, Typis Joannis Baptistae Weitz, Inclyti Regni Croatiae Typographi), under the title Gazophylacium, seu Latino-Illyricorum onomatum aerarium, selectioribus synonimis, phraseologiis, verborum constructionibus metaphoris, adagiis, abundantissime locupletatum, item plurimis authorum in hoc opera adductorum sententiis idiomate Illyrico delicates illustratum. According to the author, who wrote it in the preface, the first part (Latin-Croatian) was completely finished in 1674 (58 years after he entered the Paulist order). The fact that the second part is much smaller than the first part should be explained. Namely, the first volume has 1,288 pages, while the second only 690. Towards the end of Belostenecs work on his dictionary manuscript, Juraj Habdeli}s Dikcionar (1670) appeared.5 Belostenec used Habdeli}s list of Croatian words and extended it with his own material. Because of the short time he had at his disposal, he never completed the second part of the dictionary (Gazopylacium Illyrico-Latinum), which thus remained much smaller than the first part. This is the reason I decided to base my analysis on the corpus from his first volume. Belostenecs lexicographic orientation is defined as tridialectal; therefore his dictionary, consisting of Kajkavian, ^akavian and [tokavian components, offers many geosynonyms. By geosynonym (It. geosinonimo), term used in Italian linguistics, we mean words with the same meaning, used in different geographic areas within the same language.6 My intent was to analyze some Italianisms/Venetianisms, which I expected to be found in large numbers among words from Dalmatia. They should be distinguished from other words of Balkan Latin origin and also from Dalmatoromanisms, which derive from the words of Latin origin that entered the Croatian language directly from Romance idioms spoken on the Adriatic coast. Some of Dalmatoromanic words entered also the Venetian language when it spread on the East Adriatic coast. Examples: Like vino (< Lat. vinum) and ocat (< Lat. acetum), the word mast derives from the Balkan Latin mustum. It is registered in Dalmatia, e.g. in
5 Juraj Habdelich, Dictionar ili Rechi szlovenszke zvexega ukup zebrane, u red postaulyene, i Diachkemi zlahkotene trudom Jurja Habdelicha, Graz, 1670. 6 Cf. Tullio De Mauro, Il dizionario della lingua italiana, Paravia Bruno Mondadori Editori, Milano, p. 1035: geosinonimo, vocabolo che ha lo stesso significato di un altro, ma che e usato in unarea geogrrafica diversa allinterno della stessa lingua.
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[ibenik, Poljica, Hvar, and is still used. Its allotrope is the Kajkavian form mo{t, a Germanism which belongs today to the standard Croatian language. The Croatian equivalents of Lat. hora proposed by Ivan Belostenec are words of Latin origin vura, ora, ura and a Turkism szat. The mentioned allotropes of the same Latin etymon have entered Croatian from two different giving languages, German and Italian. Belostenec gives also a restricted collocation: fatalis hora smrtna vura, smrt. We can quote some fish names from Belostenecs dictionary: Lat. aurata Cr. lovrata. The word lovrata is a Dalmatoromanism, different from the form orada, which is the largely used Venetian loanword.7 Lat. spigola Cr. luben. Today we use the word lubin in the standard language. The word is the semantic calque of Gr. lukoj > late Lat. lupus with the suffix -inus. In some places on the Adriatic coast there can be found also a reflex of ljub-. In that case the Dalmatoromanic lexeme was changed under the influence of the verb ljubiti, paretymologically motivated by the fact that lubin is a highly valued kind of fish (cf. Skoks Etymological dictionary). Some Venetianisms in the Gazophylacium: The malakonym ostriga, which translates Lat. ostrea, concha, ostreum. There is also trilja, trilya for Lat. muscus, musculus. The ichthyonym taken from Venetian is Cr. arbun (Ven. arboro), equivalent of Latin erythinus. The equivalent of Lat. celox, a kind of ship, is also derived from Venetian: the Gazophylacium frigada. Belostenec quotes more Croatian terms: ~un, frigada. la|a kruto brza i hitra. The word frigada is a Venetianism because of the intervowel -d-, as opposed to the internationalism fregata, from Italian fregatta. Lat. pinna, translated by Belostenec as lastura, riba morska. The Croatian word lastura is quoted as an equivalent of the Latin malakonym pinna nobilis. It is an interesting back wanderer: Cr. lo{tura, lo{}ura entered the Venetian dialect, where it gave stura (syn. of pinna, nacchera, cf. Boerio) because the first syllable was interpreted as the definite article. This is the only case of
7 Cf. Pavao Tekav~i}, Uvod u lingvistiku za studente talijanskog jezika, Sveu~ili{na naklada Liber, Zagreb 1979, p. 252.
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falling of the first syllable in Venetian, where it exists in other variants in addition to stura, keeping the first syllable lastura, lastore. Petar Skok says that it is the only example of such an interpretation known to him. In fact, usually in Croatian Italianisms/Venetianisms the initial l-, la-, lo- derive from the Italian article. Such an interpretation testifies for the intensity of Romanic-Slavic symbiosis (simbiosi slavo-romanza, cf. Skok). The initial syllable of the word lastura is la and not lo because it came back into Croatian as a back wanderer. As we have already seen, Italianisms in Belostenecs Gazophylacium can be found in the semantic field referring to ships or parts or the ship, such as Lat. prora Cr. kljun, prvi kraj broda and prova (It. prua, Ven. prova). Lat. gubernaculum is explained as korman, veszlo and timun (It. timone, Ven. timon). The word timun contains the common reflex of the Romance and Italian suffix -one, in Croatian -un (cf. Skok). Lat. remulcus is explained as mala la|a ka je svigdar polag velike and then the obvious Italianism batel is added (It. battello). As in the case of the already mentioned word ura, the models of Cr. figa are to be found in two giving languages. In Kajkavian dialect that word is a Germanism (< Germ. Feige) and in the Adriatic dialects it is a Venetianism (< Ven. figa, It. fica). The same two possibilities giving the same result in Croatian northern and southern dialects can be noticed in Cr. {tala (Germ. Stall, Ital. stalla). Therefore in Gazophylacium we can find allotropic geosynonyms. Belostenec gives as equivalents of Lat. magister both a Germanism and an Italianism, majster and me{tar. Lat. magistra is explained as majsterica and me{trica. Nevertheless, being himself Kajkavian, Belostenec included in his dictionary less Dalmatian words than words coming from his first dialect. Paradoxically, we do not find in his dictionary a very common Venetianisms gardelin. The only equivalent of the Latin ornithonym carduelis is {tigli}, {tiglec (Fringilla carduelis), ~e{ljugar. Lat. filius naturalis translated as kurvin sin, pankrt, fa~uk.8 That is to say, after the Croatian term the lexicologist quotes the Germanism and the Hungarianism and does not mention the Italianisms mulac and mulica.
8 In the second volume of the Gazophylacium s.v. pankert Lat. nothus, incerto patre natus, de pellicle gnivus, manser; cf. also ss.vv. fachuk, kopile, fotiv.
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Among many geosynonyms registered in Gazophylacium which do not have Italian equivalents we can quote Lat. forfex, with the German equivalent {karje, the Turkish one makase and the Slavic word widely used in Dalmatia, no`ice. In Gazophylacium we do not find Croatian Italianisms for the names of the months. For example, the name of the month March is not marac, mara~, the word which exists in Dalmatia,9 but the Dalmatian word of Slavic origin is given, o`ujak, which prevailed and is nowadays used in the standard language. Here are the equivalents of March and June: Lat. martius mensis Cr. gregur{~ak, su{ec, o`ujak, Lat. junius mensis Cr. klaszen, ivan{}ak, lipanj. Some examples with Italian loanwords: The Latin term oenophorum is translated as vinska posuda and the Italianism baril, from Italian barile. The feminine form barila appears after poszuda vinska as an equivalent of Lat. cadus salsamentarius. Lat. panis martius is translated as marczepan. This word of Arabic origin changed paretymologically into Marci panis Markuss bread. The word used in the standard language today is marcipan, a Germanism. In the 15th century in Dubrovnik and in Marin Dr`i}s works we find a clear Italianism marcapan (< It. marzapane). In Belostenec marcepan, in Andrija Jambre{i} Franjo Su{nik dictionary published in 1742 Lexicon Latinum interpretatione Illyrica, Germanica et Hungarica locuples et index illirico sive croatico-latinus the word appears as marcopan. Lat. lupastrum Cr. burdely, called by Skok international Italianism. Also the Latin word lupanar Cr. burdelnica, kurvarnica. Lat. castellum Cr. ka{tel, grad, gradich, tvergja Lat. castitia Cr. turni, kuce, ka{tel Lat. carminatio Cr. garga{anje, Lat. carminator Cr. garga{ar Cr. garga{e pectin lanaris < It. scardassare (s)cardare. (Lat. cardo techaj vratni, sto`er). Lat. larva, syn. facies histrionea, persona ficta Cr. preobrazje, nalichje, maskara, krinka. If we consider the etymologia proxima, which is contactologically relevant in the study of loanwords, we find out that ma{kara is an Italianism of oriental origin.10 We can add that in the second volume of Gazophylacium we find also the entry maskara
9 There is also a derived adjective, mar~an of March, much heard in the syntagm mar~ana bura storm in March. 10 Cf. also the derived adjective which exists in Dalmatian Croatian dialects: ma{karast lat. larvatus and the idiom maskaru dole uzeti (both quoted in vol. II).
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laughing, which is a Turkism, together with the adjective ma{kard`ija. Its synonim {alec is obviously a Kajkavian word; the third quoted, veseljak, is today largely used in the standard language (Lat. equivalents are joculator, nugator, gelotopaeus). Lat. anabathra, -arum, n. is translated as loytre, {tenge po kojech se gore ide, listve, gradichi, words belonging to different Croatian dialects. The last of them is an adapted Italianism (It. gradino). The Latin phytonym nasturcium Cr. hren, garbach, torman11 (Nasturtium officinale, agretto). Garba~ is derived from the Italian adjective garbo sour (Langob. karw x Lat. acerbus > Lomb. garb). The spelling system of the printed Gazophylacium is fairly unified, based on the system developed in Northern Croatia, i.e. following the Hungarian practice. With negligible exceptions, the Gazophylacium writes all words (Kajkavian, Slavonian and Dalmatian) in the same manner. Hence, it represents an important step towards the final reform of Latin alphabet spelling system which helped bring speakers of different dialects together. The history of the Croatian language shows a frequent tendency of fusion of lexical and gramatical elements belonging to different diatopic variants. Lexicologists and writers therefore establish many series of synonyms. The contact synonyms are put into practice particularly in Belostenecs sermons. As Belostenec put it in the preface to his dictionary, he collected in the Gazophylacium quicquid in feracibus Illyrij littoribus, Dalmatia, Croatia, Sclavonia, Istria et vicinioribus inibi insulis quicquid inquam colligere potui, abunde in hoc Gazophylacium congessi . After its publishing in 1740, Belostenecs dictionary exerted a strong influence on the development of the literary language, particularly in bringing together writers from the Kajkavian regions and from Slavonia. The diatopic variants of Dalmatia are present but not many of them are Italianisms (cf. especially names of the months, of Slavic origin, which after became standard Croatian). The same is concluded by linguists studying Ivan Tanzlinger Zanottis Vocabolario di tre nobilissimi linguaggi, italiano, illirico e latino (1699) and we can add that this attitude is present up to our days: much more Germanic words have entered the standard language than Italianisms.
11
Torman is the adaptation of the Hungarian word torma (attested for Virovitica).
CALAMUS (REFLEXES OF LATIN NAMES AS DESIGNATIONS FOR THE PLANT SPECIES ACORUS CALAMUS L. IN SERBO-CROATIAN LANGUAGE)*
Scented herbage of my breast, Leaves from you I glean, I write, to be perused best afterwards, Tomb-leaves, body-leaves growing up above me above death, Perennial roots, tall leaves, O the winter shall not freeze you delicate leaves, Every year shall you bloom again, out from where you retired you shall emerge again; W. Whitman, Leaves of Grass (v. from The Calamus Poems) Abstract: The influence that the Romance languages had on the Balkan Slavic languages is an evident historical fact. It was expressed to a great extent and was based on Romano-Slavic mixoglossy. During the years behind us much has been achieved in Balkan linguistic, especially in the study of lexicon, but it appears that some particular problems concerning Balkan lexicology, i.e. etymology, are still to be resolved. Current etymological studies have shown that numerous words from a certain lexical segment such as botanical where the influence of the Romance languages was fully expressed still have disputable etymology (whether erroneous or having no previous interpretation). This study has aim to point to the necessity for re-examination those Serbo-Croatian botanical terms of the hitherto supposed (on a base of suspicious etymological argu* The paper results from on-going work on the project of the Institute for the Serbian Language of SASA Etimolo{ka istra`ivanja srpskog jezika i izrada Etimolo{kog re~nika srpskog jezika, financed by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (No. 148004).
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mentations) Latin (Romance) ancestry as well as for further recognition of Romance elements (whether (in)conspicuous calques or other linguistic copies such as loanwords) in the domain of the Serbo-Croatian folk botanical nomenclature. Key words: etymology, loanwords, botanical nomenclature
1.0. Botanical identification and description of Calamus Calamus or Common Sweet Flag is a perennial, rhizomatous, iris-like herb, which belongs to the plant genus of the family Acoraceae, order Arales, subclass Arecidae. It has erect, sharp-pointed, sword-shaped leaves that fan-out from a pinkish base and grows to 5 feet in length. The leaves produce a sweet, tangerine-like scent when bruised. A flower stem or scape arises from the base of the outer leaves. A spathe extends beyond the scape. A single, cylindrical spike, or spadex, angles upward at this union. During the summer months (from May to July), the spadex is crowded with small yellowish-green to brown flowers. A thick subterranean stem, known as the rhizome, enables the propagation of sweet flag by producing shoots and root systems that develop into new individuals. The rhizomes, roots and leaves yield a light brown to brownish yellow volatile oil known as Calamus oil. The plant flourishes in low, wet, swampy places, and along ditches. It is found across Europe, in southern Russia, northern Asia Minor, southern Siberia, China, Japan, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, and northern USA.1 2.0. Historical and ethnographical data on distribution, cultivation and medicinal use of Calamus The history of medicinal use of Calamus is not very well documented. The plant is probably indigenous to southeastern Asia where its rhizome has been used as a spice for centuries. It appears that Calamus has been introduced into Europe by Tatars in 13th century. The earliest record of its cultivation in European gardens seems to be that of the famous Austrian botanist Clusius in 1574, who was the first to cultivate it at Vienna, from a root obtained from Constantinople. Clusius distributed it to other botanists in Belgium, Germany and France. It is not recorded as abundant in Germany until 1588. In England, it was probably introduced
1
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about 1596, being first grown by Gerard, who looked upon it as an Eastern plant. Finding application mostly as an aphrodisiac, elixir and stimulant, and in magic rituals, it was very popular plant in Europe from the middle ages, right through today. Its presence in North America before European settlement is uncertain, but its use as a stimulant and hallucinogen since then has been well documented (A Modern Herbal by M. Grieve e-version2; Marzell 1: 110; Vajs 2003: 318). In modern herbal medicine, the plant is used in treating stomach cramps, gas, gastric ulcers, and lack of appetite. In excessive doses, it is known to induce strong visual hallucinations. The intoxicating properties may be due to its active ingredients as a-asorone and -asarone, but the chemistry and pharmacology of the plant are still poorly investigated and not yet fully understood.3 3.0. The earliest records of Calamus found in classical Greek and Roman medical and botanical documents and medieval nomenclatures Botanical terms used by classical writers as well as the Pre-Linnaean Latin names in medieval nomenclatures were thoroughly analyzed and identified according to the Linnaean systematic (works by Stromberg, Andre, Carnoy, Marzell, see bibliographical references below). Nevertheless, in some cases, determining which particular plants the phytonymic references to apply to is still a great problem. Andre (1956: 1617) assumed that the generic name acorum (/ -us), i n. (/ m.), borrowed from Old Greek akoron4 was used by classical writers to designate three different plant species, but never the one that appears in Linnaeus nomenclatural system under the name Acorus calamus: a) Iris pseudacorus (Celsus, De re medicina 5, 23, 1 B, etc., Plinius, HN 25, 157; 26, 28, Dsc. De materia medica 1, 2, Ps. Apul., Herbarius 6, 11), b) Ruscus aculeatus (Plinius, HN 15, 27, Dsc, De materia medica 4, 144) and its rhizome (Plinius, HN 25, 158), c) Anagallis arevensis (Plinius HN 1, 25, 92; 25, 144, Dsc., De materia medica 2, 178) (cf. also Carnoy 1959: 7). On the other hand, according to the same scholar (Andre op. cit.: 65; cf. Carnoy op. cit.: 5960), the specific name calamus, -i m. (the Latin reflex of the Greek prototype kalamoj5) that had a function of a hyperonym resp. generic
http://www.botanical.com/. To find out more on this subject search referent articles on Wiley InterScience. 4 For the etymology of the word akoron see IED-project on the website: http://www.indo-european.nl/ied/index2.html. 5 See the previous refernece.
3 2
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name, was used to denote Calamus plant if appeared in syntagmatic form with the determinative adjectives aromaticus / odoratus (resp. arwmatikoj / euwdhj). In the Pre-Linnaean nomenclatures, the plant Acorus calamus is mentioned under the names calamus (aromaticus), canna persidis, ciparus Fischer, Pflkde 257, acoreus verus, acorus legitimus Bauhin, Pinax 34 (Marzell 1: 110). S.-Cr. kalmus (from 18th-century, [.) and kulmi{ (Zagreb, [.) are of Latin descent. On the latter one Vinja (JE 2: 113) records: O~ito je da [ulekov fitonim nastavlja lat. calamus. S.-Cr. kulmi{ Skok (2: 231) equalizes with (Slov.) kolme{ also attested in [uleks dictionary. [ulek took the phytonym kolme{ over the famous Freyers manuscript well known by its great significance for the Slovenian folk botanical terminology (cf. Karlin 5). There is no mention of this name in Bezlajs or Snojs dictionary. However, both of the scholars give the reference on Slov. kolme`. According to Bezlaj (2: 58) it is borrowed from Vulgar Latin calmus via Germ. Kalmus (older Kalmes). Snoj (248) derives it from Austr. Germ. kolms. As for S.-Cr. kalmus [ulek referes to Germ. Kalmus. 4.0. S.-Cr. vodeni ~emin, kmin, `uti ljiljan, mantumin, manturin cvit and balad as Latin continuants ? designating Calamus plant in Serbo-Croatian language 4.1. S.-Cr. vodeni ~emin, kmin and `uti ljiljan According to Skok (1: 266; cf. also Vajs 2003: 319) S.-Cr. ~emin and kmin are two different reflexes of the same Latin phytonym cuminum. Lat. cuminum (cym- / cim- / com-) (n.) was used by classical writers to designate a low-growing annual herb of the carrot family Cuminum cyminum. The word was borrowed from Greek kuminon (to). Its further origin may be Semitic, cf. Old Hebrew kammon mk, Egyptian kamnini, Akkadian kamunu (Andre 1956: 108109; Carnoy 1959: 100; Marzell 1: 857). In the pre-Linnaean botanical books, Cuminum cyminum was denoted as cuminum sativum, c. officinarum, c. romanum, c. aethiopicum, c. carnabadium Bauhin, Pinax 146 (Marzell 1: 1266). The plant is well known all over the world mostly by its aromatic seeds being extensively used for flavoring various foods. It is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean region of Europe and in India. Cumin is frequently confused with caraway (Carum carvi L.), which it resembles in appearance though not in taste (cf. homonymous designations for these two plants that appear in most of the European folk botanical nomenclatures, Marzell 1: 856862, 12661268). The word entered Serbo-Croatian via Italian, Greek and German.
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With the determinative adjective vodeni, S.-Cr. ~emin and kmin denote Calamus plant: vodeni ~emin (Lambl, [.), kmin (attested in famous herbariums from 18-th century found in Dubrovnik, [.)6. Without the determinative adjective vodeni kmin designates the following plant species: kmin gladiolus, lilium coeleste, iris (18-th centurys Dubrovnik herbariums), Carum carvi ([.). Identical or similar transfer of naming unit:
Cuminum cyminum resp. Carum carvi Acorus calamus gladiolus, lilium coeleste, iris Cuminum cyminum resp. Carum carvi
is not found either in Latin (resp. Italian) or in Greek (and German).7 Only two causes could provide logical sense for such occurrence in Serbo-Croatian:
a. the (same) usage of the referred plants as a flavoring agents (in the case of the transfer direction Cuminum cyminum resp. Carum carvi Acorus calamus), or b. the phonetic level-crossing of *cuminum8 and S.-Cr. ma~ sword (in the case of the transfer direction Cuminum cyminum resp. Carum carvi gladiolus, lilium coeleste, iris): kimin Carum carvi, (with syncopa in protonic probably via > , Skok l. c.) kmin Carum carvi, ~min ? (Mikalja, divlji, vodeni gladiolus, lilium coeleste, iris), (with metathesis ?, Skok l. c.) m~in9 ? acorus.
As for the transfer pattern Acorus calamus bulbous plants (gladiolus, lilium coeleste, iris), it appears in the most of the European folk botanical nomenclatures as a result of morphological similarities between the referred plants (cf. Marzell 1: 112113); the iconymic structure of S.-Cr. compound phytonym `uti ljiljan ([.) (< Lat. lilium > S.-Cr. lilj, (with ending -an by br{ljan and assimilation l lj > lj lj) ljiljan, Skok 2: 303) that denotes Calamus plant is explained exactly on that base. The use of S.-Cr. ~emin also approve this pattern: with adjective vodeni it designate Calamus plant, but as a generic name it comes in Tanzlinghers Vocabolario Italiano-Ilirico in the meaning hyacinthus and
In the same herbariums it also comes to denote the plant Iris pseudacorus. According to the relevant phytonymical sources available to us in this moment, there is no occurance of the similar concept in (Balkan-)Slavic or other European languages. 8 * = Romance continuant or loanword from different sources. 9 The name has disputable etymology: it could be related to ma~(k)in adj. poss. (of a cat), but on the other hand, the connection with ma~ sword(< m~, gen. m~a m~a), on account of a lancet shape of calamus, iris and gladiolus leaves, cannot be excluded (Vajs 2003: 319; cf. Skok 1: 266). The same conceptualization sword, has the names for iris in other languages: Lat. gladiola (< gladius), Germ. Schwertel, Ital. spade, spadella, spadoni, Slov. me~ika (Marzell 2: 1022).
7 6
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in Jurins Calepinus trium linguarum in the meaning leucanthemum = Hemerocallis, Lilium croceum (Vajs 2003: 359, 363).10 The reconstructed onomasiological procedures seem complicated enough to endanger validity of the hypothesis of Latin origin of the phytonyms (vodeni) ~emin, (vodeni) kmin meaning Calamus plant. On the other hand, the sound and formal structure both of the names steer our reflection around to the possibility of their idioglottic origin. The form ~emin refers to the stem ~em- (for the suffix -in see Sawski 1974: 120) that appears in S.-Cr. o~emunjati to peel, to husk cited by Skok (2: 130131) s. v. kom1. Skok is of the opinion that ko- > ~e- sholud be considered as a result of the phonetic level-crossing with S.-Cr. ~ehnuti (cf. ~esmin ?) rather than as apophony like in the case of Lit. kemuras bunch, cluster. As for denominative motive which the name was constructed out of, it coud be found in caracteristic appearance of the fruit of the plant Acorus calamus that conspicuously looks like husked corn (cf. S.-Cr. komu{ Sablj. Goljak ([.) and Slov. komu{ unless we accept Skoks and Bezlajs interpretation of these names as the continuants of Lat. calamus (Skok 2: 18; Bezlaj 2: 58)). 4.2. S.-Cr. mantumin, manturin cvit The name mantumin was recorded by two Croatian lexicographers Micaglia and Vitezovi} (Vajs 2003: 319). In Micaglias Blago jezika slovinskoga as well as in Vitezovi}s Lexicon it appears only as the designation of the plant Iris pseudacorus. Phonetically the closest form to this one is S.-Cr. mantumjen that appears in Micaglias and Stullis dictionaries as the name for the plant species Hyoscyamus albus (Skok 2: 380). Another attestation of mantumjen comes from Nikolajevi}s word collection from Dalmacija and Hercegovina quoted by RSA, where it is defined as a kind of grass growing in water. Although being without precise botanical identification, there is no doubt that it cannot refer to the plant Hyoscyamus albus that rather prefers dry soil. In the same entry RSA records about the forms mantumen, mantumenat comparing them with mantim(j)enat Hyoscyamus albus (spoken in Dubrovnik) and manturin Acorus acalamus (quoted from Popovi}s dictionary). Skok and Vinja also refer to mantimjenat Hyoscyamus albus (Skok l. c.; Vinja JE 2: 170) along with mantimient (Vinja, l. c.). The compound manturin cvit meaning Acorus calamus appears only once in an old Dalmatian herbal manuscript ([.).
10 The same name also appears in Tanzlinghers and Della Bellas dictionary s. v. gelsomino. According to Skok (1: 759) S.-Cr. jasamin, jel{amin, jel`emin, |elsamin and ~esmin sic! are reflexes of Ital. gelsomino Jasminum sambac (< Turk. zambac lily) that continues Lat. jasminum (cf. Vajs 2003: 363).
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Budmani was the first who assumed a foreign origin of the phytonym mantimjenat and conferred it with S.-Cr. mantranje, mantilo (RJA 6: 446). Skok (l. c.) brings it in connection with martir and describes it as substantivum abstractum on Lat. -mentum besides -men, gen. -minis (*martyrimentum > mantimjenat). Vinja (l. c.) is of the opinion that Skoks explanation is acceptable only in order to interpret the secondary motivation of the word (as paretymological leaning on mantilo, mantranje). According to Vinja, it would be easier to explain sound structure of mantimjenat by setting out Latin adamantis (> Ital. adamantida specie di erba nota nellantichita < gr. adamaj, -antoj) as the designation for Hyoscyamus albus. Finally, he concludes that S.-Cr. patimjenat, being synonymous to mantimjenat, approves such interpretation of the name. Both of the mentioned scholars agree in assuming for mantimjenat Latin provenance but proposing different prototype. S.-Cr. mantimjenat, mantumjen, manturin cvit Skok (l. c.) considered as the reflexes of the same Latin ancestor not explaining their different formal or semantic realizations. On the other hand, Vinja (l. c.) makes no record of S.-Cr. manturin cvit. In other words, he ignores the possibility of deriving mantimjenat, mantumjen, manturin cvit from the common original. Lacking of the equivalent pattern of the designations transfer Hyoscyamus albus Acorus calamus Iris pseudacorus in other European folk botanical nomenclatures as well as of the capable reason for the appearance of such different realia to which the same phytonymic reference is assigned to11 induced us to analyze the phytonyms mantumin Iris pseudacorus and manturin cvit Acorus calamus separately from those that denote the plant Hyoscyamus albus (not excluding the possibility of their crossing). Putting aside re-analysis of the supposed etymology of the cited designations for the plant Hyoscyamus albus, we keep thinking about following solutions regarding the origin of the names mantumin Iris pseudacorus and manturin cvit Acorus calamus:
a. assuming Ger. Mattumich12 Carum carvi for being the prototype of mantumin and manturin cvit is acceptable from the aspect of morphonology, but rather questionable from the aspect of onomasiology (see 4.1);
11 There is one feature common for both of these plants ability to induce hallucination, but the semantic bound PLANT (SPECIES) ANOTHER PLANT (SPECIES) based on general perception (the origin of the plant, the time of blossoming, growth, etc. and its efficiency for human beings: edibility, inedibility, medicinal properties, toxicity, etc.) is of very rare type. 12 Ger. Mattumich is the compound word whose second part is traced back to Latin cuminum (Marzell 1: 856861).
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b. there are two plants of swamp species that are similar to Calamus by appearance of (overground) shoot id est the shape of flowers cluster: Typha and Scirpus (cf. synonymous designations S.-Cr. lo~ Typha, T. latifolia, Slov. lo~, lo~je T. latifolia, sivi / {iroki lo~ek Acorus calamus; S.-Cr. {a{a Acorus calamus, Typha, T. latifolia, {a{ika Scirpus radicans) (see also 5.0). Both of the plants have the names probably derived from S.-Cr. bat < psl. *bt, cf. Slov. bet stem of mushroom; corncob, Russ. bot stem and leaves of bulbous plants; an onion (ERSJ 2: 254255; for the word formation cf. Sawski 1974: 26): baturak, baturica Typha latifolia, botur Typha, T. latifolia (Simonovi}), Scirpus palustris ([.) (cf. S.-Cr. appellatives batur ko~anj, okomak kukuruza, baturak manja cvast u obliku klipa; ko~anj (RSA), baturka stabljika kukuruza Leskovac (Mitrovi})) (see also SS 1: 140 s. v. btar II, btur, btyr). The onomasiological impulse for their denominations comes from the cluster of flowers in the shape of corncob. It is easy to find the same onomasiological motivation in the phytonym manturin cvit (see 4.1, 5.0), but could it be also derived from the same word stem (with different phonetic realization and similar formal structure)? Such interpretation would approve once again the fact that for the words from this lexical segment is not only typical complex bonds with realia they refer to but also relatively high phonetical variability so as their primary form is usually misty.
5.0. S.-Cr. balad S.-Cr. balad calamo aromatico, calamo odorato was recorded in 18th-century in the botanical lexicon of Dubrovnik physicians P. Aquilla and K. Bu} and in Pizzellis herbariums ([.). Skok (1: 98) s. v. balad cites S.-Cr. babad (Kuzmi}, [.) and baban (Kuzmi}, Anselmo da Canali, [.) the names synonymous to balad (both of them without an accent and definite areal distribution), with no idea for revealing their mutual relation, finds the whole metter to be unripe for the etymological analysis and considers comparison with S.-Cr. palud, babad and i|irot by Dani~i} unnecessary. Eventual derivation from S.-Cr. baba an old woman; grandmother is pointed out in ERSJ (2: 27). However, Dani~i}s opinion should not be rejected too. S.-Cr. palud divji was first recorded in the famous Venetian Codex Liber de simplicibus Benedicti Rinii, medici et philosophi Veneti (cod. Marc. Lat. VI, 59 = 2548) in the following meaning: acorus, spalatula, gladiolus. It was identified by de Toni and [ulek as Iris pseudacorus ([ugar 2002: 117). The same phytonym is used today in Istra to designate the plants Phragmites communis, Juncus and Carex the species found in wet areas. According to [ugar (2002: 22) the name comes from Ital. palude < Lat. palus swamp, marsh. Semantic development marsh > the plant that grows in marshy places that appeared by the synecdoche rule is shown also in Friul. palut marsh; strame, giunchi ed
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altre erbe che crescono nelle paludi, cf. Slov. palud, paluda abgeschwemmter Unrat, Binse, scirpus, paludnica caltha palustris (Skok 2: 594; Bezlaj 3: 6). If the name balad is the reflex of the same Italian appellative, the initial b- as well as ending -ad could be explained by secondary leaning on babad. There is also another equally possible interpretation of the name: in our previous researches we have already brought in connection the S.-Cr. phytonym palad P. vera ([.; RJA) (together with formally and semantically close S.-Cr. appellatives palika grozd, bajam, roga~ i svaki drugi plod koji ostane na stablu i poslije berbe Vis (Roki-Fortunato), polik(a) Nachlese, Nachernte (^DL), palike pl. tant. berba maslina koje su ostale nakon redovnog branja (Vukovi})) with the verb *pelti proceeding from the fact that all S.-Cr. names for P. vera just as the Latin name pistacium were founded on perception strictissimo sensu, i.e. the visual physical property of the plant pod, seedcase (Kalezi} 2007: 237). Morphonologically the phytonym balad seems close to the phytonym palad. As for denominative motive, it can be of the same type (regarding the grape-like cluster with sitting flowers on the thick axis id est corncob) (see 4.1.). Instead of conclusion In the lack of sufficient numbers of adequate attestations of the phytonyms ~emin, kmin, manturin cvit and balad it would be too rash or too hasty to give a final judgment on their origin. However, re-examining previously supposed etymologies as well as making new attempts to incorporate these names into the particular lexical families could be an important clue on a way toward revealing their definite etymologies.
References
Andre 1956 J. Andre: Lexique des termes de botanique en latin, Paris. Bezlaj F. Bezlaj: Etimolo{ki slovar slovenskega jezika, Ljubljana 1977. Carnoy 1959 A. Carnoy: Dictionnaire etymologique des noms grecs de plantes, Louvain. ^DL M. Hraste, P. [imunovi}, R. Olesch: ^akavisch-deutsches Lexicon I, Koln / Wien 1979. Kalezi} 2007 M. R. Kalezi}: Srpsko-hrvatski nazivi biljaka iz roda Pistacia L. (etimolo{ka bele{ka), Slovenska etimologija danas, Beograd, 229239. Karlin M. Karlin: Slovenska imena na{ih zdravilnih rastlin, Farmacevtsko dru{tvo Slovenije, s. l., 1964. Marzell H. Marzell: Worterbuch der deutschen Pflanzennamen IIV, V Registerband, Leipzig-Stuttgart 19431979.
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RJA Rje~nik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika IXXIII, Zagreb 18801976. Roki-Fortunato A. Roki-Fortunato: Knjiga Vi{kog Govora, Toronto 1997. Skok P. Skok: Etimologijski rje~nik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika IIV, Zagreb 19711974. Sawski 1974 F. Sawski: Zarys sowotworstwa prasowianskiego, in Sownik prasowianski 1, Wrocaw etc., 43141. Snoj M. Snoj: Slovenski etimolo{ki slovar, Ljubljana 1997. Stromberg R. Stromberg: Griechische Pflanzennamen, Goteborg 1940. [ugar 2002 I. [ugar, I. Gostl, K. Hazler-Pilepi}: Hrvatsko biljno nazivlje, Zagreb. [ulek B. [ulek: Imenik bilja, Zagreb 1879. Vajs 2003 N. Vajs: Hrvatska povijesna fitonimija, Zagreb. Vinja JE V. Vinja: Jadranske etimologije IIII, Zagreb 19982004. Vukovi} S. Vukovi}: Ri~nik sela{kega govora, Split 2001. ERSJ Etimolo{ki re~nik srpskog jezika, Beograd 2003. Mitrovi} B. Mitrovi}: Re~nik leskova~kog govora, Leskovac 1984. Simonovi} D. Simonovi}: Botani~ki re~nik, Beograd 1959. SS timologi~eski slovar slavnskih zkov, pod red. O. N. Truba~eva, Moskva 1974.
Linfluence linguistique du bulgare sur le roumain et vice-versa, en tant que resultat des contacts continus entre les deux peuples voisins, a ete maintes fois analysee. Elle a ete etudiee par des savants bulgares et roumains sur differents plans: interference, assimilation (phonetique, morphologique, lexico-semantique, syntaxique), etymologie, phraseologie, etc. Dans la presente etude, je me propose de najouter que quelques conceptions nouvelles concernant letymologie de certains mots dorigine roumaine empruntes par le bulgare, tout en apportant certaines corrections a des hypotheses etymologiques ou en indiquant certains processus dadaptation lors de lincorporation des mots roumains dans le systeme linguistique bulgare. La plupart de ces mots appartiennent aux systemes lexicaux du parler du village de Novo selo, region de Vidin, en Bulgarie, et du parler bulgare du Banat, dont la partie nord est situee en Roumanie. Ils ont fait lobjet danalyse des ouvrages de St. Stojkov (Banatskit govor, S., 1967; Leksikata na banatski govor, S., 1968) et de M. Sl. Mladenov (Govort na Novo selo, Vidinsko, S., 1969). Tous les deux parlers ont evolue en contact etroit avec une population roumaine dans des conditions de bilinguisme.
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Pour certains mots demprunt roumains dans le parler du village de Novo selo, region de Vidin, M. Sl. Mladenov emet lhypothese dune formation ou dune transformation intervenue sur le terrain linguistique bulgare. Par exemple il range le mot sok~el petite rue etroite, venelle dans le paragraphe 6.63 (TBD 6: 178) sur le meme plan que celui de mots dorigine bulgare formes a laide du suffixe diminutif -el, du roum. -el: Interesno e da se poso~i, ~e v govora na Novo selo mo`e da se otdeli deminutivnit sufiks -el, s koto predimno ot doma{ni dumi se obrazuvat umalitelni imena: voni~el ot vonik + el; mom~el ot momk + el; sok~el ot sokak + eli dr. (Il est a noter que dans le parler de Novo selo on peut relever le suffixe diminutif -el qui sert a former des substantifs diminutifs, en sajoutant surtout a des mots bulgares: voni~el de vonik + -el; mom~el de momk + -el; sok~el de sokak + -el, etc.). Dans le dictionnaire du parler, sous le mot sok~el il manque la note concernant son origine, analogue a celle qui figure apres les mots dorigine roumaine. M. Mladenov ne prend pas en consideration le fait que dans les dialectes roumains du Banat le mot est atteste sous sa forme toute faite socacel au meme sens (cf. le texte suivant: Plecai pe un socacel, Ma-ntilnii c-un colarel) qui est derive selon le DLR (X: 1158) du roum. socac rue + -el, et qui peut etre un emprunt au roumain. Dans tout parler roumain ou lon trouve le mot socac, il est naturel de former un diminutif socacel, a cause de quoi cette forme nest pas lexicographiee par les dictionnaires. Bien sur, dans le parler de Novo selo ce mot aurait pu etre forme aussi comme diminutif du bulg. sokak (emprunte au turc sokak rue, lui-meme a larabe note de lauteur). Dans le dictionnaire du parler en question, M. Sl. Mladenov a enregistre le mot soru~ couenne flambee, bonne a manger (TBD 6: 280), et dans le chapitre de son ouvrage intitule Foneti~na harakteristika na zaemkite (Caracteristiques phonetiques des mots demprunt), sous le paragraphe 6.52 (TBD 6: 177), il le fait deriver du roum. sorit, sans signification indiquee, avec le changement de t (t) en ~. Les dictionnaires roumains citent deux mots sorit aux sens tout a fait differents: sorit1, terme philosophique au sens de syllogisme complet, et sorit2, adjectif au sens de ensoleille. Du reste, le mot de Novo selo soru~ vient du roum. sorici ayant le meme sens (DRL X: 1249; DLR XI: 162, sous le mot orici). Le dictionnaire du parler de Novo selo, region de Vidin, cite un autre mot aussi: stva etoile en carton que les enfants arborent a Noel pour chanter des chansons que M. Sl. Mladenov explique par le roumain sans en indiquer letymon (TBD 6: 282). Le meme mot est employe dans la langue source sous la forme flexionnelle dans lexpression pem stvu participer a la celebration de la fete de Noel. Le mot est emprunte au
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roumain steaua, forme articulee de stea etoile de Noel (en papier colore), avec v au lieu de y (roum. u) sur le terrain linguistique bulgare. Dailleurs, lemprunt des formes articulees roumaines par le parler bulgare est un phenomene constant que M. Mladenov a analyse de faon plus detaillee dans son etude du parler (TBD 6: 178178), en citant plusieurs exemples a lappui, mais sans y avoir en vue le mot stva. Sous linfluence du bulgare, la diphtongue roumaine ea (accentuee) se substitue a a () (accentuee), cf. sokotla < roum. socoteala, flkure < roum. fleacuri, etc. (TBD 6: 176). Dans son etude sur le parler du Banat, St. Stojkov (TBD 4: 225) cite le mot suka~ca cuisiniere sans indication etymologique. Cest un emprunt au roumain vieilli et dial. socacia = socacia au meme sens (DLR X: 1158), avec reduction du o non-accentue en u sous linfluence du parler bulgare du Banat. Le mot socacia est derive du roum. socaci cuisinier qui dapres Conev (1934: 25) est emprunte au vieux bulgare SOKA^II au meme sens. Selon DLR (X: 11571158), le roum. socaci vient du hongrois szakacs. Cf. la variante phonetique saka~ca femme qui prepare le repas de noce; cuisiniere du Banat au meme sens (TBD 4: 208) enregistre dans BER (6: 431) comme saka~ica et interprete comme derive de saka~2 cuisinier, emprunte au hongrois szakacs au meme sens, cf. Aleksieva (1995: 162). Le mot hongrois est sans doute de la meme origine et vient du vieux bulgare SOKA^II, sur letymologie duquel v. Miklosich (1886: 313), Vasmer (REW 2: 688, sous le mot sokal), Menges (1973: 19). Dans le vocabulaire du parler du Banat, on signale de meme ladjectif falos fier, vantard, beau dont lorigine roumaine est notee par St. Stojkov (TBD 4: 258), sans indication detymon. Le mot est du roum. falos qui a le meme sens. Il faudrait noter que ce mot est forme du roum. fala fierte, gloire; fanfaronnade, vantardise a laide du suffixe -os, fala venant du vieux bulgare HVALA (bulg. hvala, bulg. dial. fala, fala au meme sens) (v. DLR 11: 35, 41) ou du bulg. dial. fala qui est de hvala avec changement de hv en f comme dans fat au lieu de hvat, fonak au lieu de hvonak, etc. Cf. aussi le roum. vieilli pohfalos pompeux, magnifique, splendide derive du vieilli pohfala splendeur; vantardise = pohvala au meme sens, qui est du vieux bulgare POHVALA, v. DLR (II: 41). Sur falos sont formes ladverbe falosu fierement, temerairement (TBD 4: 258) et les formes verbales faluse se, falu{e se se donner des airs dimportance, senorgueillir (formes sur les verbes du meme parler gurde se, derive de ladjectif gord, et goleme se, derive de ladjectif golem) et falus se senorgueillir. Dans toutes les formes mentionnees ci-dessus, derivees de falos, sobserve la reduction o > u en position inaccentuee.
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Il y a un autre mot appartenant au roumain et atteste dans les parlers bulgares, ainsi que dans le parler du village de Novo selo, region de Vidin, mais qui nest pas enregistre dans le parler du Banat. Cest le mot fa{a large bande de cuir (Samokov), bande de cuir de porc dans laquelle on confectionne les mocassins (Novo selo, region de Vidin; Me~ka, region de Pleven; Resen, region de Veliko Tarnovo; Kesarevo, region de Gorna Orjahovica; Dobri dol, region de Montana; [i{kovci, region de Kjustendil; Karnalovo, region de Petri~), morceau de cuir etroit et long (Dolni Bogrov, region de Sofia), bande coupee dans du cuir, de letoffe (@eravna, region de Kotel; Bansko; Gabare, region de Bjala Slatina; Govedarci, region de Samokov), morceau seche etroit et oblong de cuir de buffle ou de buf (region de Botevgrad), bande de peau ou de lard (region de Sofia), bande de cuir de porc, de buf ou de buffle pour en faire des mocassins; morceau oblong de lard (region de Strand`a), bandes dune largeur de 17 ou 18 centimetres de cuir de porc ou de buf (Berievo, region de Sevlievo), cuir long de 25 centimetres et large de 20 centimetres (Rajkovo, region de Smoljan), mocassin (Raduil, region de Ihtiman), bande etroite de terre (Kesed`i ~iflik, region de Valovi{ta), dans la combinaison fa{a carvula au sens probable de cuir a mocassins, dans les chansons folkloriques: Kato sa v opasnost vidi{,/ ss stremene e go udari{ (kon),/ fa{a carvula ot grba mu e otksne{,/ e te ot zlo izbavi. (Lik, region de Vraca), large bande de cuir dans laquelle on coupe des mocassins (region de Dolni Vardar), torchon (Kopriv{tica), fichu de jeunes femmes et filles pour se couvrir la tete (^epino, region de Velingrad; Valkosel, region de Blagoevgrad), fa{i (pl.) au sens probable de bandes de cuir, dans les chansons folkloriques: Malu sme mesce storile,/ ot `aba noga pastarma;/ mi se nau~ila gidi,/ ta {~o mi ukral dve fa{i! (Ohrid), fa{a pinci au sens probable de bande a mocassins dans le texte suivant: da mu s izvade ut grbut edna fa{a pinci (region de Voden). Le mot fa{a possede des variantes accentuelles, phonetiques et morphologiques dans certains parlers bulgares: fa{ longue bande pas tres large de cuir a mocassins (Vojnjagovo, region de Karlovo; Kostel, region de Elena), bande de cuir a mocassins, longue et etroite (Zarovo, region de Solun), bande de peau tannee et preparee pour la confection de mocassins (Kravenik, region de Sevlievo; Enina, region de Kazanlak; Strahilovo, region de Svi{tov; [iroka laka, region de Smoljan)), morceau, bande de cuir (Trojan; Patre{ko, region de Trojan; Tihomirovo, region de Stara Zagora) bande de cuir de porc a mocassins; morceau de coupure (Trastenik, region de Pleven), fa{ bande de cuir (Ruhovci, region de Elena), morceau de peau humaine (Gabrovo), fa{e (fem.) bande de
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cuir a mocassins, longue et etroite (Strand`a), fa{e (fem.) bande de cuir a mocassins (Pavelsko, region de Smoljan), fa{ morceau (Bal~ik), va{ bande de cuir a mocassins, longue et etroite; morceau de cuir (Sa~anli, region de Gjumjurd`ina). Le mot fa{a au sens figure de bande etroite de terre est employe aussi dans la toponymie, cf. les toponymes Asano(vata) fa{a et Dlgite fa{i pres du village de Kesed`i ~iflik, region de Valovi{ta (Ivanov 1982: 71, 113, 210). Ce mot a aussi des derives formes sur le terrain linguistique bulgare: fa{lak partie de cuir et fa{lk morceau de cuir. Le mot fa{a et ses variantes sont empruntes au roum. faa, fae bande, pansement; ruban a langes; peau de porc qui vient du lat. fascia faisceau de branchages, v. Romanski (1909: 103). St. Mladenov (1941: 660) tire le bulg. fa{ directement du lat. fascis faisceau, faisceau de branchages. Selon Romanski (op. cit.) le mot bulgare aurait pu etre un emprunt a lalbanais fa{e lien, lange1 qui vient de lital. fascia au meme sens. Dans son dictionnaire du parler de Strand`a, Gorov (1962: 150) a mis la remarque turc apres le mot fa{e, mais ce mot nest pas cite par les dictionnaires turcs. La forme fa{ est de fa{a morceau de cuir conue comme un substantif masculin articule, ou bien elle a ete creee sur la forme du pluriel fa{i conue comme un substantif masculin au pluriel. La forme va{ vient de fa{ avec changement de f en v, cf. le dial. vasul au lieu de fasul, vrtuna au lieu de frtuna, etc. On trouve dans les parles bulgares un autre mot de la famille de fa{ qui, a ma connaissance, na pas fait lobjet danalyse etymologique. Cest le mot fa{i morceau de cuir a mocassins large de 20 ou 25 centimetres (Novo selo, region de Trojan). Il vient du roum. dial. faie pansement, bande; bande de cuir longue et etroite, derive de faa au meme sens (DLR II: 71). Au Banat est attestee la forme fa{i ceinture en grosse etoffe. Elle vient du roumain faie ceinture, pansement; longue bande de cuir de mocassin, derivee de faa (DLR II: 71). Toutes les deux formes sont adaptees en bulgare sur des substantifs en -i. On peut donc constater, dapres les mots presentes ci-dessus, quune partie dentre eux sont empruntes sans changement au roumain (sok~el, sori~, fa{a, fa{e), que certains gardent la forme articulee en roumain (stva), tandis que dautres sont soumis a divers processus phonetiques, morphologiques ou structurels sous linfluence du bulgare (suka~ca; falosu, faluse se, falu{e se, falus se; stva; fa{,
1 Cf. dautres significations aussi de lalb. fashe: pansement, morceau, bande, morceau de cuir a mocassins.
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va{, fa{i, fa{i, fa{lak, fa{lk). Certains dentre ces mots sont dorigine bulgare ou vieux bulgare et sont reempruntes au roumain en bulgare.
Bibliographie
Aleksieva 1995 V. Aleksieva: Bele`ki vrhu leksikalnata interferenci na blgarskite govori v Rumni s rumnskite govori, Blgarite v Sredna i Izto~na Evropa, Sofi, 160164. BER Blgarski etimologi~en re~nik, Sofi, t. I, 1971, t. 6, 2002. Conev 1934 B. Conev: Istori na blgarski ezik, t. 2, Sofi. DLR Dicionarul limbii romane, Bucureti, 1913. Gorov 1962 G . G o r o v : Strand`anskit govor, Blgarska dialektologi. Prou~vani i materiali, kn. I, Sofi. Ivanov 1982 . N. Ivanov: Mestnite imena me`du Dolna Struma i Dolna Mesta, Sofi. Menges 1973 K. N. Menges: Altajische Worter im Russischen und ihre Etymologien. Nachtrage und Zusatze zu Vasmers Russischem etymologischem Worterbuch, Zeitschrift fur slavische Philologie, 37, LeipzigHeidelberg, 135. Miklosich 1886 Fr. Miklosich: Etymologisches Worterbuch der slavischen Sprachen, Wien. Romanski 1909 St. Romanski: Lehnworter lateinischen Ursprungs im Bulgarischen, Jahresbericht des Instituts fur rumanische Sprache zu Leipzig, 15, 89134. St. Mladenov 1941 St. Mladenov: Etimologi~eski i pravopisen re~nik na blgarski kni`oven ezik, Sofi. TBD Trudove po blgarska dialektologi, Sofi, 1965. Vasmer REW 2 M. Vasmer: Russisches etymologisches Worterbuch, Heidelberg, 1955.
Todor At. Todorov, TROIS MOTS DEMPRUNT ROUMAINS DANS LES PARLERS BULGARES
TROIS MOTS DEMPRUNT ROUMAINS DANS LES PARLERS BULGARES: KORNICA, P, TRANTUVAM
Abstract: This paper enlightens the puzzling etymology of three Balkanic loan-words in Bulgarian: kornica (braid) , p (yes, it is, there you are) and trantuvam (to serve, to prevent to, take care of). It analyses the phonetic, morphological and semantic transformations that occurred in these three words, changes that drifted them from their etymons. Key words: Romanian loanwords, etymology
La position centrale quoccupe la langue bulgare parmi les autres langues balkaniques favorise ses contacts actifs avec chacune de celles-ci depuis les temps les plus recules jusqua nos jours, particulierement dans le domaine lexical. La diversite linguistique des Balkans qui resulte de la diversite ethnique, rend extremement variee et interessante la matiere lexicale accessible a letymologiste. Une grande partie des mots demprunt balkaniques dans la langue bulgare pose de serieux problemes etymologiques. Certains dentre eux representent de vrais rebus etymologiques dont le decodage exige de bien grands efforts. Dans beaucoup de cas les mots demprunt balkaniques en bulgare temoignent, sur le plan phonetique, semantique, etc., dun decalage assez important de leurs etymons etrangers. Les mots demprunt roumains en bulgare, en tant quune partie des mots demprunt balkaniques, partagent beaucoup de leurs caracteristiques. Ils ont fait deja lobjet de plusieurs etudes. Lors des annees dernieres, a Bucarest ont paru trois ouvrages scientifiques importants: Imprumuturi lexicale romaneti in limba bulgara literara (Mots demprunt lexicaux Roumains dans la langue litteraire bulgare) par Mariana Mangiulea (2000), Contacte lingvistice interbalcanice. Elemente romaneti in limba bulgara (Contacts linguistiques interbalkaniques. Elements roumains dans
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le bulgare) par Virgil Nestorescu (2002) et Raporturi lingvistice romano-bulgare. Cuvinte de origine romana in graiurile bulgare (Rapports linguistiques roumains-bulgares. Mots dorigine roumaine dans les parlers bulgares) par Maria Osman-Zavera (2002). Je ne me propose pas de faire ici une appreciation detaillee des ouvrages cites, je me bornerai a ajouter encore trois mots demprunt a la liste des mots demprunt roumains dans la langue bulgare. KORNICA Pour le mot kornica natte, tresse de jeune fille, atteste a Novo selo, region de Vidin, dans le BER (II: 643) on trouve lexplication etymologique suivante: Probablement du roumain cornia petite corne. Sans doute dans le BER le mot est-il emprunte a Mladenov (1969: 239) ou son origine nest pas mentionnee. Kralik (1995: 110116) admet que le bulg. dial. kornica cheveux nattes, natte et le slovaque dial. kornica, au meme sens, aux variants kornica et kornica, peuvent etre empruntes au roumain cornia. Il compare avec le slovaque dial. kornuta brebis a cornes, un emprunt au romain cornuta cornue, derive du roumain corn corne. Selon lui, le slovaque dial. kornica peut etre caracterise comme une partie de la couche lexicale relativement recente liee a la colonisation valaque. Il cite aussi le slovaque dial. korna natte, tresse, en soulignant que le rapport entre les formes korna et kornica nest pas tres clair du point de vue de la chronologie relative et que lune et lautre pourraient aussi bien etre primitives. Or, malgre lattrait indubitable de letymologie roumaine, Kralik juge indispensable dessayer de donner une interpretation etymologique du slovaque kornica et du bulg. kornica dans un contexte slave. Il rapporte a lie.*(s)ker- couper et tourner; tricoter en signalant le syncretisme primitif de ces significations. Sur le rapport du sens tresse au sens tourner; tricoter, il etablit une parallele semantique en se servant de letymologie du slovaque vrko~ natte, tresse (derive de lie. *werk-: *work-: *wrk- tourner; tricoter). Selon lauteur, le bulg. dial. kornica natte de jeune fille et le bulg. dial. kornica pate feuilletee (derive de kora, v. le BER II: 643, sous kornica1) peuvent etre consideres comme des mots congeneres kora etant accepte comme herite de lie. *(s)ker- couper. Il faut bien souligner le caractere convaincant des suggestions de lauteur. Le savant inspire le respect par son erudition, par labondance de faits bien choisis. Cependant je suis davis que letymologie roumaine quil admet mais quil finit par ne pas accepter nest pas a rejeter. Bien sur, certaines precisions doivent y etre apportes.
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Le roumain cornia ne signifie pas seulement petite corne, comme le note le BER (II: 643). Cest un diminutif de corn, qui en dehors du sens petite corne et dautres significations, possede aussi le sens dialectial de partie de la coiffure de femme, cf. dans le DLR (I/II 1940: 795) le roum. dial. corn au sens de partie de la coiffure des paysannes et le texte roumain de Banat dans le DLR (I/II 1940: 797), pour corn, avec la forme du pluriel corni: In cap femeile au corni care se impletesc cu parul (Sur la tete les femmes ont des cornes qui sont tressees avec les cheveux). Le sens premier de cornia petite corne est logique: la tresse des cheveux en tant quelement dune coiffure de femme peut rappeler une petite corne et peut donc sappeler petite corne. La presence dun mot roumain dans le parler de Novo selo est tout a fait naturelle. Kralik lui-meme parle de la possibilite dincorporation de mots roumains en slovaque. En ce qui concerne la forme slovaque korna tresse (du feminin), on peut dire ceci: korna est cree dapres la forme du pluriel, mentionnee ci-dessus, corni. Je me permets de penser que, par suite des precisions apportees, lorigine roumaine du bulg. dial. kornica tresse de jeune fille (atteste a Novo selo, region de Vidin) et du slovaque dial. kornica tresse (aux variantes kornica, kornica) doit etre consideree comme incontestable. Je trouve exageree la constatation de lorigine slave dun mot qui sexplique tres bien comme un emprunt au roumain sur le plan phonetique, semantique, geographique et de par sa formation. P Le BER (VI: 39) donne lexplication etymologique suivante du mot dialectal bulgare p atteste au sens de oui, cest a, voila, a Draganovo et a D`uljunica, region de Gorna Orjahovica, et, en tant quinterjection exprimant letonnement, le regret, a Veliko Tarnovo et dans la region de Elena: Peut-etre une variante phonetique de pk (v.), avec renforcement de lelement affirmatif du sens, cf. une evolution semantique pareille dans le mot demprunt en roumain ipak par rapport a son etymon bulgare pak de nouveau, etc. (v.). La subtitution de -k par - a la fin du mot trouve sa correspondance chez le pronom t (v.). Je dirai entre parenthees que dans lexplication donnee ci-dessus ipak est faussement compose au lieu de ipac. Le lien etymologique etabli precedemment entre p et pk se heurte a des difficultes de caractere aussi bien phonetique que semantique. A mon avis, le bulg. dial. p est emprunte au roumain pai a la semantique assez riche qui comprend aussi dailleurs les significations du
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bulg. p (a lexception dune seule). Pour le sens oui, cest a du bulg. p, cf. le DLRM (1958: 593, sous pai1) ou lon trouve lexplication suivante: Exprima o afirmaie, o aprobare (Exprime laffirmation, lapprobation, laccord) et ou sont cites les synonymes desigur bien sur, oui, se inelege bien sur, sentend, se putea astfel se peut ainsi, de meme que le DLRLC (III/1957: 348, sous pai1) ou il y a lindication suivante: De obicei intarit prin da , desigur , ca , exprima o afirmaie, sau o aprobare (Dhabitude renforce par da oui, desigur bien sur, oui, ca que, exprime laffirmation, lapprobation, laccord) et sont cites les synonymes desigur bien sur, oui, se inelege sentend. Pour lexpression detonnement par le bulg. p, cf. dans le DLRM (1958: 593, sous pai 1 ) lindication pour le roum. pai: Exprima mirare (Exprime letonnement) et dans le DLRLC (III/1957: 348, sous pai1): exprima mirare (exprime letonnement). Je ny ai pas trouve dindication pour lexpression du regret par le roum. pai, bien quon puisse citer des exemples dun tel emploi de pai, cf. le bulg. ah pour exprimer le regret (la compassion), par exemple dans la phrase Ah, kolko si izstradal!, tout comme pour exprimer le regret (le repentir), par exemple dans la phrase Ah, sbrkah!, dune part, et pour exprimer letonnement, dautre part.1 Ajoutons encore un detail sur le roum. pai. Cest une variante du roum. poi eh bien, mais (a dautres sens aussi), apoi et apai apres, apres cela, ensuite (a dautres sens aussi) et dautres formes (aux equivalents dans les autres langues romanes), qui heritent du lat. (ad) post (de ad a et post, derriere, apres, ensuite).2 Lemprunt du bulg.dial. p au roumain doit etre considere comme certain. Il est a noter que p est atteste dans des localites dont lest habitants ont maintenu dans le passe des contacts animes avec une population roumaine. Pour plus de details sur p, v. T. At. Todorov (SpEz XXIX/3, 2004: 3739). TRANTUVAM Le verbe dialectal trantuvam aux sens de servir (a Trudovec, region de Botevgrad), 3 prevenir les desirs, les besoins de qn (a
1 Cf. RSBKE (I/1995: 27) ou ax est cite comme une interjection pour exprimer le regret, la compassion, la douleur, la frayeur, letonnement, la comprehension, etc. 2 Sur letymologie du roum. pai, poi, apai, cf. Cioranescu (I: 2930, IV: 593). 3 V. SbNU (XXXVIII/1930, la part de G. Popivanov, 142).
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Radovene, region de Vraca),4 prendre soin de qqn (a Iskrec, region de Svoge),5 etre esclave, servir (dial.),6 est cree sur un substantif *tranta emprunte au roum. dial. tranta femme inculte, ignare. Le mot emprunte a pu developper le sens de serviteur; servante dont a pu deriver un verbe trantuvam, sur le modele des verbes sluguvam (derive de sluga), robuvam (derive de rob). Variantes attestees de trantuvam: trntuvam prendre soin de qn (region de Sofia)7 et tarantuvam prendre soin de qqn, perdre son temps a le soigner (a Trastenik, region de Pleven).8 *** Le bulg. dial. kornica natte, tresse de jeune fille nest donc pas un mot dorigine slave, il est emprunte au roum. cornia; le bulg. dial. p, particule au sens de oui, cest a, et interjection exprimant letonnement, la compassion / le regret nest pas une variante phonetique du bulg. pk mais provient du roum. pai; le bulg. dial. trantuvam servir est un derive du mot demprunt roumain non enregistre *tranta (du roum. tranta femme inculte, ignare).
Bibliographie
BDial Blgarska dialektologi. Prou~vani i materiali, Sofi, 1962. BER Blgarski etimologi~en re~nik, Sofi, 1971. Cioranescu 19581966 A. Cioranescu: Diccionario Etimologico Rumano, La Laguna. DLR I/II 1940 Dicionarul limbii romane, t. I, partea II, Bucureti. DLRLC III/1957 Dicionarul limbii romane literare contemporane, t. 3, Bucureti. DLRM 1958 Dicionarul limbii romane moderne, Bucureti. KartBDR Kartoteka na Blgarski dialekten re~nik v Instituta za blgarski ezik pri BAN, Sofi (Fichier de Blgarski dialekten re~nik en train de preparation a lInstitut de langue bulgare chez lAcademie des sciences de Bulgarie). Kralik 1995 L. Kralik: K otazke slovanskych kontinuantov ide. *(s)ker- krutit, pliest. Varia IV. Materialy zo IV. kolokvia mladych jazykovedcov (Modra Piesok 30.11.2.12.1995), Bratislava Banska Bystrica.
4 5 6 7 8
V. BDial (IX: 330). Dapres les donnees dans KartBDR. V. RRODD (509). V. BDial (I: 270). V. BDial (VI: 230).
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Mladenov 1969 M. Sl. Mladenov: Govort na Novo selo, Vidinsko, Trudove po blgarska dialektologi, kn. 6, Sofi. RRODD 1974 Re~nik na redki, ostareli i dialektni dumi v literaturata ni ot XIX i XX vek. Pod redakcita na St. Il~ev, Sofi. RSBKE Re~nik na svremenni blgarski kni`oven ezik, t. 13, Sofi, 19551959. SbNU Sbornik za narodni umotvoreni i narodopis, Sofi, 1889. SpEz Spostavitelno ezikoznanie, Sofi, 1976.
Einfuhrung Ein haufig anzutreffendes Klischee uber den Balkan ist das eines Volker- und Sprachgemisches: Die Balkanvolker seien vielsprachiger, zugleich aber kulturell ahnlicher. Mit dem Dekonstruktivismus hat diese Position kurioserweise Verstarkung bekommen und wird verwissenschaftlicht: Wenn namlich die modernen Standardsprachen als kulturelle Artefakte und sprachpolitisch geschaffene Nationalsymbole des 19. Jahrhunderts gesehen werden (etwa Riedel 2005), erliegt man leicht dem Schluss, vorher habe es keine ethnische Differenzierung von Sprache gegeben. Dies trifft so nicht zu. Im Fall der Balkansprachen, die eine singulare grammatische Konvergenz aufweisen, wird erst in letzter Zeit der groere kontaktlinguistische Zusammenhang gesucht, der neuerdings auch die Kreolistik mit einschliet. Diese Diskussion geht auch um Ethnizitat, um sprachliche Taktiken, ethnische Grenzen zu bewahren oder abzuschwachen. In der
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Genese des Balkansprachbundes spielen die Aromunen eine prominente Rolle, so dass es lohnenswert erscheint, die aktuelle Kreol-Diskussion bezuglich des Balkansprachbundes in den aromunischen Kontext zu rucken. Wir werden sehen, dass die sprachliche Ausverhandlung von Gruppengrenzen in aromunisch-nichtaromunischen Kontaktsituationen, wie wir sie hier aus Stern 2006 weiterentwickeln, ein schlussiges Erklarungsmuster fur die morphosyntaktische Struktur der Balkansprachen bietet. Die historische Perspektive: Kreolisierung? Hinrichs hat 2004a/b die Balkansprachen als Kreolsprachen bezeichnet, also zur Muttersprache gewordene Pidginsprachen. Pidgins sind kontaktinduzierte Behelfssprachen, die ihre Entstehung dem zunachst auf Tauschhandelsbeziehungen beschrankten Kontakt zwischen Gruppen unterschiedlicher sprachlicher Zugehorigkeit verdanken (typischer-, aber nicht notwendigerweise zwischen Kolonisatoren und indigener Bevolkerung). Es wird nicht ganz deutlich, wie weit Hinrichs mit dem Vergleich geht. Einerseits ist ihm kulturwissenschaftlich zuzustimmen: Der Balkan ist ein Raum synkretistischer Kulturkontakte. Andererseits fuhrt dies nicht automatisch zu Kreolsprachen: Die Balkanvolker sind nie in einer Fremdheit aufeinander getroffen wie die europaischen Seefahrernationen seit dem 15./16. Jh. und die Eingeborenen Amerikas. Einer schwachen Kreolthese Hinrichs ist also zuzustimmen:
Balkanismen sind zustande gekommen als Resultat multipler, pidginoider und kreoloider Prozesse, aus deren jahrhundertelangen Verflechtungen und ihrer groraumigen Ausbreitung unter den Bedingungen von Oralitat, Multilingualismus und chronisch defizitarem Fremdsprachenverstehen. (Hinrichs 2004a: 25).
Hinrichs will den Eurozentrismus der Sprachwissenschaft uberwinden, die bis heute auf Schriftlichkeit, Linearitat und ein antikes Grammatikideal fixiert sei. An ihre Stelle setzt er die optimale Okonomie sprachlicher Strukturen in der oralen/auralen Sprachverarbeitung. Hinrichs vergleicht etwa die Partikeln der Balkansprachen mit denen in Kreolsprachen. Wenn er Formen wie bi fur irrealen Konjunktiv oder Partikeln wie bulg. {te bzw. makedon. ke als kreoloid auffuhrt, ist dies nur eine Seite der Medaille, da die Balkansprachen ihr komplexes Aspekt- und Tempussystem bewahrt haben. Die Balkansprachen sind also einerseits stark umgebaut worden in einem Konvergenzprozess, der durch Sprachkontakt bedingt ist, andererseits sind sie steckengeblieben in archaischen Sprachzustanden. Es muss also zeitgleich eine Gegenbewegung gegeben haben, die bereits deutlich wird, wenn wir uns den Bestand an Tempuskategorien im Sudslawischen
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und im Nordslawischen anschauen, wobei im letzteren radikal vereinfacht wurde, im Sudslawischen so gut wie gar nicht. Dies betont auch Stern 2006: Der entscheidende Unterschied zwischen Kreol- und Balkansprachen liegt im Fehlen ererbter morphosyntaktischer Paradigmatizitat und Formanten bei den Kreolsprachen. Diese negative Evidenz ist aussagekraftiger als die positive: Positive Ubereinstimmungen zwischen zwei Sprachen sind typologischer Natur und konnen zufallig sein. Ererbte strukturelle Besonderheiten hingegen weisen historisch-genetisch auf den evolutionaren Ausgangspunkt hin und haben somit andere Beweiskraft. Schauen wir etwa auf den indogermanischen Aorist, der in allen Balkansprachen noch vorhanden ist entweder als formale Restklasse oder als verallgemeinerte Form. Die Balkansprachen transportieren diesen Ballast die Existenzbedingungen sind dysfunktional bis heute mit und erweisen sich als extrem konservative Sprachen: Sie funktionieren in Teilbereichen extrem unkreolisch. Wie konnen wir dies motivieren? Stern stellt die These auf, dass der partielle sprachliche Konservatismus als sozialer/ethnischer Marker im Sinne einer traditionsorientierten Aufrechterhaltung von Gruppenkoharenz funktionieren kann, die moglicherweise durch die gerontokratischen Strukturen gefordert wird. Dies ergibt sehr viel Sinn, wenn wir an die Situation der Ethnien im Osmanischen Reich denken, die kontinuierlich Assimilationsbewegungen furchteten und gleichzeitig gezwungen waren, sich in ihrer multiethnischen Umgebung zu arrangieren und dem ethnischen Gegenuber und sei es nur fur das kurze Gesprach auf dem Markt entgegenzukommen. Es empfiehlt sich hier, nicht von L1 und L2 (Erst- und Zweitsprache) zu reden, da es hier nicht um das Ma der Sprachbeherrschung oder die Relevanz der Sprache fur den einzelnen Sprecher geht. Stattdessen ist die Paarung L trad vs. L nov eher im Sinne eines rechtsahnlichen Verhaltnisses zu verstehen, im Sinne einer Ausverhandlung zwischen traditionalen Sprechern bzw. deren traditionaler (autochthoner?) Sprache und den Novizen in einer Sprachgemeinschaft bzw. deren neue Sprache (Allochthone?). Die Balkansprachen befinden sich nach Stern 2006: 214ff auf einer Skala mit den Extrempolen innovativ vs. traditional im Mittelfeld: Kreolsprachen sind nur Lnov orientiert, wobei Ltrad inexistent ist. Balkansprachen sind Ltrad und Lnov orientiert. Entlehnungssprachen sind Ltrad-dominant und hierbei Lnov-marginal. Isolierte Sprachen ohne erneuernd wirkenden Sprachkontakt sind nur Ltrad.
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Das demographische Verhaltnis zwischen Ltrad- und Lnov-Sprechern ist entscheidend. Wenn zu viele Novizen beteiligt sind an der Kontaktsituation, kippen die Verhaltnisse und die ererbten Strukturen des traditionalen Repertoires konnen vollstandig aufgehoben werden. Dies ist auf dem Balkan nicht der Fall gewesen: Es besteht ein konservativer Kern an Sprechern, der mehr oder weniger erfolgreich uber die traditionellen kommunikativen Ressourcen wacht (Ltrad-Dominanz). Wichtig ist aber nicht das numerische Verhaltnis, sondern Faktoren wie Prestige und Attraktivitat. Die Spezifik der Sprachen, die wir zum Balkansprachbund zahlen, besteht also im Antagonismus zwischen Auflosung traditioneller gesellschaftlicher Muster und gegen-akkulturierender Selbstbehauptung eben dieser in Auflosung begriffenen traditionellen Gemeinschaften. Im Sprachbund bewegen sich bilinguale Mitglieder verschiedener Ltrad-Gemeinschaften als Lnov-Sprecher von Sprachen anderer Gemeinschaften regelmaig uber ihre eigenen Gemeinschaftsgrenzen hinaus und partizipieren marginal an anderen Gemeinschaften: Die transhumanten, d.h. halbnomadischen Aromunen/Vlachen, die uber den ganzen Balkan zogen, sprachen also saisonweise albanisch, griechisch, bulgarisch. Sie hatten in diesen Gemeinschaften aber kein Verhandlungsrecht uber kommunikative Ressourcen, und dennoch hat dieser Sprachkontakt in der Weise gewirkt, wie Hinrichs ihn beschrieben hat in der Vereinheitlichung mundlicher Strukturen. Jedoch haben die Halbnomaden nicht wirklich die Struktur der Kontaktsprachen verandern konnen, da sich die Trager dieser Kontaktsprachen der Assimilationsperspektive bewusst waren und gegengesteuert haben im Sinne von intralingualen ethnischen Markern: So schreiben Giles/Sachdev 2004: 358:
divergence can be regarded as a very important tactic of intergroup distinctiveness for bilinguals wishing to feel good about their ethnicity, and thereby about themselves.
Giles erwahnt eine Studie von 1989 zu Katalonien: Hier galt (und gilt?) die Auffassung, dass nur Katalanen Katalanisch sprechen sollen. Wenn also ein Kastilisch-Sprecher versucht, Katalanisch zu sprechen, antwortet ihm der Katalane auf Kastilisch. Ahnliches konnen wir uns fur den Balkan vorstellen: Der Sudslawisch- oder Albanisch- oder Griechischsprecher will dem Aromunen, der sie in ihrer Sprache anspricht, verdeutlichen, dass diese Sprachkompetenz nicht die Gruppengrenzen schwachen oder uberwinden kann, und redet ihn daher in seiner Sprache an. Auf diese Weise haben beiden Seiten ein Motiv, kurzfristig die Sprache des anderen zu reden, wodurch wir die massiven Interferenzen erklaren konnen.
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Der Prozess von intergroup distinctiveness (Giles/Smith 1979: 5253) ist in soziolinguistischen Versuchen nachgestellt worden. Grundsatzlich ist es so, dass Mitglieder unterschiedlicher Gruppen in einer Kontaktsituation sich mit dem Gegenuber vergleichen in Dimensionen, die ihnen wichtig sind (Fahigkeiten, Eigenschaften, Besitz u.a.) auf der Suche nach fur die eigene Person positiven Merkmalen. Man will positive Distinktivitat der eigenen Gruppe wahrnehmen, und hierfur ist sprachliche Divergenz ein sehr geeigneter Weg. In Wales etwa hat man Waliser, die stolz auf ihre ethnische Identitat sind und dabei sind, Walisisch im Sprachkurs zu lernen, unter dem Vorwand, bei einer Umfrage zu Spracherwerb mitzuwirken, in ein Gesprach mit einem Englander verwickelt. Dieser hat irgendwann im Gesprach sehr arrogant die Bemerkung fallen lassen, er verstehe nicht, warum sie eine sterbende Sprache ohne Zukunft lernen wollten. Schlagartig hat sich das Sprachverhalten der Waliser geandert als Reaktion auf diese Beleidigung ihrer ethnischen Identitat: Der Tonfall wurde aggressiv, der walisische Akzent wurde deutlich verstarkt, z.T. sogar walisische Worter und Floskeln eingebaut. Ahnlich kann es auf dem Balkan abgelaufen sein und vergessen wir nicht, dass die mobile Gruppe in der Kontaktsituation, die Aromunen/Vlachen, zumindest innerhalb des christlichen millet die wohlhabendere Gruppe war. Sprachliches Beharrungsvermogen bei Albanisch-, Griechisch- und Bulgarischsprechern als Divergenz konnte also ahnlich funktioniert haben wie bei den Walisern. Diese Weiterfuhrung von Hinrichs 2004a/b und Stern 2006 geht davon aus, dass Akkommodation und Gegenakkulturation in interlingualen wie auch in intralingualen Konstellationen ethnischen Kontakts gleich funktionieren und kann so in den groeren Rahmen von Labovs Phasenmodell 1975 fur soziolinguistisch erklarbaren Sprachwandel gestellt werden: Labov unterscheidet Wandel von unten, wenn eine Sprachgruppe sich partiell an einen prestigetrachtigeren Sprachgebrauch annahert, von Wandel von oben: Wenn sich die sozial schwachere Gruppe zu stark an die dominante Gruppe anpasst, kann es vorkommen, dass diese sich neue Sprachcharakteristika gibt, um die Distinktivitat, d.h. den Abstand zur sozial schwacheren Gruppe zu sichern. An diesem Punkt reiht sich die teils hochsynthetische, teils analytische balkanische Morphosyntax in das dialektische Sprachwandelmodell von Keller 1994 ein, der das Spiel zwischen Anpassung und Abgrenzung, zwischen Orthodoxie und Innovation in Anlehnung an die pragmatischen Kommunikationsmaximen als statische Maxime (Rede so, dass Du als Gruppenzugehoriger zu erkennen bist., d.h. Rede so, dass Du nicht auffallst.) und dynamische Maxime (Rede so, dass Du als nicht zu der
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Gruppe gehorig erkennbar bist., d.h. Rede so, dass Du beachtet wirst, rede amusant, witzig usw.) bezeichnet hat. Hier waren wir wieder beim Begriff der Akkommodation: Die Balkansprachen verdanken ihre Balkanizitat dem interethnischen Austausch unter den Bedingungen, wie Hinrichs 2004a/b sie beschrieben hat, als kontinuierliches Falschsprechen der jeweils anderen Kontaktsprache. Auf der anderen Seite und dies entkraftigt die konstruktivistische Sicht auf die Ethnien des Balkans (vgl. etwa Riedel 2005) haben die Balkansprachen einige aussagekraftige Merkmale bewahrt, die sie weit in die Vergangenheit verorten und sprachliche Kontinuitat belegen. Aktuelle Kontaktsituationen: Hybriditat und ethnische Mimikry Das dominante Paradigma, das fur viele Modelle der Grammatik und Sprachverarbeitung aufschlussreich sein kann, ist das sog. Matrix Language Frame-Modell der Afrikanistin Myers-Scotton. Es besagt, dass jedem gemischten Satz eine Matrixsprache zugeordnet werden kann, die eine bestimmte Gruppe der grammatischen Morpheme sowie ihre syntagmatische Anordnung vorgibt. Myers-Scotton 1993 hat so gewissermaen eine Grammatik der Sprachalternation innerhalb eines Satzes erarbeitet, die durch einige zentrale Beschrankungsregeln, die constraints, determiniert ist. Das Aquivalenzprinzip meint die Nichtverletzung der syntaktischen Regeln beider Sprachen. Bei der von Mladenov 1993 beschriebenen bulgarisch-rumanischen Sprachpaarung zwei syntaktisch weitgehend vergleichbaren Balkansprachen greift die Aquivalenzregel so gut wie nie: Man beachte in (1) die Form oriti, wo der postponierte rumanische Artikel -le in orele problemlos durch sein bulgarisches Pendant ti substituiert wird. Zweite zentrale Regel ist das Free Morpheme Constraint, das die Suffigierung einer phonologisch nicht slawisierten Wurzel mit einem gebundenen slawischen Morphem untersagt. Diese Regel wird andauernd gebrochen, da die ostsudslawischen Dialekte verbindliche Integrationsmodi fur jeden rumanischen und neugriechischen Worttyp gefunden haben.
(1) L1 Bulgarisch L2 Rumanisch: Dupa ~e (rum. Dupa ceea) terminam oriti (rum. orele) {a da iem doma, pa kutu maj imam timp {a u`atam (rum. ajutam) i pa mam i pa tata. Nachdem ich die (Unterrichts)Stunden beendet habe, gehe ich nach Hause, und wenn ich noch Zeit habe, werde ich helfen bei Mama und bei Papa.
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(2) Dapa~e (rum. Dupa ceea) dia na {kolata askultam profesorite sas atencie i napkom kuga {a dim faf rekracie (rum. recreaie) igraa i urata sas moi koleci. Nachdem ich in die Schule gehe, hore ich den Lehrern mit Aufmerksamkeit zu, und nachdem ich in die Pause gegangen bin, spiele und rede ich mit meinen Mitschulern. (Mladenov 1993: 370371).
Das moderne Verstandnis von Ethnizitat betont die subjektive Funktionsweise: Dasselbe gilt, wie wir im Folgenden sehen werden, auch fur die Sprachlichkeit von Gruppen. Gerade muslimische Kleingruppen, denen ihre Muttersprache ein lastiges Anhangsel, ein letzter Beweis fur eine ungeliebte Ethnizitat ist, belegen eine hohe Flexibilitat im Umgang mit der eigenen Sprache. Denn, vergessen wir nicht: Real ist nur das, was wir als real wahrnehmen (wollen). Alles ist eine Frage der Perzeption! Stellen Sie sich vor, Sie mochten jemand anders sein. Hierfur mussen Sie alle Spuren Ihrer alten Zugehorigkeit beseitigen. Dies ist im Falle von Sprache nicht leicht moglich. Es ist leicht, eine Nationalsprache umzuformen, wenn Sie die entsprechenden Voraussetzungen wie staatliche Schulsysteme u.a. unter Ihrer Kontrolle haben. Aber in kurzer Zeit die Muttersprache dahingehend zu andern, dass man auch von der Umgebung in der neuen Identitat akzeptiert wird, ist ein nahezu aussichtsloses Unterfangen. Was tut man, wenn man die Realitat nicht andern kann? Man andert die Wahrnehmung: So mochte ich hier zwei namhaften Vertreterinnen der amerikanischen linguistic anthropology (Gal und Irvine) zitieren, die nach der Rolle von Sprachideologien bei der sozial konstruierten Grenzziehung zwischen Dialekten und Sprachen fragen. In diesem Prozess der Nationalstaatsbildung, der angeblich kulturelle Einheiten in politische Gebilde uberfuhrt hat, ist z.B. der die slawischen Balkanmuslime betreffende Inklusionsdiskurs exklusiv auf sprachlicher Basis gefuhrt worden. Es geht also einerseits um den Diskurs der nationalen Mehrheit, zugleich aber auch um die Reperkussion divergierender Inanspruchnahmen seitens der Minderheit, die ihre eigene Ideologie ausformt. Gal/Irvine (1995: 972975; 2000: 3739) nennen drei semiotische Prozesse, durch die Sprachideologien auf sprachliche Ausdifferenzierung ablaufen: Den ersten nennen sie Iconization und meinen die Umwandlung von sprachlichen Fakten in ikonische Reprasentationen der jeweiligen Gruppe, wobei diese Beziehung aufgrund der Ikonizitat als zwingend und notwendig erscheint. Der zweite Prozess, die sog. fractal recursivity, projiziert gewisse partiell existierende Oppositionen in einer Weise, dass innerhalb der eigenen Gruppe Differenzen verschwinden, wahrend die Auengrenze der Gruppe verstarkt wird: Ein Beispiel ware etwa die
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Stilisierung von Turzismen als national und exklusiv Bosnjakisches. Am wichtigsten scheint der dritte Prozess zu sein, die sog. erasure: Die Rasur meint die Ausblendung von sprachlichen Fakten, die nicht mit der Sprachideologie in Einklang zu bringen sind. Erasure finden wir haufig im Falle von Minderheiten: So konnen die Windischentheorie zu den Karntnern, die russ. Sprachpolitik in Karelien ebenso wie die griechische Ideologie des scheinbar slawischen Idioms in Nordgriechenland als Paradebeispiel fur derartige Sprachideologien angefuhrt werden, die sich weit vom Faktischen entfernen. Im Ergebnis ist es so, dass die Minderheit selbst zur Festigung von neuerworbenen Identitaten derartige Ideologien mittragt. Im Endergebnis sehen wir etwa bei den Pomaken, dass sich uberlagernde Sprachideologien von drei Nationalstaaten (Griechenland, Turkei und Bulgarien), die die Gruppe als Teil ihres Volkskorpers einklagen, die Wirksamkeit des erasure-Prozesses noch potenziert wird: Indem Sprache von mehreren Seiten manipulativ als Argument missbraucht wird, verliert die Sprache bei ihre Sprechern selbst endgultig ihre Rolle als Indikator fur Gruppenzugehorigkeit. Ahnlich verhalten sich die Aromunen, wie Kahl 2003 sie beschrieben hat: Auch die Aromunen, die weitgehend ein Eigensprachlichkeitsbewusstsein verloren haben und ihr Idiom als einen korrumpierten Dialekt des Griechischen ansehen, entsprechen dem Phanomen der erasure. Die heutige Situation der meisten Aromunen in mehreren sudosteuropaischen Staaten ist durch nationale (Uber-)Assimilierung gekennzeichnet. Diese Art der ethnischen Mimikry war wahrend des 17.19. Jh.s nicht ohne weiteres moglich, da Ethnizitat vor allem durch kulturelle Arbeitsteilung festgelegt wurde und die Gruppengrenzen zwischen verschiedensprachigen Ethnien sehr viel sichtbarer waren als dies heute auf dem Balkan der Fall ist. Daher verstellt die heutige Situation den Blick auf die interkulturellen Realitaten in Mittelalter und fruher Neuzeit und somit auf die Entstehungsbedingungen des Balkansprachbundes.
Literatur
Barth 1969 Fredrik Barth: Introduction, in: Ethnic Groups and Boundaries. The Social Organization of Culture Difference, Hg. Fredrik Barth, Bergen, Oslo, London, 938. Elwert 1989 Georg Elwert: Nationalismus und Ethnizitat. Uber die Bildung von Wir-Gruppen, Kolner Zeitschrift fur Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 41, 440464. Gal/Irvine 1995 Susan Gal, Judith T. Irvine: The boundaries of languages and disciplines: How ideologies construct difference, Social research 62/4, 9671001.
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Gal/Irvine 2000 Susan Gal, Judith T. Irvine: Language ideology and linguistic differentiation, in: Regimes of languages: ideologies, polities and identities, Hg. Paul Kroskrity, Santa Fe, Oxford, 3583. Giles 1979 Howard Giles: Ethnicity markers in speech, in: Social markers in speech, Hg. Klaus R. Scherer/Howard Giles, Cambridge u.a., 251289. Giles/Smith 1979 Howard Giles, Philip Smith: Accommodation Theory: Optimal Levels of Convergence, in: Language and Social Psychology, Hg. Howard Giles/Robert N. StClair, Oxford, 4565. Giles/Sachdev 2004 Howard Giles, Itesh Sachdev: Bilingual Accommodation, in: The Handbook of Bilingualism, Hg. Tej K. Bhatia/William C. Ritchie, London, 353378. Hinrichs 2004a Uwe Hinrichs: Sudosteuropa-Linguistik und Kreolisierung, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie 40/1, 1732. Hinrichs 2004b Uwe Hinrichs: Orale Kultur, Mehrsprachigkeit, radikaler Analytismus: Zur Erklarung von Sprachstrukturen auf dem Balkan und im kreolischen Raum. Ein Beitrag zur Entmystifizierung der Balkanlinguistik, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie 40/2, 141174. Kahl 2003 Thede Kahl: Aromanians in Greece. Minority or Vlach-Speaking Greeks? In: Minorities in Greece Historical Issues and New Perspectives. Hg. Sevasti Trubeta/Christian Voss, Munchen (=Jahrbucher fur Geschichte und Kultur Sudosteuropas), 205219. Keller 1994 (32003) Rudi Keller: Sprachwandel. Von der unsichtbaren Hand in der Sprache, Tubingen. Labov 1975 William Labov: Zum Mechanismus des Sprachwandels. In: Sprachwandel. Reader zur diachronen Sprachwissenschaft, Hg. Dieter Cherubim, Berlin, 305334. Mladenov 1993 Maksim S. Mladenov: Balgarskite govori v Rumanija, Sofia. Myers-Scotton 1993 Carol Myers-Scotton: Duelling languages. Grammatical Structure in Codeswitching, Oxford. Riedel 2005 Sabine Riedel: Die Erfindung der Balkanvolker. Identitatspolitik zwischen Konflikt und Integration, Berlin. Sasse 2001 Hans-Jurgen Sasse: Typological changes in language obsolescence. In: Language typology and language universals, Bd. 2. Hg. Martin Haspelmath et al., Berlin, New York: 16681677. Stern 2006 Dieter Stern: Balkansprachen und Kreolsprachen: Versuch einer kontakttypologischen Grenzziehung, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie 42/12, 206225.
Entlang der ostlichen Staatsgrenze Albaniens findet man drei Gebiete, in denen es heute kompakte sudslavischsprechende Bevolkerung gibt. I. Im Sudosten, im Prespagebiet Albaniens befinden sich neun Dorfern. In zwei Dorfern Vernik und Boboshtica leben ungefahr 4500 Sudslavischsprechende, die orthodoxen Glaubens sind. II. Mittleren Osten, Gollobordagebiet. Die fruheste historische Quelle fur dieses Gebiet ist das turkische Register aus dem Jahre 1467. Diesem Register zufolge umfasste Golloborda 46 Dorfern. Diese wurden damals, wie es scheint, mit einem noch nicht fest verankerten Namen Dulgoberdo genannt. Schon zu dieser Zeit wurden funf von diesen Dorfern als verlassen bezeichnet. Seitdem jedoch hat sich die Situation geandert.1 Im Norden ist Golloborda als Gebiet schmaler geworden, da die Dorfer nordlich der Linie Smollnik-Terba nicht mehr zu diesem Gebiet zugehoren. Die andere Anderung ergibt sich aus den Grenzkorrekturen von 1922, wodurch die Dorfer Hoti{an, @epi{t, Manastirec, Drenok, Modri~, Lakaica, Lukova, Jablanica, Preskup{tina, Bezova, Nerez, Bigor, die
1 Es bleibt unklar, ob es nach dem 15. Jh. wirklich zu einer Verengung der Grenzen von Golloborda im Norden des Gebiets gekommen ist, oder ob die Verbreitung dieses Gebiets im turkischen Register nicht der damaligen Volkstradition entsprach.
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man heute zum debarski Drimkoll Gebiet zahlt, ausserhalb der Staatsgrenzen Albaniens blieben.2 Nach der jungeren Volkstradition umfasst das Gebiet von Golloborda in Albanien 24 Dorfer, die heute verwaltungsmaig zu drei verschiedenen Gemeinden gehoren: 1. Die Gemeinde Ostren umfasst 13 Dorfer3: Sudslavisch wird in den folgenden neun Dorfern gesprochen: Ostreni i Madh (Golemo Ostreni/Ostreni Golemo), Kojavec (Kojovci), Lejan (Le{ni~ani), Lladomerica (Ladomerica/Ladimerica/Vlademerica), Ostreni i Vogel (Malo Ostreni/Malastreni/Ostreni Malo), Orzhanova (Or`anova), Radovesh (Radove{/Radoe{/ Radoe{t), Tuep (Tu~epi), Pasinka (Pasinki). In diesen neun Dorfern sind 1322 Familien bzw. 4585 Einwohner registriert.4 Davon sind nur acht Familien orthodoxen Glaubens. 2. Die Gemeinde von Trebisht umfasst vier Dorfer: Trebisht (Trebi{ta), Gjinovec (Ginovec/Ginec), Klenje (Klene), Vernice (Vrnica). Die Zahl der Einwohner liegt heute bei 1145.5 Gegenwartig gibt es nur zwei orthodoxe Familien in Gjinovec und eine in Vernice. 3. Die anderen Dorfer von Golloborda gehoren zur Gemeinde von Studna. Es sind Stebleve, Zabzun, Borove, Sebisht, Llange. Heute sind im Gemeinderegister 1666 Einwohner eingetragen. Zweisprachige Bevolkerung gibt es nur in Stebleve (Steblo) wo heute rund 20 Familien mit 214 registrierten Einwohnern leben (es wurde uns gesagt, dass im Dorf tatsachlich nicht mehr als 60 Einwohner leben). Im Jahr 1989 waren es 195 Familien mit 1037 Einwohnern. Die Mundart beherrschen passiverweise auch zwei bis drei Familien aus Sebisht und Smollnik, deren Hausfrauen aus anderen slavischprechenden Dorfern Gollobordas abstammen. In mittleren Osten befinden sich auch die Dorfern Herbel (rbele/Hrbele) und Kerishti i Eperm (Gorno Kr~i{ta/Gorna Kr~i2 Palikru{eva/Stojanovski 1969. S. 42: Vo sostavot na vilajet Dolgo Brdo vleguvale sega{nite predelni celini Golo Brdo i debarski Drimkoll. Vo nego imalo 46 naselbi so 340 domakinstva, odnosno so okoly 15002000 `iteli. 3 Ostreni i Madh, Kojavec, Lejan, Lladomerica, Okshtuni i Madh, Okshtuni i Vogel, Oreshnja, Orzhanova, Ostreni i Vogel, Pasinka, Radovesh, Terba, Tuep. 4 In diesen neun Dorfern gab es nach der Volkszahlung von 1989 5494 Einwohner. 5 Der Vorsitzende der Komune Trebisht nennt im selben Jahr (2002) andere Zahlen: Ne komunen e Trebishtit banojne 458 familje te cilat kane 2168 banore Balla (2005: 27). Auch hier scheint eine Diskrepanz zwischen tatsachlichen Einwohnern und registrierten Einwohnern zu existieren. Im Jahr 1989 lebten in den Dorfern dieser Gemeinde 3202 Einwohner.
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{ta), in denen jeweils sechs orthodoxen Familien leben, die Sudslavisch sprechen. Alle anderen Familien sind Muslime und sprechen nur Albanisch. III. Nordosten Goragebiet. Das Goragebiet umfasst insgesamt 38 Dorfern. Davon befindet sich nur die Halfte, 18 Dorfer, innerhalb der Staatsgrenzen Albaniens. Alle Einwohner sind Muslime. Der Teil des Goragebiets in Albanien befindet sich im Kukesibezirk und wird von drei Gemeinden, Shishtavec, Zapod und Topojan verwaltet. Eine slavischsprechende Bevolkerung lebt nur in den ersten beiden Gemeinden. 1. Die Gemeinde von Shishtavec umfasst sieben Dorfer mit insgesamt 7000 registrierten Einwohnern (Shishtavec, Novoseje, Borje, Cerraleve, Oreshke, Kollovoz, Shtreze). Slavisch spricht man nur in den folgenden vier Dorfern: Shishtavec (in der Mundart [i{taec/[i{teec), Borje (Borje), Cerraleve (Crnolevo/Crneleve) und Oreshke (Ore{ek). Diese Dorfer haben 3700 registrierte Einwohner. 2. Die Gemeinde von Zapod umfasst ebenfalls sieben Dorfer mit insgesamt 3650 registrierten Einwohnern (Orgjost, Kosharisht, Pakisht, Zapod, Orikel, Bele, Lojme). Slavisch wird nur in funf Dorfern gesprochen, in denen 618 Familien mit 2251 Einwohnern leben: Orgjost (Orgosta), Kosharisht (Ko{ari{ta), Pakisht (Paki{a/Paki{~a), Zapod (Zapod) und Orikel (Or~ikle/O~ikle).6 Im Rahmen unseres Projekts uber die sudslavischen Minderheiten in Albanien, das vom DFG finanziert und von Prof. Dr. Klaus Steinke geleitet wird, interessieren uns in erster Linie neben der Verbreitung und der
6 Seiner 1922. S. 5456. Angaben aus der Gemeinde Gora: Dorfer, in denen sonstige Einwohner registriert sind:
Ortschaften Borje Cernaleve Kosharisht Orikel Oreshke Orgjost Pakisht Shishtavec Zapod Insgesamt
Albaner 74 54 3 131
Serben Bulgaren
Katholiken 5 5
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heutigen Zahl dieser Minderheiten auch verschiedene socio-linguistische Aspekte und namentlich die Sprache bzw. die Mundart dieser Minderheiten. Diese Untersuchung hat im Allgemeinen einen synchronischen Charakter. Unsere Arbeit im Terrain mit verschiedenen Informanten aus den drei obengenannten Gebieten sowie mit der entsprechenden Literatur hat unsere Aufmerksamkeit auf einige Sachverhalte gelenkt und gleichzeitig einige diachronische Fragen vor uns gestellt. Eine von diesen Fragen lautet: Was fur eine Rolle haben die Vlahen in den von uns untersuchten Gebieten gespielt? Stellen sie eine Komponente, sei es auch kleinere, in der Bildung dieser ethnographischen Gebiete dar? Um diese Fragen endgultig zu beantworten fehlt uns eine solide Analyse, insbesondere des Sprachmaterials. Zudem sind relevante historische Fakten sehr sparlich. Deshalb werden wir uns hier nur auf die Darstellung dieser Angaben begrenzen. I. Im Sudosten, im Dorf Bobo{tica konnen wir heute vier bis funf Leute treffen, die die alte Mundart beherrschen oder nur teilweise beherrschen. Nicht nur unsere Informanten, sondern auch die meisten der Informanten von Mazon haben keine eindeutig slavischen Namen. Bei uns waren es Kune{ka, Bambulli und Mano. Bei Mazon: Canco; Kune{ka, Bambulova; Mileci; Germanova; Gogof; Filto.7 Ebenfalls wichtig ist, dass das Hauptemigrationsziel der Bobo{~ani immer Rumanien gewesen ist, obwohl Bulgarien, sprachlich gesehen, viel leichter ware. Konnten wir es im Falle von Kune{ka, Bambuli, Canco mit slavisierten Aromunen zu tun haben, die ubrigens in diesem Gebiet verbreitet sind? II. Mittlerer Osten, Gollobordagebiet. Die Mazedonier Palikru{eva und Stojanovski (1969, S. 46) haben die Angaben des Turkischen Register von 1467 analysiert und sind zur Schlussfolgerung gekommen i vo Golobordo, iako sosema neznatno, preovladuva slovenskoto naselenie. Neslovenskoto naselenie go so~inuvaat vla{kiot i albanskiot element. Sie geben auch den Dorfnamem Vlasi} und den PN Gon Vlasi} an (S. 4546). Der FN Ermenin ist gleichermaen ein Indiz fur Vlahen. Fruher hat Filipovi} 1940, S. 20, die folgende Beschreibung fur Steblevo gegeben: Majka starog popa Milenka iz Stebleva, koji sada `ivi u Lakaici, pripovedala je da su oni, Srbi iz Stebleva, i{li sa stokom samo do pod {umu, a na planini bili su sami Vlasi, koji su tu planinu smatrali
7
RLFI 320: Man~o < Mano < Emanuel. RLFI 136: Gogof < Gogo < Georgi. RLFI 131: Germanova < German < Lat. Germanus bliznak, Thrak. Germ gore{t. Katalina < Katerina??? Ka{ari, Kova~i, Zoto fur Drenove.
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svojom imovinom sowie den Toponym Vla{ke Soli{~a (S. 21). Desweiteren behauptet er, dass die Dorfer Steblevo und Drenok von Hirten, Vlahen, gegrundet waren Po predanju, sela Steblevo i Drenok su osnovali sto~ari: prvo su osnovali neki sto~ari iz Magareva, a drugo iz Trnova (u Golom Brdu). Po{to je danas Magarevo cincarsko naselje, a po{to su osniva~i Drenka imali ode}u sli~nu vla{koj, misli se da su i osniva~i tih sela mogli biti Vlasi (S. 22). Das Toponym und die Erzahlung uber den Berg von Steblevo findet man auch in den Materialien von unseren Informanten. Der Gollobordane H. Sadikaj, aus Trebi{t (1999, S. 72) nennt das andere Toponym alb. Guri i Shqipes, arom. Peteril, bulg. Orlov kamen. Ferner nimmt er die Anwesenheit von Vlahen in den Bergen von Gollobordo an (S. 155) und fugt hinzu (S. 181), dass die zweisprachigen Vlahen wahrend ihrer Sommerweidezeit in Gollobordo, Jahrzehnte- und Jahrhundertelang zur Verbreitung der sudslavischen Mundart beigetragen haben. Er nennt auch einige Beispiele uber den Einfluss des Aromunischen im Bereich der Wortbildung, wie die Deminutiva sofrule, tikvule usw. Derartige Bildungen findet man auch in unseren Materialen, z.B. aus Stevlevo vodule, aus Orzhanova mesule usw. Der andere Gollobordane Hoxha (2003, S. 21 und S. 31) bestatigt das Toponym Kucova und erwahnt ferner zwei Sippen von Vlahen in Steblevo, Grujaj und Rade. Erwahnen wir hier auch einen Kirchennamen oder Toponym aus Ker~i{ti i Eperm: Ova estit Sveti Dimitrija, imame eno onamu go vika te Vlajse, na Vlajse. III. Nordosten, Goragebiet. Auch in Gora, auf beiden Seiten findet man Spuren von Vlahen sowohl in der Toponymie als auch in der Antroponymie. Mladenovi} 2001, S. 51 erwahnt die Toponymen Vla{ki-potok, Barbula usw. sowie die FN Jankulofci, Mandakofci usw., und fugt hinzu (S. 53): Gorani pripadaju posebnoj etnokulturnoj grupi muslimanske konfesije u ~ijoj je osnovi slovenska pravoslavna populacija koja je bila u dugotrajnom kontaktu sa balkanskim neslovenskim stanovni{tvom Vlasima i Arbanasima, a posle primanja islama, i sa orijentalnim uticajem. To ima za posledicu preplitanje tri sloja u goranskom etni~kom bi}u: slovenski, starobalkanski i orijentalni. Auch der Gorane Dokle, aus Borje (2002, S. 5758) nennt eine Reihe von Toponymen wie Vllahinica, Shundinci, Lupanovci (Borje), Vllani sad Cerneleve, mit Fragezeichen auch den Dorfnamen Shishtavec als *Shishtofci, die FN Vlla~a, Lupan, den Gesang srce zajde mud`u dve
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planine, a ja legna mud`u dve vllahine, sowie einige Entlehnungen in dem Wortschatz, wie ~ula, ~u~ulica, skut, {lakul usw.
Literatur
Balla 2005 F. Balla: Gjendja social-ekonomike e komunitetit te komunes Trebisht, Golloborda. Realitete dhe probleme, Tirane, S. 2729. Dokle 2002 N. Dokle: Per Goren dhe goranet, Prizren. Filipovi} 1940 M. S. Filipovi}: Golobrdo, Skopje. Hoxha 2003 R. Hoxha: Stebleva. Histori dhe figura, Tirane. Mladenovi} 2001 R. Mladenovi}: Govor {arplaninske `upe Gora, Beograd. Palikru{eva/Stojanovski 1969 G. Palikru{eva, A. Stojanovski: Debarskata oblast vo {eesetite godini od XV vek, Glasnik na INI, god. XIII. Br. 12. Skopje, S. 3755. RLFI Re~nik na li~nite i familnite imena u balgarite, Sofija, 1969. Sadikaj 1999 H. Sadikaj: Gollobordasit e Dibres, Tirane. Seiner 1922 F. Seiner: Ergebnisse der Volkszahlung in Albanien in dem von den osterreichisch-ungarischen Truppen, 19161918, besetzten Gebiete, Wien.
As is well known, the similarity of structural patterns between Aromanian and Balkan Slavonic dialects is very striking. It can be illustrated with some examples from the description of the Aromanian dialect of Kru{evo in Macedonia by Zbigniew Goab (Goab 1984: 68), as compared to Macedonian dialectal facts:
114 Features 1. The future tense 2. The future in the past 3. The optative-subjunctive mood (present) 4. The optative-subjunctive mood (imperfect) 5. The compound perfect 6. The compound pluperfect 7. The futurum exactum 8. The lack of infinitive and its identical replacement by the subjunctive clause 9. The postpositive definite article 10. Dative-Possessive 11. The analytic gradation of adjectives Aromanian va-s-do'arm va-s-durN'a s-do'arm, cf. Pres. Ind. do'arme s-durN'a are durN'it ave'a durN'it va-s-'aJb durN'it mi b'agu s-do'rmu 'om-lu muL'are-a k'alu a 'omluJ a 'omluJ Li-y'ku b'unu k'ama b'unu n'aJ-bunu Macedonian dial. Ke da spie Ke da spiee da spie
Translation he will sleep he would sleep may he sleep, etc. may he have slept, etc. he has slept he had slept he will have slept I am lying down to sleep the man the woman the horse of the man I tell the man good better the best
da spiee ima spieno imae spieno Ke da ima spieno legnuvam da spijam ovek-ot ena-ta konjot na ovekot na ovekot mu velam dobar po-dobar naj-dobar
According to Goab Thus, there is no doubt that the Balkan languages, in our particular case Arumanian and Macedonian, show a set of common structural features in their grammars, which leads any Slavist knowing the earlier or the oldest stage of Macedonian, i. e. the Old Church Slavonic, to the following question: what is the source of these structural features in the South Slavic languages? The deep contention of Goab was that this was continental Balkan Romance, or more specifically in the case of Macedonian, the primary Arumanian (Goab 1984: 9).1
1 Similiarly, Gunter Reichenkron and Georg Solta stressed the role of Balkan Romance in emergence of common Balkan features (Reichenkron 1962; Solta 1980).
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At the contemporary state of research it seems to me premature to make these kinds of strong generalizing statements concerning the role of Balkan Romance languages and especially of Aromanian in the formation of Balkan Slavonic or common Balkan language structures. Such statements are now and will be in the future speculative in the same way as their opposites. For example, Harald Haarmann concludes in his substantial article Der Einflu des Lateinischen in Sudosteuropa, published in the authoritative Handbuch der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, that eine Beteiligung der lateinischen Determinante am Proze der Ausbildung balkanischer Sprachstrukturen ist nicht nachweisbar (Haarmann 1999: 573). In her recent book on the Balkan morpho-syntactic features, Olga Mi{eska-Tomi} expresses doubts on the possible role of Aromanian as a source language for Balkan phenomena: But why should a language spoken by a limited number of inhabitants of the peninsula be the source for these calques? Moreover, since the Balkan Sprachbund features are not typical for all Romance languages, their provenance in Aromanian would still be in need of explanation (Mi{eska-Tomi} 2006). However that may be, searching for new interbalkan language parallels and for source languages of particular phenomena in the Balkan Slavonic languages which cannot be explained by internal Slavonic development remains as one of the main goals of Slavistics and Balkanology. The absence or shortages of written historical language sources for some Balkan languages may be compensated by using areal methods of linguistic research. We can speak about a dialectal structure of the Balkan linguistic area, distinguishing within the Balkan language continuum different language subareas; an example are the Western Balkan Linguistic Area and the Eastern Balkan Linguistic Area. The first area consists of Eastern Serbian, Macedonian, Albanian and Aromanian dialects, while the second one is comprised of the dialects of Bulgarian and Greek; the linguistic appearance of the Western Balkans does not seem to be identical to that of the Eastern Balkans (Sobolev 2003). I also believe that some structural innovations in Eastern Serbian and Macedonian dialects which are not present in the Eastern Balkan area may have Aromanian as their source language. Some of these supposed grammatical aromanianisms (recent loan-translations or calques) will be presented in this paper. I am above all referring to the prepositional direct object, the reformation of the periphery of the instrumental case meanings, and the direct object taken by the verb to be. Along with mutual lexical borrowings, this common grammatical patterns may bear witness for the former and contemporary symbiosis of Slavs and Aromanians in the Western Balkans. Our material comes mainly from the Small Dialectal Atlas of
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the Balkan Languages, as presented in the first volume of its grammar series The Categories of Substantive (MDAB 2005); it is the content of this volume that imposes some restrictions on the facts under consideration. Prepositional direct object The expression of a direct object prepositionally, i. e. with help of the preposition na on, over; to, is beyond all question one of the most surprizing structural innovations in some Macedonian dialects. This feature was registered by Bo`idar Vidoeski, Bla`e Koneski and Olivera Ja{ar-Nasteva in the late 1960s: A Kostur et Kajlar on constate aussi lemploi de la construction avec la preposition na pour lobjet direct (go vidov na petreto). Cette construction est egalement courante en aromain (cf. l vidzui pi taKi). Il est interessant de constater un autre foyer de ce phenomene, lui aussi tres limite notamment a la region de Debar. Pour lamorce des processus dexpansion des balkanismes, le cas est tres instructif. Comme pour les autres innovations linguistiques, il est possible que les centres dirradiation ne soient pas geographiquement relies les un aux autres. Cela na pas ete non plus un cas exceptionel dans les processus qui ont lieu dans la passe et qui ont contribue a une expansion generale de certaines structures grammaticales. Au sujet du phenomene discute, il est a souligner quon le rencontre aussi dans le parler de certains representants de la generation la plus jeune de Skopje. Il ne faut pas sous-estimer ici linfluence du parler des immigres des regions mentionnees, ce qui fait pencer aussi a une autre possibilite dexpansion de certains traits nouveaux (Koneski, Vidoeski, Ja{ar-Nasteva 1968: 521). Whereas the three Macedonian authors, not specializing the source language of this innovation, limited themselfs to the pure constatation of the fact, that this pattern is present both in Macedonian and Aromanian, Zuzanna Topolinska supposes, that Celata slika sugerira deka na vo akuzativna konstrukcija se {iri vo govori koi trpat pogolema interferencija od strana na neslovenskite balkanski jazici, pred se na gr~kiot (Topoliwska 1995: 95). Why didnt the Macedonian authors point out the Aromanian language as the source for this pattern? In my opinion, the reason is as follows: In sources on Aromanian one frequently meets the incorrect statement that Aromanian, as opposed to Daco-Rumanian, does not use prepositions to express the direct object. In ce privete acuzativul, cea mai importanta trasatura a aromanei (comuna cu celelalte dialecte sud-dunarene) este exprimarea obiectului direct individualizat fara pe (Caragiu Marioeanu 1975: 237). Vor dem
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Substantiv im Akkusativ steht nicht die Praposition pe, wie es im Dakorumanischen der Fall ist: u ved feata (dakorom. o vad pe fata) (Atanasov 2002: 80; cf. Narumov 2001: 646). Consequently, since Aromanian is missing this structural feature, it could never have been the source for it in Macedonian. But one should be more exact: the lack of prepositional direct object is typical for only a part of Aromanian dialects, like that of Kru{evo in Macedonia (Goab 1984: 7881), which was surely the one better known by Macedonian linguists. On the contrary, other dialects of Aromanian, like that of Kranea/Turya in Greek Western Macedonia (Bara, Kal, Sobolev 2005: 4344), do really use the prepositional strategy to mark the direct object, combined with the preposition pra // pri // pi over, on; to. In Kranea/Turya we stated this usage with proper names, animated substantives and (demonstrative) pronomina:
a'eli fae'a liturg'iia di lu gurtuse'a pi 'agu tr'ifon. iesu dina'indi tra si me'aska pra kanat'arlu akl'o}i. l-ark'ara qil'aua di g'ui alu papu, agud'ira pra m'ula. u m'esku pri nve'asta tu-a}'a o'ara. v'ai si turn'a al'an furi di vatam'a pri a}'el i spune'a pri a}i'olu i vatam'a.
The Aromanian Dictionary of Tache Papahagi also contains examples of the same usage: vatamai pi fur. avdzi pi cucuveaua. s nu u diclida pi nisa. pri mine s mi fura? pri mine? (Papahagi 1974: 971, 1010). It is the contact with the Aromanian dialects of this second type that explains the emerging of the same structure in some Western and Southern Macedonian dialects in the two above mentioned geographically unconnected areas of Kostur and Debar.2 The data on South Macedonian dialects, collected by Blagoe [klifov and Zuzanna Topolinska (cf. Topoliwska 1995: 9398), reflects completely the same distribution rules in Macedonian and Aromanian: the Macedonian preposition na is used with proper names, animated substantives and (personal) pronomina:
j'aska gu v'idu na st'efo d s'ei drva. gu utep'aja n d'etto z in'io. gu vj'ahum na k'onut. i v'iduh na nih.
2 Since 2006 we have evidence for this feature also in the 'nashta'-dialect of Liti (Ajvaiti) near Thessaloniki: da-a'sfaljat na 'moma-ta. daj me na 'lenka-ta. En nashta, cest le critere dhumanitude qui regit lemploi de la marque na (Adamou 2006: 64, 30).
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There is no doubt that we have to deal with a calque from Aromanian here. Peripheral functions of instrumental At the earliest stages of Southern Slavic, the instrumental case was an indivisible category with a defined set of meanings: instrumental in the core instrumental meaning with transitive verbs; the same but with intransitive verbs; instrumental as means; comitative in the modifying meaning; agents in a passive construction; instrumental of cause; instrumental of aggregate; instrumental of limitation or restriction with intransitive verbs; instrumental of place; instrumental of time. In Macedonian and Eastern Serbian dialects those functional and semantic spheres which are in the periphery of Slavonic instrumental (for example, reason and restrictive usage) are often represented by constructions with an ablative-agentive preposition of3, as:
mi umbl'ui di l'apti. se iskapif od ml' koto. e urg'i di 'okli. Krv' x d 'oi. e
The analogical spread of the instrumental case with various verbs in the Slavonic languages of the Balkans was not just restrained by the Balkan influences, but even reversed. The reformation of the Slavonic instrumental within the Balkan context agrees with the rules of the semantic hierarchy of the case and affects both the nucleus and the periphery of the corresponding semantic and functional field, which leads to splitting of the formally comprehensive semantics and formation of previously unknown structural oppositions. In my opinion, it was the influence of the Balkan Romance languages, especially that of Aromanian, that generalized the ablative-agentive means in the reformation of the periphery of the instrumental meanings in Macedonian dialects, cf. Sobolev, in print (a). This became possible by copying Aromanian verbal rection in the number of specific cases. To be as a transitive verb Extremely notable against the Slavonic background are the Western Macedonian existential constructions with the interrogative kamo where, demanding common oblique case (accusative) of the substantive to denote the subject of existence, and of the doubling clitic. This is noted
3 Sf. agrammatical examples *oblilsja ot moloka, *zabolet ot bolezni, *oslepnut ot glaz in Russian.
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in the Western Macedonian village of Pe{tani: k'amo go r'adeta? Where is Rade? Similar patterns were witnessed in Eastern Serbian dialects: di ga je stojan? kamo ga jezdimir? (Raki}-Milojkovi} 1995). Nedeljko Bogdanovi} noted them in Kamenica, the Eastern Serbian point of our Small Dialectal Atlas of the Balkan Languages: kam ti ga br'att? Where is your brother? Specifics of Eastern Serbian construction is the nominative form of the substantive, denoting the subject of existence. A full structural parallel to this can be found in the above-mentioned Aromanian dialect of Kranea/Turya in Greece: iu l-e'asti sp'irlu? Where is Spiro? In this way, the verb to be can be transitive in Serbian, Macedonian, and Aromanian dialects. In Aromanian, that kind of usage is a particular case of a more common rule, concerning the verb of existence h'iu to be. Denoting the specific existence of a subject that is known to participants of the speech act and expressed, for example, by a definite substantive (in utterances like x is in), the personal verb h'iu to be consequently requires the accusative of the redoubling object clitic:
-barb'a-nu lu-ar'a la l'ukru ku k'a:li. amu graps'ita k'artea, u i'asti au'a. 'agrili a me'ali li s'untu ng'amburi.
I therefore consider the interrogative transitive patterns Where is x? in Eastern Serbian and Macedonian to be calques from Aromanian iu l-e'asti sp'irlu? (cf. Sobolev 2007). Two other facts Due to lack of time, I will only mention two other facts which can be ascribed to Aromanian influence over the Balkan Slavonic, especially Macedonian: The ablative-agentive rection by the verb to be in construction meaning he is x year(s) old: od k' ku g' dini si? ave'amu 'una s'ora o o ma n'ika -ear'a di d'oi tr'ei an. (cf. Greek o j'aNis 'ine tri' n xron' n.; o o Bulgarian D'Ett nA D' S%D guD'iNi V' i.); and e e The obligatory usage of only one definite article in appostive constructions: p' pot s'ako. pr'eftul i'ani. (cf. Greek o jatr' s o j'aNis. o o o j'aNis o jatr' s.; Bulgarian pop Andr' J. krst'an KExAJ'E.). o e *** In conclusion, I will mention the surprizing growth of interest towards the matters of dialectal syntactical variation everywhere in
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Europe. Aside from dialectology itself, it is a common study for functional and areal typology, which are also interested in the field (WALS 2005). The further accumulation, systematization, and confrontation of dialectal South Slavonic, Balkan and cross-linguistical data will undoubtedly widen the factographical base of these disciplines and will help to formulate more relevant explanatory models. One of the important aspects of Balkanology is to bring to light the role of the Aromanian language in the formation of the linguistic landscape in most of the Eastern part of the Western Balkans.
References
Bara, Kal, Sobolev 2005 M. Bara, T. Kal, A. N. Sobolev: `noarumnski govor sela Tur v Grecii. Sintaksis. Leksika. tnolingvistika. Tekst, Munchen. MDAB 2005 Mal dialektologi~eski atlas balkanskih zkov. Seri grammati~eska. Tom I. Kategorii imeni suestvitelnogo, Munchen. Narumov 2001 B. P. Narumov: Arumnski zk/dialekt, zki mira: Romanskie zki, Moskva, 636656. Raki}-Milojkovi} 1995 S. Raki}-Milojkovi}: Sintaksi~ki upitnik za govore kosovsko-resavske i prizrensko-timo~ke dijalekatske zone, Srpski dijalektolo{ki zbornik XLI, Beograd, 521570. Sobolev 2003 A. N. Sobolev: `noslavnskie zki v balkanskom areale, Doklad k XIII Me`dunarodnomu sezdu slavistov (Lblna, avgust 2003), Marburg. Sobolev, in print (a) A. N. Sobolev: `noslavnski instrumental i ego balkanskie kvivalent, Prilozi MANU, Skopje. Sobolev 2006 A. N. Sobolev: Gde ga je Mile? Odna serbsko-makedonsko-arumnska sintaksi~eska parallel, Godi{wak za srpski jezik i kwi`evnost XX/8, Ni{, 413421. Topoliwska 1995 Z. Topoliwska: Makedonskite dijalekti vo Egejska Makedonija. Kwiga prva. Sintaksa. I del, Skopje. Adamou 2006 E. Adamou: Le nashta: description d'un parler slave de Grece en voie de disparition, Munchen. Atanasov 2002 P. Atanasov: Aromunisch, Wieser Enzyklopadie des europaischen Ostens. Bd. 10. Lexikon der Sprachen des europaischen Ostens, Klagenfurt, 7782. Caragiu Marioeanu 1975 M. Caragiu Marioeanu: Compendiu de dialectologie romana, Bucureti. Goab 1984 Zb. Goab: The Arumanian Dialect of Kru{evo in SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia, Skopje.
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Haarmann 1999 H. Haarmann: Der Einflu des Lateinischen in Sudosteuropa (Hinrichs U. Hg.) Handbuch der Sudosteuropa-Linguistik, Wiesbaden, 545584. Koneski, Vidoeski, Ja{ar-Nasteva 1966 B. Koneski, B. Vidoeski, O. Ja{ar-Nasteva: Distribution des balkanismes en Macedonien, Actes du premier congres international des etudes balkaniques et sud-est europeennes. Vol. 6. Linguistique, Sofia, 517546. Mi{eska-Tomi} 2006 O. Mi{eska-Tomi}: Balkan Sprachbund Morpho-Syntactic Features, Dorderecht. Papahagi 1974 T. Papahagi: Dicionarul dialectului aroman general i etimologic. Ediia a doua augmentata, Bucureti. Reichenkron 1962 G. Reichenkron: Der Typus der Balkansprachen, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie. Bd. 1. Wiesbaden, 91122. Sandfeld 1930 K. Sandfeld: Linguistique balkanique. Problemes et resultats, Paris. Sobolev 1999 A. N. Sobolev: Probleme der Balkansyntax aus der dialektologischen Sicht, Zeitschrift fur Balkanologie. Bd. 35, Heft 2, Wiesbaden, 195213. Sobolev 2004 A. N. Sobolev: On the areal distribution of syntactical properties in the languages of the Balkans, Balkan Syntax and Semantics (Ed. by O. Mi{eska-Tomi}), Leiden, 59100, 18 maps. Solta 1980 G. R. Solta: Einfuhrung in die Balkanlinguistik mit besonderer Berucksichtigung des Substrats und des Balkanlateinischen, Darmstadt. WALS 2005 M. Haspelmath et al. (Eds.): The World Atlas of language Structures, Oxford; New York.
DOES THE AROMANIAN HAVE A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL? SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LOSS OF LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGE PRESERVATION
Abstract: Of the four living varieties of Balkan or Southeast European Romance Daco-Romanian, Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian and Istro-Romanian only Daco-Romanian has been able to form a national language. Despite a written tradition dating back to th the 18 century, most Aromanians today do not write their language. Due to the smaller number of speakers, the situation of Megleno-Romanian and Istro-Romanian is even more difficult. According to UNESCO (1999), (Daco-) Romanian is classified as not endangered, Aromanian as endangered and Istro- and Megleno-Romanian as seriously endangered. The paper analyzes impact of the following factors on Aromanian preservation: Lifestyle and patterns of settlement, Intensity of the contact, Religion, Linguistic prestige, Code function of minority languages, and Economic dependencies. Key words: Aromanian, language death, obsolescence, minority language
How and why do languages die? Languages can lose complexity, meaning and vocabulary under the massive superstratic influence of the language of administration. This is especially true of smaller language communities, the minority languages. The absorbing language does not in the long term possess sufficient integrative power among speakers of the younger generation to borrow the corresponding lexeme of the superstratum in a morphologically modified form. Languages which are cultivated and fostered through standardisation, a written form as well as through public administration, schools and the media, have far greater chances of permanent survival than do minority languages with a less highly developed written and administrative
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language. But just as a language can be cultivated by diverse institutions and measures, it is equally possible to hasten the disappearance of a language through prohibition, suppression or neglect. However, even without any politically motivated repression of languages and dialects, languages can dwindle naturally in certain situations. Processes such as transformation and globalisation can influence the changeable variables of identity and culture, thus impacting on the language. Depending on age, the location of the town or village, the ethnic composition of the local population and the level of education of the relevant informant, it frequently degenerates into a language that is used only within the family circle. A huge number of languages and dialects spoken today will die out during this century. The term language death is regarded by most authors as a process which starts long before the actual disappearance of the language (Thomason 2001: 223225). It is therefore more accurate to speak of a language dying. According to Sasses theory of language death (1992: 19), which is based on studies of Albanian speech fragments in Greece and Gaelic in East Sutherland, the disappearance of minority languages can be described as follows. 1. The first stage is attributable to external factors which lead to the uneven distribution of individual languages. The resulting pressure on the minority population produces a negative attitude toward the minority language, which in turn leads to a willingness or decision to give up ones own language in favour of the majority language. 2. In a second stage, historic conditions dictate a restriction of the languages spoken in the respective society. Speakers differentiate even more clearly when and with whom they speak which language. The continuous stigmatisation of the minority language drives the minorities to improve their knowledge of the majority language. This results in an increased prevalence of the majority language among the minorities, who have an urgent need of the majority language in ever increasing areas of their lives. Accordingly, parents are no longer able to pass on the ethnic language to their children, so that the use of the language remains restricted to the older generation. The majority language also increasingly dominates those areas of life in which the old language had previously been used. The situations in which it is used successively decrease, until finally it is no longer used in everyday situations. Ultimately, only a small number of people retain their knowledge of the old language, which is generally restricted to a few areas
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and preserved only in meaningless phrases which serve as a secret language, or in the area of religion. 3. The third stage consists of the loss of the vocabulary and the inability to form words in those areas in which the majority language has already gained acceptance. Even if the minority language is regularly used in a number of areas, it will be unable to avoid borrowing an increasing number of elements. The borrowing of words and syntactic and morphological structures increases as the number of speakers from the minority become fluent speakers of the majority language. Once the passing of a language to the children has been interrupted, the progressive reduction of knowledge, also among the semi-speakers, becomes unavoidable. If the minority language possesses religious or social importance, words and phrases will be preserved. On the other hand, due to the death of the minority language, the mono-lingual society will also witness the emergence of a variety of the majority language which features influences from the minority language. Experiments on the loss of the degree of differentiation of individual vocabularies (Labov 1976: 237) testify to the speed of language attrition in an advanced stage. Lexical borrowing is not usually associated with just one language, but is widespread in several languages. Examples of mutual borrowing in specialist terminology (e.g. Kahl 2007) show that the interferences never take place in one direction only. A variety of factors influence the intensity of the language attrition and the speed at which a language dies. Factor 1 Lifestyle and Patterns of Settlement In a diachronic perspective, factors which lead to rapid linguistic change or language death include the establishment of the nation state with the accompanying enforcement of linguistic homogeneity, the establishment of an education system in the national language, increasing urbanisation, industrialisation, migration to the cities, and economic innovations, especially with regard to the media. Depending on the country and the dominant state ideology, standard languages are asserted at different speeds and with different degrees of consistency. Other accelerators are resettlements, mixed marriages and the dissolving of traditional communities. The preservation of old ways of life (e.g. arable farming, livestock farming), on the other hand, tends to have a conserving effect on the language.
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In peripheral areas of settlement, the languages of small ethnic groups still survive today, apparently untouched by modern written culture, despite globalisation and the dominance of television and the mass media. Especially in the specialist terminologies, the vocabulary remains stable and the innovative vocabulary (as measured by the areas of everyday life which are subject to the technological changes) insignificant. At the same time, the level of an individuals knowledge varies according to how strongly that person is still linked with the old branch of economic activity. In the case of nomadic populations (migrant workers, nomads etc.), it can be observed that as long as they travel in closed communities, they preserve their traditions and languages longer than do sedentary populations, but as soon as they become sedentary, they very quickly become willing to turn away from their culture and toward a different culture with greater prestige (see the factor 4, Linguistic Prestige). Urban cultures in particular, which to some extent are also adopted by the rural population, can also shape languages. Factor 2 Intensity of the Contact According to Sala (1997: 33), regions with a linguistically mixed population are characterised by direct contact situations, which in comparison with indirect linguistic contacts as a result of economic or political relations, have a stronger impact on the speaker, due to the intensity of the everyday encounters. Social and professional dependencies can lead to contact situations which create a basis for connecting elements in the folk culture which are reflected in identical or similar designations. Consequently individual terms can sometimes be comprehensible cross-linguistically and also across the boundaries of completely different languages, at least in economically important areas, permitting a certain degree of communication. The more intense (more direct) the form of the linguistic contact, the greater the number of mutual borrowings will be. The numerous loan translations resulting from interference reinforce the lexical polysemy. At the same time, a tendency to bundle the meanings of a lexeme in a similar manner can be observed. The co-existence of innovative and conservative linguistic features can be seen in connection with the demographic development of ethnic groups, namely as a linguistic tactic to preserve or weaken ethnic boundaries. Partial linguistic conservatism can function as an ethnic marker for the purpose of a tradition-oriented preservation of group coherence. This is especially true of ethnic groups which are permanently exposed to assimilation and which are forced to come to terms with their
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multi-ethnic environment and to accommodate speakers of other languages, even if only for a short business discussion. The parallel existence of two languages which enjoy equal standing leads to a mutual rapprochement (bilingualism, sprachbund), while the existence of a dominant educational and standard language threatens the non-standardised form and can lead to assimilation. At the same time, it must be remembered that as soon as two or more languages are regularly used within the same social system, they start to differ substantially from the same languages spoken in separate social systems (Gumperz 1982: 66, 99). Factor 3 Religion Religious affiliation and the intensity of practical religiosity also provide an answer to the question of the use of regional and minority languages. It is generally easier to identify with adherents of the same religion than with members of different faiths. Hamp (1978: 155162) noted that the greater the religious difference between a group and the surrounding society, the greater the chances of survival for the minority language. Religious affiliation can, therefore, in terms of language attrition play a crucial diachronic sociolinguistic role. In countries in which religion represents an important element of integration, groups of the same faith and differing languages have a greater tendency to give up their own language than in countries where the minority follows a different religion. Factor 4 Linguistic Prestige Speakers of the dying language avoid those forms which have a negative sociolinguistic evaluation in the dominant language, replacing them instead with a variant which enjoys greater prestige (Hamp 1989: 197201). In many cases, this reveals the low social esteem in which ways of rural work and life are held. Consequently, speakers no longer view their cultural heritage with pride. On the contrary, they often regard it with shame and start giving preference to modern languages. In the evaluation of a language by its speakers, cultural and mental characteristics, archaism, correctness and purity can all play a role. It is very frequently the case that the actual or supposed antiquity of a language or its separateness from other languages, are, in the eyes of the speakers, reasons for holding it in special regard. The distasteful overtones, which since the end of the 19th century at the latest, have been attached to every mixture or hybridisation (Kremnitz 1994: 21), continue to cling strongly to the minority languages. Some
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people even regard bilingualism as a disadvantage instead of as a potential advantage. The negative attitude of the younger generations to the language of their ancestors is to a large extent responsible for language death. Dressler and Wodak-Leodolter (1977: 3344) point out that negative stereotypes and prejudices generate inferiority complexes among the minorities, whose members want to give up their defamed role. While gender, ethnic origin and appearance cannot be changed, abandoning or limiting the use of a language represents the easiest way of solving this problem. Factor 5 Code Function of Minority Languages The question why minority languages, despite suffering from low prestige in many cases, are able to survive at all and continue to serve as a reference point in many communication situations can be explained, at least in the past, by their code function and their importance for communication within the family. The dramatic reduction in language use evidently does not prevent the continued use of the minority language in certain types of speech, such as storytelling, small talk and family greetings, song and proverbs, i.e. in specific situations. Minority languages can fulfil the following communicative functions: As a solidarity code between members of the community in contrast to the state language (power code). As a means of setting themselves apart from monolingual people. In particular, the cryptolalic function of the local language served as a means of protection against gossip, abuse or conspiracy, as Kazazis (1976: 50) showed in his study of Arvanitika in Corinthia. This function is no longer of importance among the younger generation or has been reduced to short greetings in the minority language. As an emblematic instrument and symbol of belonging to an ethnic group. The language can be easily concealed vis-a-vis strangers, but emphasised at any time it is deemed expedient to do so. As a vocational or secret language. Tailors, bricklayers, beggars, thieves and individual trade guilds used to have codes which they used among themselves and which were inaccessible to members of other professions. The deliberate borrowing of words from another language for the purpose of remaining incomprehensible to outsiders can be observed in situations of political uncertainty.
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Factor 6 Economic Dependencies Affiliation to state entities, international alliances, economic pacts, political and ideological blocks can influence communities of speakers. Languages and dialects which play no economic role within these unions have a hard time preserving their significance other than as local or family languages. People will cultivate the language in which they earn their living for existential reasons alone. Depending on the condition and status of the minority languages, the bread-and-butter language is able to displace other languages. If a language is given up more or less consciously, a cost-benefit logic is mobilised, although the speaker must first be convinced that the language is suitable for effective communication and will benefit him. To this extent, language death may be regarded as a competition between two structural forms for dominance in the performance of certain functions. Where is Aromanian in this Process? Of the four living varieties of Balkan or Southeast European Romance Daco-Romanian, Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian and Istro-Romanian only Daco-Romanian has been able to form a national language. Despite a written tradition dating back to the 18th century, most Aromanians today do not write their language. Due to the smaller number of speakers, the situation of Megleno-Romanian and Istro-Romanian is even more difficult. According to UNESCO (1999), (Daco-) Romanian is classified as not endangered, Aromanian as endangered and Istro- and Megleno-Romanian as seriously endangered. In the case of the Aromanians, with up to half a million potential speakers in South East Europe, numerically the strongest group among the Southern Danubian Romance peoples, increasing activities to cultivate the language provide cause to believe that their languages can be preserved in individual locations. Their main problem is of a political nature and has been fittingly described by Peyfuss (1974) as the Aromanian question. In areas where they have lived and worked for generations, the Aromanians are regarded by the majority populations there as part of the community. Their important role in the history, politics and economies of the countries of South East Europe and their dispersal propels them into a dilemma. Whenever the great men, be it Georg Sina in Greece, Pitu Guli in the Republic of Macedonia or Andrei aguna in Romania, are called members of a minority the outrage is the same everywhere. Nowhere, except in the Republic of Macedonia, does Aromanian receive state support as a minority language, which is why the majority of
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Aromanian activities (television and radio programmes, tuition in schools, festivals) take place in this country. In Albania and Greece, Aromanian is the living language used for colloquial speech by large minorities, but it is neither taught nor used in church, except for optional Aromanian tuition in Divjake in Albania. In Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, Aromanians are a small immigrant community, whereby in Romania after 1990 Aromanian radio programmes were launched and the possibility of optional Aromanian tuition created at two schools in Bucharest and Constana. In the case of the Aromanians, the impact of the factors referred to above can be described as follows: Factor 1: Lifestyle and Patterns of Settlement The turn away from old forms of economic activity such as long-distance pastoralism rapidly accelerates the pace of linguistic assimilation. Previously socially self-contained pastoral societies have modernised themselves, in some cases becoming urban societies with a large number of mixed marriages. The scattered pattern of Aromanian settlement also contributes to assimilation into majority communities. The insular distribution of these settlements over broad swathes of South East Europe has resulted in a loss of contact between individual population groups, in many places pushing relationships with larger neighbouring peoples into the forefront. Moreover, both main dialects, rramaneti (Farsherot in the larger sense) and armaneati (Aromanian spoken in the Pindos), can be found scattered in a wide area. Identical dialects exist in places that are hundreds of miles apart, while villages which are adjacent to one another have completely different forms of speech. The increase of sedentary localised settlement and the resulting greater access to education and administration explains both the high level of assimilation of the Aromanians by Greek-speaking population groups who were urbanised earlier, as well as the assimilation by Romanian-speaking arable farmers of the non-Romanian groups who became sedentary at a later date. Factor 2: Intensity of the Contact Both the par excellence employment of the Aromanians as pastoral nomads and their activities as traders and transporters of goods require a maximum degree of mobility. Many traders spent most of their time far away from their language area. Over time, trading relations to the Greek market, upon which many Aromanians were economically dependent, intensified. In language use between three generations of family members,
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situational code switching occurs, while the extent of conversational code switching (Gumperz 1982) varies greatly according to the ethnic and political identity of the speaker. In contact with other peoples the respective official languages are used, while today Aromanian plays no role in interethnic communication and is thus largely restricted to use within the family. Factor 3: Religion We assume that a minority language has greater chances of survival if the religion of its speakers differs to those of the surrounding society. In the case of the Aromanians in Albania, it would not, therefore, be surprising if in the long-term, the awareness of religious difference to the predominantly Muslim Albanians did not have a conserving effect on their language. In Greece, however, where the Greek Orthodox religion is an important element of integration, following the same faith encourages assimilation. The situation is similar in other predominantly Orthodox countries. Factor 4: Linguistic Prestige Speakers of Aromanian, especially in Greece, frequently disparage their language as an impure mixture of various languages, with this bastardisation being the most common argument for its worthlessness and the absurdity of learning it. Assuming that Aromanian would present an obstacle to learning Greek, Albanian etc., their incompetence in the official languages (which has since been overcome) in the past provided a reason for giving up their own language in favour of the official language. The reason for the strong willingness to abandon Aromanian in Greece is to be found in the factor of linguistic prestige. In the long term, the language will have no chance of survival if in the near future it is not given greater appreciation and a form of support is not found that is also favoured by its speakers. In Albania, Aromanian enjoys greater prestige than is the case in Greece and therefore, despite the speakers of the language being widely dispersed, has a certain chance of survival if measures are taken to preserve it. In Romania, Aromanian is regarded with sympathy, because despite the great geographical distance to Romania, the Aromanians have, to some degree, preserved a kind of Romanian cultural heritage due to their language. The desire for recognition for a separate Aromanian language is therefore met with incomprehension. The Aromanians association with the anti-Communist Legionary movement continues to influence the regard in which they are held in Romania. However, the dominant cliche
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immediately links them with shepherds in the minds of all ethnic groups in South East Europe. The association with a coarse pastoral language is correspondingly widespread, a stereotype which has an extremely negative impact on the Aromanians self-confidence. Factor 5: Code Function of Minority Languages For bilingual persons, divergence can serve as an important tactic for maintaining inter-group distinction and affirming identity (Sachdev & Giles 2004: 358), which is why language can act as an ethnic marker. As the language is economically irrelevant and is also increasingly losing ground even within the family circle, none of the code functions described above is now so important as to make the language indispensible for its speakers. Code functions are therefore no longer so attractive that they play any role in preserving the language. If in the future, the prestige of the language and the self-confidence of its speakers are raised, this will also have a positive effect on the code role. Factor 6: Economic Dependencies The main reason for the decline in Aromanian is that the language is economically unattractive. It appears to offer no advantage in any modern, future-oriented profession. Accordingly, Aromanians show the following patterns of communication: In most Aromanian villages, people over the age of 60 are active (generally bilingual) speakers, those over the age of 40 are passive or potential speakers, while the younger generations are already making their careers with no knowledge whatsoever of the minority language. It is not rare to find families in which the oldest members have only a poor knowledge of the standard language and the youngest no knowledge of the minority language. The language is now only rarely acquired during childhood and thus no longer plays the role of a mother tongue in the true sense of the word. The original consecutive bilingualism has therefore been abandoned, what was formerly the first language is now the secondary language within the family. Cases of simultaneous, early bilingualism are extremely rare. Nowhere today does Aromanian have the capacity to assimilate other groups of speakers. Until the 18th century, it seems to have exerted a strong assimilatory pull in the prosperous mountain villages. As the density of interferences declines with rising levels of education, complete linguistic assimilation to the economically more significant official language with the corresponding diatopic exclusion, diastratic and diaphasic differentiation (Haarmann 1979: 284f.), is not far off.
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The discussion of the Aromanians and their language is dominated by three major controversies. Controversy 1: Are the Aromanians a minority or members of the respective titular nation? If they are the latter, then which state can regard itself as the mother country of the Aromanians? After the 1860s the Romanian state tried to develop and promote a school system with a strong Romanian character in the Aromanian settlements of the Southern Balkans. Around 1900, there were a good 100 Romanian schools in operation in Macedonia and Epirus. However, as Romania did not aim to establish Aromanian as a literary language, instead intending to turn their linguistic relatives into Romanians, the movement did not find many adherents among the Aromanians. The result was a conflict of principles which actually even furthered the Hellenisation of many Aromanians. In most towns and villages, attendance was higher at Greek schools. The lowly status of (Daco-) Romanian among Aromanians in Greece and the deep rooted fear there of Romanian propaganda will hamper any initiative on the part of Romania to nurture Aromanian today. That West European institutions are not exactly welcomed by Aromanian associations in Greece is shown by the regular letters of protest from the Association of Pan-Hellenic Aromanian Cultural Societies to European politicians and scholars (see http://vlahos.xan.duth.gr/). Bearing these reactions in mind, it is hard to avoid the impression that a dissociation from Romanian would ensure better chances of survival for Aromanian. There is a clear answer to the question as to which state may regard itself as the mother country of the Aromanians: While responsibility for the preservation of the Aromanian language rests primarily with the Aromanians themselves, it is the duty of every state to do what it can to protect the cultural heritage that is present on its territory. Given their small numbers today, but above all because of the historic loyalty that Aromanians have repeatedly shown to their home states, countries with Aromanian minorities have absolutely no reason whatsoever to fear irredentism and can therefore really be encouraged in their efforts to preserve the Aromanian language. On this note, it would be desirable if politicians, especially in the two countries which are most vocal in laying claim to the Aromanians, were to adopt a rather more relaxed attitude with regard to the search for an Aromanian identity. This applies especially to politicians of Aromanian descent, who were always stronger advocates of their own assimilation than the political representatives of the majority populations.
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Controversy 2: Is Aromanian a language or a dialect? Aromanian is regarded by many scholars (above all, by those from Romania, such as Papahagi 1974, Caragiu Marioeanu 1975, 1977, Carageani 2002, Turcule 2002, Saramandu 1984, 2003), as a Romanian dialect. However, today, due to its parallel separate development and structural differences, it is increasingly regarded as a language in its own right (inter alia ^ernjak 1990, Bara 2007). With at least the same intensity that Aromanians have in recent decades come to regard Aromanian as a separate language, criticism of this point of view has grown among Romanian linguists and politicians. In this context, it is frequently overlooked that this is ultimately a matter of simple definitions, which are merely being exploited for political purposes. It is easy to find any number of examples of standardised languages which are closer to one another than are Aromanian and Romanian (e.g. Macedonian and Bulgarian), but equally there are plenty of examples of dialects of one and the same language which are further apart (e.g. Cypriot Greek and Black Sea Greek). Aromanian will certainly find it easier to prevail in the long term as a recognised minority language with a standardised form of speech. However, decisions need to be made with regard to the existence of diverse dialects and sub-dialects and the different degrees of assimilation. On the one hand, rare linguistic forms should be studied and documented, on the other, individual dialects should not be overrated, because ultimately only the advance of a standardised literary language in an international consensus can contribute to preserving the language. Controversy 3: Which orthography should be used for Aromanian? Despite the existence of Aromanian writing, Aromanian has mainly survived since the 18th century as a language which is used within the family circle, which is why it has not been institutionalised and systematically standardised as were the official languages. Even the very earliest attempts to raise Aromanian to a literary language (18th century) suffered from a conflict of ideas. On the one side, there were authors such as Daniel of Moschopolis and Theodoros Kavalliotis, who merely used Aromanian to spread the Greek language and therefore wrote it using the Greek alphabet; on the other, authors such as Michail Bojadshi and Georg Roja, who, conscious of the Romance origins of their language, used the Latin alphabet and soon developed romanophile tendencies. Due to the parallel existence of several schools, there is to the present day no shared
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consensus regarding Aromanian spelling. However, the many Aromanian publications (see Kahl 2005) provide reason to believe that Aromanian has long since begun to develop from an unwritten folk language into a standardised general language. In this respect, the orthography of the Aromanian language remains a point of contention. The prevailing view in Greece is that Aromanian cannot be written and that anybody who tries to do so using Latin letters has immediately outed themselves as a romanophile, whereas in Romania, deviation from the Romanian standard alphabet is met with incomprehension, even outrage. With regard to the question of the correct orthography, it can be said that surely no other alphabet appears more suitable for writing a Romance language than the Latin alphabet. Those who advocate the use of the Romanian alphabet to render Aromanian can be reminded that there is a long tradition of using this alphabet without Romanian diacritics, as was done by Boiagi as early as 1813. After all, alternative combinations of letters are possible in other languages, without it becoming a political issue. It should be borne in mind that it troubles no one when, for technical reasons, German words such as Maeinheit, Marchen, Morder and Munchen are spelt as Masseinheit, Maerchen, Moerder and Muenchen. A similar tolerance that would permit the parallel use of and sh, and ts, n and nj, and l and lj has not yet been achieved among the Aromanians of South East Europe. No matter whether people write Aromanian using the Romanian orthography, the Boiagis alphabet, Albanian orthography or even Greek or Cyrillic letters, they generally have one thing in common: They all have a concern for the written form of the Aromanian language and its preservation. Where there is a genuine interest in preserving a dialect or language, definitional problems cannot be allowed to pose an obstacle. The prime objective should be a common, uniform written form; but those who challenge individuals or groups who use diverging systems, forget that they are all basically pursuing the same objective. The simplest solution would surely be to implement the form agreed at the conference of Bitola (Cunia 1999) as the standard. However, the main emphasis should be on raising the language prestige, its public standing and the self-confidence of its speakers. Existing written documents, especially the valuable examples of early Aromanian writing from the 18th and 19th centuries should be made accessible to a broad public. In the long term, their circulation would weaken cliches about the unwritable, poor idiom. Subsequently, on the basis of a uniform written form, textbooks should be drawn up, optional tuition permitted and cultural events (reading competitions, literary evenings, readings of fairy tales etc.) should be organised. In order to gain maximum
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acceptance, these initiatives would have to be carried out by local residents and not imposed by outsiders. Other Approaches A modest approach which remains close to the truth is always to be recommended when attempting to protect minority languages. The urge to prove the longest possible written tradition and an ancient and glorious history can spawn comical and even dangerous results. With no regard for content or linguistic quality, literature is produced in the dialect or language to be preserved simply so that it can be said that the Bible, the Odyssey, Shakespeare or Goethe are available in translation. At the same time, it is forgotten that there is perhaps a lack of much more basic works (primers, comprehensible grammar, geography, history) which could make a far more effective contribution to spreading the language. The poor condition of the language creates a temptation to take hasty action for which it is far too early. How should the Aromanians in Greece (where most Aromanians live) read the Bible in Aromanian, when, for example, the attempt at a translation by Cuvata (UCAM 2004) obsessively avoids the use of liturgical Graecisms which have naturally entered the Aromanian language? Just as the religious terminology of (Daco-)Romanian is influenced by Old Church Slavonic, the Aromanians have borrowed all key terms from Greek and this quickly comes apparent by taking a brief look at the dictionaries by Daniel of Moschopolis (1802), Kavalliotis (1770) and Nikolaidis (1909). Equally, publications on the supposed Pelasgic or ancient Macedonian origins of the Aromanians will, first and foremost, provoke aggressive reactions on the part of other ethnic groups, and are therefore hardly likely to represent a successful instrument for bolstering Aromanian self-confidence. The tendency to absorb foreign elements, which Aromanian speakers perceive as linguistic insufficiency, certainly does not have to be an expression of weakness in the area of morphology, it can also be used to enrich and consolidate a language. This is easily demonstrated at the start of a conversation when Aromanians, depending on their origins, are unable to understand the statement I understand or I do not understand. The reason for this is the numerous transferences of abstract vocabulary from neighbouring languages. Among the words derived from Latin, there is a choice of prindu (< Lat. apprendere apprehend), acau (< Lat. *accaptiare conceive, grasp, comprehend), (a)nilegu (< Lat. intelligere understand), which is frequently heard in Metsovo, lau (< lat. levare take, comprehend) and lau di habari (< Lat. levare + Trk. haber literally, to take in news). The widely used duchescu is related to the Albanian words
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ndjek (follow), dukem (think; Papahagi 1974: 505) and dialectic Greek dokaw, adoukw and doukeioumi (recall, understand). The neologism cuptescu (< Alb. kuptoj understand), heard among the Aromanian community in Albania, is derived from Albanian. In contrast, achichasescu (< Greek apeikazw comprehend), which is used in the Aromanian spoken in the Grammos Mountains is derived from Greek. Finally, I would like to mention angaldasescu (< Trk. dialect angldamak, to call the buffalo), a word which to my knowledge has not been lexicographically recorded. This is used by the Aromanians known as Varghareni, who immigrated to Romania via Bulgaria. I have already said that this ability to absorb is not a linguistic weakness. The weakness is that the different varieties are not spread and taught, and are therefore unknown to many speakers. The peripheral location of Aromanian areas of settlement and the poor political and economic conditions for research have ensured that Aromanian remains inadequately studied to the present day. In Greece, where the largest number of Aromanians live, the lack of Romance studies and the widespread rejection of an Aromanian written form has meant that the language has not, with few exceptions, been studied. The populations in the countries concerned are barely conscious of the existence of Aromanian. The low level of general knowledge about the Aromanians means that in many areas of their history and culture it is amateur scholars who have become their spokesmen. Greater interest on the part of scholars and the spread of general knowledge about the Aromanians would therefore be another important contribution. Relations between the Aromanian communities in the diverse countries are also in need of improvement. When Aromanians from different countries and political camps meet, it should always be remembered that this background of coming from a different state cannot be simply ignored, and that almost no one defines themselves solely in terms of their Aromanian identity. It is precisely this identification with other nations which makes the international discussion among minorities so problematic; it will only be possible to work together successfully when this additional identity of the other is also accepted and valued. It is surely beyond question that a number of factors which contribute to language attrition either cannot be influenced or that it would be utterly futile to try. Thus fundamental determining factors such as settlement forms, geographic distribution, social structure, international trade links, and the increasing importance of English will contribute to the disappearance of Aromanian with no possibility to counteract these natural processes. One should not therefore be tempted to attribute the sole
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blame for the loss of minority languages to the majorities, and thus the speakers of the titular languages, the educational systems or the states. Speakers of dying languages are all too quick to complain of suppression without considering that assimilation and language attrition are both natural processes which can occur even without any repressive measures. Day after day, languages disappear for the simple reason that in the peripheral locations inhabited by their speakers, it is not possible to institute a system which could ensure the survival of the dialect, because the endangered language offers its speakers no economic advantage or a different language simply has greater prestige, until in the end, they are willing to give up their own. Thus despite its status as the fourth official language in Switzerland, even Rumantsch is endangered. Aggression against the majority is not therefore a productive alternative. Ultimately, nor can the fears of the majorities be ignored. Majority languages can also become minority languages within only a few years. While today we discuss the difficult situation of Aromanian on the Balkans or Rumantsch in Switzerland, it is possible that the pressure of globalisation, assimilation and adaptation to English will, in a few generations, endanger one of the official languages. Then no one will be worried about preserving the small languages, for which it will anyway be too late, but with preserving Romanian and Albanian etc.
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Because of the specific social status of the Aromanians and their language, a study of their folk storytellers repertoire from a sociolinguistic aspect is of great importance. A sociolinguistic approach may help clarify numerous problems directly related not only to sociology, but to other fields in the humanities such as folklore studies, linguistics and the ethnology of diasporic peoples. Language as a product of society is an integral part of culture, but to a certain extent it can also create it. We may begin with the ideas of Dell Hymes (1971: 44) that language is not simply passive or automatic in its relation to culture, even where there is only one language to consider, and much of the world being multilingual. Speaking is itself a form of cultural behaviour, and language partly shapes the whole, its expression of the rest of culture is partial, selective. According to Hymes (1971: 49), the role of language is not only to enable persons to adapt to new situations with
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novel utterances but also to do so with familiar utterances. As is well known in the study of folklore the familiar has to be explained as well as novelty of utterance. The social side of language refers to the fact that it represents a way of collective communication among members or group within the society. In other words, language serves as a means for connection, mediation and integration or disintegration within the society. Apart from the relationship between language and society, we will underline some aspects of sociolinguistic interest on which we will focus while analysing the repertoire of the Aromanian narrators. As this type of analysis requires an interdisciplinary approach, we will touch on some significant segments relevant for a sociolinguistic approach to folk tales, as for example: the language and occupation, terminology and limited code of the individual social group, language and context, analysis of the text of the story, dialogue structure, linguistic contact between narrator and audience and narrator and researcher, interference, loan words, bilingualism and multilingualism, how the narrators make use of the second language, how bilingual narrators compose a story, beginning with the native language and translating it to the other language and vice versa, how they weave verse into narration, as well as personal names, toponyms, stereotypical phrases etc. The Aromanians are spread all over the Balkan Peninsula (scientific research into their existence began with Weigand 1894/95). The co-existence of an ethnic group with other ethnic groups speaking different languages in the same territory usually gives rise to bilingualism. This is the case with the Aromanian population in several regions of modern Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and other countries. Aromanian storytellers should not be treated only as simple bilinguals because most, especially the more senior among them, are multilingual. Beside the Aromanian vernaculars, they usually speak some Macedonian, Greek, Albanian or Turkish vernacular. Due to a lack of media or educational support, today the Aromanian family is still the most important transmitter and guardian of the Aromanian language. As in any other traditional society, Aromanian children become accustomed to the tradition, norms and values of their community within a family (Anovska 2000: 140). In this paper we shall attempt to apply some sociolinguistic analytical procedures to the corpus of folklore texts published in the Anovska anthology (1995), while remaining aware of all the limitations inherent in using oral texts transcribed in accordance with the requirements of folkloristics, not sociolinguistics. Besides the authors original field notes there are other field materials preserved in the Archive of the Institute of
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Folklore in Skopje.1 Contemporary written records of Aromanian texts intended for dialectological analysis (cf. e.g. Bara, Kahl, Sobolev 2005) are equally unsuited to sociolinguistic analysis. In this respect a list of desiderata for future Aromanian studies (Kahl 2005) is very useful, comprising localised texts, local dictionaries, documentation of everyday speech, providing a better insight into Aromanian syntax and paying attention to language contact, sociolinguistic aspects, bilingualism, onomastics and the development of Aromanian as a written language. A sociolinguistic analysis of the collected Aromanian folk tales shows that, regardless of the narrative abilities of each individual narrator, all of them tell the story in pure and fluent Aromanian (Anovska 1995: 3491). This is very important in view of the fact that as Aromanian has no place in the educational system, their education was in Greek, Albanian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian or Macedonian. The importance of linguistic interference for sociolinguistics is crucial, as it points to the presence of ethnic groups of varying linguistic origin in the same territory (Goab 1984; Papageorgiou 1984; PapazhshPapaqeodwrou 1996). The sociolinguistic approach of dialect contact (elaborated in more detail in Milroy 2002 following Peter Trudgills concept) has the capacity to illuminate a varied set of major sociolinguistic issues: stories narrated in Macedonian by bilingual story-tellers use the local dialect. Storytelling as a performance art is directly related to the personality of the narrator and the orally transmitted folktales depend on his or her imagination, ability for artistic narration, momentary disposition and so on. As in contrast to singers the narrators never narrate only for themselves, it must be stressed that the equally bilingual audience is one of the most important factors influencing changes to the structure of the tales. According to Duranti (1986) the interdependence between someones words, the audiences response and the interpretation must be the point of departure for any hermeneutic enterprise. Having analysed this corpus of narrators of Aromanian folktales we can conclude: On the macro level of the story, the narrator usually tells one part of the folktale in two languages, depending on the audience. This practice requires an active knowledge of both languages, enabling the narrator to translate the tales from his or her native language to the other and vice
A comparable corpus of Bayash folk-tales, written down in a non-mother tongue (Serbian) by children at an elementary school was published in Radi} 2005. The mother tongue of the Bayash in the Stri`ilo settlement a Daco-Romanian dialect of the Romanian language in which the elders told the children fairy-stories exists only in oral form.
1
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versa. The narrator is relating a story with the same content, but in two different narrative styles. This bilingual repertoire is divided into several parts: tales narrated in two languages, mixed-language tales narrated only in one language, and tales that come from one language culture but are narrated in the other (and, indeed, in the vernacular). The bilingual narrators considered here do not directly translate from one language to the other. The same folktale is reproduced again and again by retelling its basic structure (Popvasileva 1987). In some tales belonging to the repertoire of certain narrators, we may note the lack of certain elements or even whole episodes in the variant told in the second language. Nevertheless, they narrate fluently and vividly in both Aromanian and Macedonian, which means they do not translate the story during the narration process, but that both language variants co-exist. If translation were to take place during the narration process, there would be pauses for correction and searching for the right word, which might detract from audience interest in the performance (Anovska 1995; 2002; 2004). Faced with the difficulties of transferring verse or other folklore cliches into another language, certain bilingual narrators cite them in the language in which they have learnt them. Sociolinguists have already noted the way in which bilingual/bicultural speakers perform, transforming the voices of the characters across multiple tellings of the same personal experience, and have analysed the systemic changes the same quotations undergo from one telling to another, when each time it is recounted in a different language (Koven 2001): the speakers construct dialogue from consistently different pragmatic resources in their two languages. Micro-level analysis Code-switching can be related to and indicative of group membership in particular types of bilingual speech communities, so that the regularities of the alternating use of two or more languages within one conversation may vary to a considerable degree between speech communities. Common lexical borrowings will not be analysed here, but the narrators ability and need to translate with ease a lexeme borrowed from one language into his or her own is indicative in the following sequence of the text:
Cai va z-ina ta s-aduca cartea na mesto su-l vatamats! Pan z-in mine din pazare, lucurlu s-iba bitisit! S-lu vatamats la loc! (Anovska 1995: 190) He
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who comes bearing the letter kill him on the spot! By the time I return from the market, the thing is to be done! You are to kill him on the spot!
Discourse markers This folklore corpus has shown that certain discourse markers are individually coloured or characteristic of the individual story-teller, this being the case of e.g. the marker zna~i so, that means, meaning, in other words. The following examples come from one narrator, Kosta Dinov (1904), recorded in 1970 (the corpus contains several other examples):
1. Shi lja ficiorlu sh-lu-aruca tu padure, noaptea, ta s-cheara, zna~i, s-nu s-toarna. (Anovska 1995: 123) And he took the child and cast it away into the woods at night so that it would perish, in other words, it would never return. 2. S-duse aclo lj-u deade cartea; cara u mutrira cartea, zna~i, numta s-faca. (Anovska 1995: 123) He went there and gave him the letter; when they saw the letter, that meant they were to prepare a wedding.
On the other hand, in his analysis of bilingual discourse markers from Croatian-English code-switching, Hlavac (2006: 1897) stresses the absence of data which measure frequency of and zna{ you know forms in comparable samples from both languages:
As a marker that establishes or confirms consensus between interlocutors, you know can denote shared and assumed knowledge between both parties and even save the speaker effort of giving extra details. Such a marker has some currency in a semi-formal interview situation, where informants may prefer to give hedged responses and refer to an assumed common knowledge as part of their response. As such, you know seems to be oriented to assumed or intended solidarity. A secondary function of you know is that it can encourage backchannelling.
For more detail on zna{, obviously South-Slav discourse marker, see Milosavljevi} 2004. Onomastic lexicon The onomastic layer of the folklore text follows a special pattern during the code-switching process. The Macedonian first name Naido in the following text indicates the non-Macedonian origin of the corresponding subject of folklore in the repertoire of the Aromanian narrator. We would mention here that in the Aromanian language it is possible to create an appropriate first name by using an etymological figure with the verb a afla > Aflatu, as has been confirmed in Romanian folklore (AaTh 930):
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Lu duse acasa, criscu mare, dzatse-tsispradz di-anj shi l-baga la capri shi-lj-bagara numa Naido. Dzaca lu-aflara Naido lji bagara numa. () Candu a Naido aoa, a Naido aclo, lu ntreba, dzase: A bre, aestu, ficiorlu, catse ahtare numa lj-gagat? Ca naiden. () A bre, dzase, lu-avem aflata, tr-atsea, lj-bagam ahtare numa. (Anovska 1995: 123124) He took the child home and it grew big. From its tenth to its fifteenth year, he put it with the goats and gave it the name Naido (=Found) They said that they found him and therefore they gave him the name Naido. () When, Naido here, Naido there, they asked him, he says: Well, then, this child, why did you give him such a name? Because it was found. () Well then, he says, we found him, thats why we gave him such a name.
Onomastic lexic acts differently when it is not contributing to the key element of the subject, as in the story of the rich man (AaTh 570B + 570IVb): Va s-tritsem pi la puntea a iepurlor (Anovska 1995: 154) Well carry him over the Rabbits Bridge; sh-mini va mi treaca la Puntea a iepurlor (Anovska 1995: 154) I too will be carried over the Rabbits Bridge. The same story has been told in the Macedonian vernacular by the same story-teller, and the rabbits bridge was translated as Zae~ki most. (Anovska 1995: 157). The female name Sevdalina, of oriental origin, remained unchanged (as etymologically insufficiently transparent for both South Slavs and Aromanians to be translated by the narrator): Sevdalina, feata njica / Sevdalino, maloj mome. (Anovska 1995: 153, 155). Reported speech The narrator quotes a swear-word as a part of reported speech in the Macedonian language, but in another context he uses the same swear-word in Aromanian:
Ka`i, majku te ebam, koj go zema volot? Cai lj-lo boilji? (Anovska 1995: 131) Tell me, curse your mother, who took the ox? Who took the oxen? Brea, futa-lj ma-sa, dzase (Anovska 1995: 130) Well, curse his mother, he says the texts also confirm other variants of the same swear-word in Aromanian (Anovska 1995: 129, 123).
Koven 2001 examines how speakers perform and transform the voices of the characters across multiple tellings of the same personal experience. He has shown that speakers construct dialogue from consistently different pragmatic resources in both their languages and that the speaker being quoted need not resemble any original speaker, but rather resembles images of locally imaginable kinds of speakers. The
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ideological function of quotations from the text of direct speech in another language is analysed by Petrovi} 2006: 202206.
Asuna iara. A, bre, vlagaj, re~e, koj si? Vlagaj vnatre! (Anovska 1995: 291) Knocks again. Ah, bre, come in, he says, who are you? Come inside O kom{i, o kom{i! Tsi iaste, bre? (Anovska 1995: 291) Oh, neighbour, oh, neighbour! What is it, bre? Sh-lji-asuna pi ushe: Bam, bam. Napred. Nu-are cai s-intra. (Anovska 1995: 290) And he knocks at the door. Bam, bam! Come in. Nobody enters. Candu, un di vitsinjlji: Dobro utro, kom{i. Dobro utro. A, bre tsi lunjina noapte aista aveai tine? (Anovska 1995: 338) When along comes one of the neighbours Good morning, neighbour. Good morning. Well, bre, why was the light burning in your house last night?
Metalinguistic awareness The corpus yielded several examples of metalinguistic awareness on the part of the narrator, all of them concerning the Macedonian language. The narrator comes from the Arumanian town of Kru{evo, and in the following example the origin of a specific, local expression has been marked:
Sh-aistu, du{a mila, cum dzac Macedontsi candu (Anovska 1995: 313) And that, du{a mila, dear soul as the Macedonians say, when.
The following two examples suggest the Macedonian origin of the entire text. This, of course, applies only to the particular narrator, not to the genetic origin of the folklore motifs (AaTh 1255 + 1525P + 1525 E; 212 + 2015):
E, bre lale, dzase, dzua tuta, mi minduescu, cum, ari cu un bou, dzase? Ca sh-pi vargareashce spuni sedam i se ~udam kako ore{ so eden vol?! (Anovska 1995: 130) Well, bre, old man, he says, all day Ive been thinking of you ploughing with one ox, he says. While in Macedonian he says: Ive been sitting wondering how you plough with one ox?!
The second example stresses the narrative code switch and interpolation of other-language folklore formula: The kid goat said these words in Macedonian Pi vargareshce tsaplu li dzase atseale zboara: Ja sum `iv / `iv ne `iv / dran ne dran / zubi mi se kao kolac, / ke te skinam kao konac! (Anovska 1995: 219). Im alive/alive not alive/skinned not skinned/my teeth like a stake/ Ill bite you like a thread!
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Concluding remarks We can agree with the famous American balkanologist Victor Friedman (1986: 287) that the Balkans constitute a unique living laboratory, both because of the great diversity of languages and ethnic groups and because the processes which led to and continue to affect the formations of the modern literary languages are well documented, relatively recent, and ongoing. The Aromanian folklore text, on which we have attempted to focus in this short contribution, has certain genre-conditioned limitations and specific features when compared with oral discourse, but still demonstrates (admittedly to a varying degree) the basic elementary patterns of any other text produced by a bilingual speaker in the process of language shift. This is a case of metalinguistic awareness and code-switching. For a bilingual story-teller to communicate successfully a double bilingualism is necessary on the part of both the narrator and the audience. Today, bilingualism poses itself as a necessity for the researcher of any such folklore texts, regardless of his or her own particular discipline.
References
Anovska 1995 K. L. Anovska: Socijalnata pripadnost na narodnite raskazuva~i Vlasi, Skopje. Anovska 2000 K. L. Anovska: Socijalno-folklorni interakcii vo vla{koto semejstvo, Skopje. Anovska 2002 K. L. Anovska: Vla{kite narodni prikazni od Kru{evo, Skopje. Anovska 2004 K. L. Anovska: Vla{kite narodni prikazni od Stru{ko, Skopje. Bara, Kahl, Sobolev 2005 M. Bara, Th. Kahl, A. N. Sobolev: `noarumnski govor sela Tur (Pind). Sintaksis, leksika, tnolingvistika, tekst, Munchen. Duranti 1986 A. Duranti: The audience as co-author: An introduction, Text 6/3, 239247. Friedman 1986 V. Friedman: Linguistics, Nationalism, and Literary Languages: A Balkan Perspective, The Real World Linguist: Linguistic Applications in the 1980s, ed. By V. Raskin and P. Bjorkman, Norwood, NJ: Ablex, 287305. Goab 1984 Z. Goab: The Arumanian dialect of Kru{evo in SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia, Skopje. Hymes 1971 D. Hymes: The Contribution of Folklore to Sociolinguistic Research, The Journal of American Folklore 84/331, 4250. Hlavac 2006 J. Hlavac: Bilingual discourse markers: Evidence from CroatianEnglish code-switching, Journal of Pragmatics 36, 18701900.
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Kahl 2005 Th. Kahl: Offene Fragen in der Erforschung des Aromunischen und seiner Dialekte, zki i dialekt malh tni~eskih grupp na Balkanah, Sankt-Peterburg Mnhen, 155166. Koven 2001 M. Koven: Comparing bilinguals quoted performances of self and others in tellings of the same experience in two languages, Language in Society 30/4, 513558. Milosavqevi} 2004 B. Milosavqevi}: Glagolski oblik zna{ u razgovornom diskursu informatorke sa Kosova i Metohije, Izbegli~ko Kosovo, Liceum 8, Kragujevac, 139146. Milroy 2002 L. Milroy: Introduction: Mobility, contact and language change working with contemporary speech communities, Journal of Sociolinguistics 6/1, 315. PapazhshPapaqeodwrou 1996 Z. PapazhshPapaqeodwrou: Paramuqia ton blacwn, Aqhna. Papageorgiou 1984 M. Papageorgiou: Paramuqia tou blacofwou cwriou Skra, Lioumnitsa. Apo muqouj ar caiwh ellhnikwh poitikwh ergwh pou caqhkah kai alla paramuqia to u blacofwnou cwriou Skra (Liomnitsa), Qessalonikh. Petrovi} 2006 T. Petrovi}: Ideolo{ke funkcije upravnog govora u procesu zamene jezika. Primer Srba u Beloj Krajini, Ju`noslovenski filolog LXI, Beograd 2005 2006, 191211. Radi} 2005 P. Radi}: Filolo{ke bele{ke o bilingvalnom selu Stri`ilu u centralnoj Srbiji, Bawa{i na Balkanu. Identitet etni~ke zajednice, Beograd, 145173. Popvasileva 1987 A. Popvasileva: Dvojazi~no raska`uvawe na narodni prikazni (vla{ko-makedonski i makedonsko-vla{ki relacii), Skopje. Weigand 1894/95 G. Weigand: Die Aromunen III, Etnographisch Philologisch Historische Untersuchungen Uber das Volk der Sogenannten Macedo-Romunen Oder Zinzaren, Leipzig.
The field investigation of Russian villages in Romania was undertaken in the summer of 2006 in order to discover the archaic features in local folk tradition and to define the main directions of contact in the folk culture and folk language between two different ethnic groups, Russian and Romanian. Villages of Russian Old Believers (or Old Ritualists Russ. staroobrdc) on the Balkans, named Lipovans, belonging to the Orthodox Oldrite church, were in geographic, confessional and social isolation from the original Russian territory for 300 years, so people were able to keep their tradition in almost all spheres of life, including archaic folk beliefs and magic rituals. Romanian influence on local Russian folk culture and corresponding vocabulary was facilitated, on the one hand due to direct contacts between people (nowadays in mixed marriages or neighbourhood in the same village), and through the media (TV, radio etc.) and school education on the other. Lipovans speak two languages, on some occasions even in family communication. There are no Russian schools nowadays in these villages, children study Russian once a week in kindergarten, three
* This paper was written with the financial support of the foundation of the President of the Russian Federation directed to leading scientific schools (Slavnska tnolingvistika N[8344.2006.6).
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or four times a week in elementary school. Romania passed a law on education in the native language in 1949, but this law was of short duration, so that some people I spoke with during my field research had attended one or more classes in Russian many years ago. Romanian families also live in all the villages researched, most of all in Slava Rusa (half of the population); in Slava Cercheza and Jurilovca approximately a quarter are Romanians, and least of all in the great village of Sarichioi (only a few Romanian families). Lipovans note that Romanian people living in Russian villages very often speak Russian very well and when crossing from language to language they say: budu gavarit1 pa-na{imu zna~it, pa-lipavanski, S^2 I will speak in our language, that means in Lipovian. Romanian people know the ceremonies and rites of the Russian Orthodox Oldrite church and even follow them: pirikristilis, piri{li v na{u cerkf, S^ they have converted, they have joined our church, they wear the same dress as the Lipovans, and also build bath-houses in their vegetable-gardens (m ni mo`im biz na{ bani we cannot do without our bath-houses according to the observation of Russian narrators, S^). Thus we see that these contacts are very, very close. One of my informants, a Romanian, said: Without knowing two languages, you cant understand anything: Tut, esli ni znae{ dva ezka, ni mo`i{ razabrat ni~, {to gavort, patamu {t adno slova takoe, dva tova, tri tova, apt adno takoe, bol{ ni mo`{ razabrat, nima toga razgavoru, ili lipavanski bol{, ili rumnski, adno slova taka, adno taka(S). Here, if you dont know two languages, you cant understand anything thats being said. Because one word is this way, two are that way, three this way, and again one that way, you cant understand anymore, there is no such conversation, its either more Lipovian, or Romanian, one word this way, the second that way It is true for the situation within the community but it is not quite true for me as a foreigner, because nevertheless in conversation with Russian people from Russia, the Russian language is used (with some rare Romanian interpolations) and in conversation with Romanian people Romanian is used.
Here and below in this paper we mark the South-Russian sound g by g. Here and below we use the following abbreviations of the names of villages explored: S^ Russ. Slava ^erkez (Slava Cercheza), S Russ. Sarik (Rom. Sarichioi), SR Russ. Slava Rus (Rom. Slava Rusa), @ Russ. @urilovka (Rom. Jurilovca). All these villages are in the region of Tulcea, Dobrogea.
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Anna A. Plotnikova, RUSSIAN ROMANIAN CONTACTS IN FOLK CULTURE IN THE BALKANS 153
The situation of a mixture of two languages within the community is also reflected in the Lipovan folk tradition. I have noted many stories about water demons (Russian vodno) and to my question how did the vodno speak to people I heard the following confident answer: He knew all languages, spoke Russian, spoke Romanian. (Gvaril pa-na{mu. Znal use ezki, gvaril i pa-ruski, i pa-ramnski He spoke our way. He knew all languages, spoke Russian, spoke Romanian). And here is one of the stories (The fishermen caught a lot of fish that day, but they didnt burn their net as the water demon told them. The water demon was angry and turned over the whole net by causing a wind to rise): A tak skazal: Pamaite zautre stolke rb, ama daln spalit! Hto spalit daln! A gavaril: Zautre pamaite stolke vagonou rb. A {tob go, tu posudu spalili. A kak t mo`{ go spalit, tam vasimsot kilagram plas, virvk. Raserdils, a ~e mu delt. Raza dva dal vetru, pirivirnul daln i kal, dve nideli nu`n rabott nazat, apt. Nu, on sva del ispolnil. Nakazal (S) And this is what he said: Catch as many fish tomorrow, but burn the net. But who would burn their net? And he said: Tomorrow catch so many cartloads of fish. And burn the tackle. But how could you burn it, there are eight hundred kilograms of net there, rope. He was angry, what could he do. Twice, he let loose the wind, overturned the nets and sticks, it took two weeks of work to fix it. But, he had done what he said he would. He punished them. Here the narrator uses the Romanian word plasa net, this word is regularly used in everyday conversation by my narrators and in folk stories too. In another Russian folk story, the dead grandfather came to his granddaughter and said in Romanian: Ancua, s-nu spun nimeni, ca am venit, c-apoi te umor (SR). (Esli kamu-nibut ska`{, {to bl, tib ub translation by the narrators themselves. Ancua, dont tell anyone that I came, or Ill kill you.) In response to my question as to why he spoke in Romanian they said the grandfather and Ancua had spoken Romanian when he was alive. People clearly realize the difference between the two cultural systems and that is the reason for using the Ethnolinguistic Questionnaire that was created to explore Balkan dialects (published in the Small Balkan Dialect Atlas). The Questionnaire contains more than 400 questions on vocabulary and idioms in various spheres of folk traditional culture: the calendar, family customs, agricultural customs, mythology and demonology. Many of them are of universal character, but the majority comprise Balkan peculiarities in folk tradition with the corresponding vocabulary. Answers to typical Balkan questions were very often strictly determined:
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(1) We have no X, that is a Romanian custom/belief/ image (for example, an image of demons predicting fate: Rom. ursitoare) or (2) We have taken X from the Romanians, formerly we had no X. The first type of answer. (1) Question about Baba Dochia. There are many variants of this legend in Romania. The version about an old woman who went up into the mountains with her sheep, dressed in 9 coats and froze there, is the most famous one, the Russians know it very well. Baba Doki eta rumni, na{i ni sabldat ta. ta u rumn, ta 14-ga marta, kada zima borica is visno. Gavort, {o baba Doki tam nadivaet 9 ~i 12 ko`ukof, i trist imi. Baba Dochia Our people dont respect that, the Romanians do. That is with the Romanians, its on 14 March, when winter struggles with spring. They say that baba Dochia then dresses in 9 or 12 coats, and shakes them. Another interesting variant of this legend was registered during our research. U baba Doki est i druga ligenda. Doki bla sistra D~ibala. D~ibal ta bl perv car Da~ii, Rumnii. F pro{lm Rumni nazvalas Daki. I dve ts~i gadou, let nazat, D~ibal, on bl paratul, bl car Rumnii. Romni, ana nazvalas Da~i. I u nigo bla sistra. I roman, rimln, kada pri{li v Rumni, v Da~i, hateli e akupiravat, uvidali sistru etaga samag D~ibala, i glavnmu rimlnu panravilas ana, o~in panravilas. On skazal: tibe zdela caric, tolka ue``a sa mno v Rim. Ana gavarit: lu~{e privrats f kaminnu figurinu, no v Rim ne paedu. I tak prasila Boga, utikala at nigo i zalezla a` na adnu garu, i tak prasila Boga, i Bog i privratil v tu, statu. I tak gavart: Baba Dochia. U nas est babele. Munii buce. 3 Znaem m, katore u~ilis, katore ~itali. Prasto ~ilavek, esli V sprosite, znat za Baba Doki, a ligendu a ne net. At rumn znat, patamu {ta na tilivizari 8 dn napird, 8 posli gavort. There is another legend about Baba Dochia. Dochia was Decebals sister. Decebal, he was the first king of Dacia, Romania. In the past Romania was called Dachia. And two thousand years ago, Decebal, he was the emperor, he was king of Romania. Romania was called Dacia. And he had a sister. And Romanians, Romans, when they came to Romania, to Dacia, they wanted to occupy it, they saw the sister of this
3 Munii Bucegi are the famous Romanian mountains (in the form of three rocks), the origin of which is linked with the legend of Baba Dochia.
Anna A. Plotnikova, RUSSIAN ROMANIAN CONTACTS IN FOLK CULTURE IN THE BALKANS 155
Decebal, and the chief Roman took a fancy to her, he liked her very much. He said: I will make you empress, only come with me to Rome. And she says: I would rather be turned into a stone statue then go to Rome. And so she prayed to God, she fled from him and went into a mountain, and so she prayed to God, and God turned her into that statue. And so they say: Baba Dochia. With us its the old women. Bucegi Mountains. We who have studied about it, read about it, know. If you ask a simple man about Baba Dochia, he will have heard about her but not about her legend. And the Romanians know because on TV they talk about it eight days previously and eight days after. The second type of answer. (2) Question about Romanian ritual protective adornment marior. Na pervg marta fsk ~ilavek, fsk ribnak nosit marti{or. On 1st of March, every man, every child wears a marior (And what about your grandmothers? Authors question.) Esli nivestka privizt, e mamic, marti{or tibe pricept. Nost. Visenni simvl. Netu nikakova zna~eni. A u rumn mat zna~enie: bel virov~ka adno, krasn drugoe. If the wife brings it, or the father, he will tie a marior on you. They wear it. A symbol of spring. It has no meaning. And with the Romanians it has a meaning: the white thread means one thing, the red another (And what is your kind of this thing?) Nosim krasninkie i belinkie, piraplitne. Nu, {to-nibud tam, serca, konik, cvito~ik, parahodik. We wear red and white, intertwined. Well, something like, a heart, a pony, a little flower, a little boat (S^). The situation is the same with the formal influence on winter calendar ceremonies at Christmas and New Year. Da, da, vot praznavt Nov got, praznavt kaldu rumnsku colind. I na primer, i ne use praznuvt Nov got rumnski: 31-go dikabr malad{ praznuvet. Ni safsem m malad{, ha~u skazat, m prihvatili u`, ta delaim. A kalidu ni sablda. K min, kagda deti prihodt, gavar: Izvinite, deti, v ~ pri{li? A zautra `e Ra`stvo, 25-go dekabr. gavar: V ne papali f to dom. Prihadite 7-go nvar, vas primu. eto ne pa~ita. Ani gavort: Primii cu colindul? gavar: Ne, v ne papali f to dom, von tam colind est. A u nas tam rumn adin `ivt Yes, yes, they celebrate the New Year, they celebrate the Romanian colind. And, for instance, not everyone celebrates the Romanian New Year: on 31st December the young people celebrate. We who are quite young, I mean to say, we have accepted it, we do it. And I dont celebrate colind. With me,
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when the children come, I say: Excuse me, children, why have you come? Well, its Christmas tomorrow, 25th December. And I say: You havent come to the right house. Come on January seventh, I will see you then. I do not celebrate this They say: Can we come to you to make colind? And I say: No, you havent come to the right house, look there is colind over there. And there is only one Romanian living among us (S^). So on 25th of December Russian and Romanian children go with colind and on the 14th of January, at the Russian New Year, more Russian and some Romanian children go together from house to house and recite: Se-ve, pasiva, s Novm godm prazdravl I sow, I snow, I sow, I wish you a happy New Year in the village of Slava Cercheza. Question about the wedding ceremony, specifically about the wedding tree: Praznvat lku na ftaro den svadb, i s lko idut pa silu. Na ftaro den svadb rubt kusok lki i nari`at i tam lentmi, kala~ami, i kanfetmi, i idut pa silu i s lk tancut. ta rumnski ab~a, ni na{. The fir-tree is celebrated on the second day of the wedding, they take the tree around the village. On the second day of the wedding they cut off a part of the fir-tree and decorate it with ribbons, cakes and sweets and they go around the village, dancing with the fir-tree. This is a Romanian custom, not ours. (C^). This Romanian wedding ceremony is carried out in some Lipovan villages, more often in cases of mixed marriages. The processes of simplifying and modernizing family ceremonies are interpreted by narrators as being a Romanian influence as well. I malad{ tiper i svadbu vzli at rumn. And the young people have now also taken over the wedding from the Romanians (And what have they taken over?) Gult adin den, gult usi zaraz. They celebrate for one day, they all celebrate together (S); I kradvt maladu va vrem svadb, vozt i gde-nibud, na diskateku, stanovt na stol, ana tancuet na stale. A patom malado vkuplet e, dat tam pivo, {ampanskoe... And they steal the bride during the wedding, they take her somewhere, to a club, put her on a table, she dances on the table. And then the bridegroom buys her back, pays for the beer there, champagne (S^). The same situation can be observed in birth rituals. Simplification and modernization are universal features in this sphere as well: Ran{ mu{~in ni prihadili na radinu, tiper prihodt, `nin i mu{~in gult, tada gavarili, ~i greh, ~i {o, {to plaha primeta, esli ribnk narodica i budet garmon igrat, i gult, kak na svadbe. Nada, {tob tiha bulo i spakon. Before, men
Anna A. Plotnikova, RUSSIAN ROMANIAN CONTACTS IN FOLK CULTURE IN THE BALKANS 157
didnt attend the birth, and now they come, women and men celebrate, it used to be said that it was a sin, that it was something, that it was a bad sign if a child was born and there was an accordion playing, and they make merry just like at a wedding. It should be quiet and peaceful (S). The Romanian influence on ceremonies of birth is also evident: I tiper, kagda got ribnk ispolnica, ani berut vuot luare din mo, kak b re`ut vols i prihodt svat, {to krsne, krsne prihodt i gult apt. A eta at rumn vzli, at rumnev vzli. And now, when the child is one year old, they take luare din mo they cut the hair, and guests come, godfathers, godfathers come and make merry again. And they have taken this from the Romanians, taken it from the Romanians (S). Luare din mo. P{ku delali. Berut tu p{ku, razlamvt i Re`it krsna valos, kladt manetu kladt razne igru{ki, karanda{i, ~ego on vberit ditnk, ~ego on vberit. Ani u` dumat vberit karanda{, on budet u~n, i kni{ku, to` budet u~n. Malad{ tiper delaet tak. At rumn. Luare din mo. They make a bread roll. They take a bread roll, break it in half The godfather cuts the hair, places a coin places various toys, pens, what the child chooses, what it chooses. They already think if it chooses a pen, it will be a scholar, and a book, it could be a scholar. Thats what the young people do now. From the Romanians (S). This rite is carried out not only in mixed families but in Russian families also where both mother and father are Russian Lipovans. The process of influence is easier in the case of close or similar structural links in cultural and confessional systems. This is the situation with celebrating Easter in Christian Orthodox tradition: In the Romanian ritual, bread cozonac replaced Russian ritual bread paska: Nu, a tiperi~a i na Pasku u`e deti da`e ni znat, {to t paska, panimaite. Ni gavort: mama budet pe~ pasku; mama pikt cozonac, panimaite? Patirls ta slova paska. Well, and at Easter now too the children dont know any more what the paska is, you see. They dont say: mother will bake the paska, mother bakes cozonac, you see? The word paska has been lost. Women bake this bread the Romanian way: in the form of a thick oblong braid with candied fruits (formerly it was a round loaf as in Russia). The same may be observed in popular mythology, as far as the common old European idea of a snake living in the house is concerned, Romanian arpele de casa is interpreted as zme domova instead of Southern Russian and Western Russian dvorova zme, and both terms exist now. Rapprochement of beliefs of different people (nationalities)
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about a snake that protects the house is reflected in the exchange of information between neighbours. A woman whom I talked to explained such beliefs about a house-snake through her contact with a Romanian woman who had showed her in a corner of the basement of her house a snake rolled up on the carpet (litter), she had touched the snake with her hand and said in Romanian: Nu face nimic, e arpele de casa. These words were interpreted in the following way: t zna~it zmi damava, ana ni~igo ni zdelaet. This means its a house snake, it wont do anything. The narrator also stated her own opinion on this subject: Dvaravo kak zme adin bl f hati. I kagda vzlbit kaku skatinu, kakog kan, i kos~ki pll im, vs, a drugo, ni lbit kako, to pagibal. Vot tak nazvali dvaravo. zna, {to est dvarave takie, {to fski ~ilavek imeet u sibe dvaravu zmi. Ni vidit fsk, a ana est u ~ilaveka, est, dvarava. Vet ana kak adna hazka, hazka domu Dvaravoj is like a snake that was in the house. And if it grew to like a domestic animal, a horse, it would plait its mane, everything, and another, if it didnt like it, that animal would die. There, thats how they called it the Dvaravoj. I know that such Dvaravojs exist, that everyone has a house snake. Not everyone sees it, but it exists with the person, it exists, the house (snake). Its like a housewife, the mistress of the house. (@). Similar beliefs about a snake in the house are well known in Southern Russian and Western Russian regions. In some cases we can observe cultural cross-coding transitions and their reflection on the language. One of my narrators, a Russian woman, had some problems with her daughters unhappy marriage, and a house demon in the form of a little man began to visit her at nights and pull her under the bed: lampatik zasvit, a on min tnet, tnet pat kravat I turn on the lamp, and he is pulling me, pulling me there under the bed (Who was it? Who is pulling you?) ta sam, dvol, gavorim i damavo na nigo, i domestic The very devil, we also call him damavoj, and domestic (SR). The term Domestic is her own translation into Romanian. Corneliu Popescu, a Romanian from the village of Sarichioi, gave his own observation of a demon, originating from a dead man: Upr prosta i na ramnskom, i zdes ta galava ~alave~. I no~u vot id{, i on tibe na darogi vleca. ^alave~ galava bez ni~avo, tolka moroi. in limba romina v-spunem moroi, in limba locala upr. Moroi vine de la cuvintu mort, care muril, {to pamr. A vampire is simply both in Romanian and here it is a mans head. And you are walking at night, and it appears before you on the road. A mans head without anything else, only the moroi in Romanian we say moroi,
Anna A. Plotnikova, RUSSIAN ROMANIAN CONTACTS IN FOLK CULTURE IN THE BALKANS 159
and in the local language upir. Moroi, comes from the word died, one who has died, one who has died. (S). And then my question was: And what about vedma (witch) in Romanian? His answer: Vedma vrajituare. V na{im sile kamu ska`u, {t ta vedma. A f drugom sile ni panimat, ani znat vrajituare. A witch is called vrajituare. In our village if I tell someone that means a witch. And in another village, they dont understand, they know vrajituare. (S). The influence under consideration is not the same in all Russian villages. But there are constant components in this process. Funeral ceremonies are hardly subject to Romanian influence,4 elements of living tradition in wedding and birth ceremonies are sometimes borrowed together with the corresponding term (Rom. luare din mo), and sometimes without a term (Russ. lka instead of Rom. brad, bradul). Borrowings in calendar customs are not numerous, but corresponding calendar terms are also borrowed (Rom. colind in the meaning of song, Christmas custom; Rom. marior, cozonac). Russians are only aware of non-native images from the sphere of demonology, but do not borrow them, and this is a common process for both communities. Rom. ursitoare, baba Dochia, babele are alien images for Russians in Dobrogea, and, for example, Russ. dvorovik, domovik are alien mythological components for Romanians in spite of their close contact with Russians: A-a dvaravik eta go ni vidil. Fse gavort, no on bl bol{ dl pristra{ki Ah, dvaravik I never saw him. Everyone talks about it, but he was more for scaring (people/children) with (S) this is the answer of a Romanian narrator; while for Russian Old Ritualists in Dobrogea domovik, dvorovik as house demons are absolutely living traditions, and a great deal of folk stories about their appearance were registered.
4 Even nowadays graves of Old Ritualists in cemeteries have no signs at all; there is only grass on the graves in the Russian part of cemetery.
Nos observations se basent sur trois types de parlers balkano-romans en Bulgarie actuelle, deux dentre eux relevent du daco-roumain, le troisieme de laroumain. Les dialectes daco-roumains sont parles par les habitants des villages dans la region de Vidin et Nicopol (les Valaques), situes au Sud du Danube, et par la population tzigane du village de Kroucheto (les Roudares) dans la region de Veliko Tarnovo. Le parler aroumain est represente dans certaines localites (Pechtera, Dorkovo, Rakitovo) de la partie occidentale des Rhodopes. Les locuteurs de ces trois dialectes romans sont bilingues, mais etant de confession chretienne-orthodoxe, ils font preuve de monoculturalisme. Bien quils ne soient installes en Bulgarie que depuis 100 150 annees, ils sont bien integres dans la societe bulgare grace a leur education, aux mariages mixtes, a leur participation active a la vie economique et politique, etc. La population dexpression romane en Bulgarie nest pas autochtone elle sy est installee suite a differentes migrations des la seconde moitie du XVIIIe s. a partir de leurs contrees autochtones :
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les Valaques, originaires des regions Nord-Danubiennes, parlent un dialecte montenien du daco-roumain et se situent dans une continuite geographique et linguistique avec la Roumanie ; les Tziganes Roudares, emigres eux aussi de Roumanie, a cause de leur mode de vie nomade dans le passe, ont introduit dans leur parler un certain nombre de traits des parlers de Montenie, Krichana (roum. Criana) et du Banat ; les Aroumains des Rhodopes occidentaux, provenant principalement de la ville de Gramoste (situee dans les ramifications septentrionales de la montagne de Pindos) en Grece, ainsi que ceux de la ville de Voskopoja (Moskopolis) en Albanie du Sud et de la ville de Krouchevo en Macedoine, parlent le dialecte septentrional de laroumain.1 Lobjectif de cet article est : 1) dindiquer les traits qui leur sont propres vis-a-vis des autres dialectes de meme parente ; 2) danalyser letat des balkanismes en comparaison avec les dialectes balkaniques isoles non-romans ; 3) devaluer la sensibilite du systeme linguistique a leffet du bilinguisme.
1. Les phonemes
Les trois types de dialectes connaissent le balkanisme le plus marquant, a savoir la reduction des voyelles atones : chez les Valaques dumati, patladjeni, treburili, slaninili, coastili (Nestorescu 1998: 138, 146, 147, 158) ; laptili (Margarit, Neagoe 2000: 16), oamini (tN) chez les Roudares fetili, oili (tKr.) ; chez les Aroumains multi, alti, murar, ubuari (P./B.) Dans la mesure ou les dialectes en question relevent des parlers monteniens du daco-roumain et des parlers aroumains du type A (dapres la classification de M. Caragiu-Marioeanu 1997: XIX), cette reduction ne represente rien de particulier. Un phenomene proche de la reduction la chute des voyelles non-accentuees (ou la syncope) qui est caracteristique de laroumain, est aussi atteste dans le parler des Roudares : cf. aroum. ar(u)man, m(u)at, viin(u)lu ; et chez les Roudares neamur(i)li, lingur(i)li, piznar < buzunar (tKr).
1 La description du temps et des lieux dapparition des dialectes, objet de notre interet, sappuie sur des etudes bien connues, essentiellement celles de G. Weigand (cf. les references chez Aleksova 2004: 127134).
Ainsi, les deux parlers sintercalent dans la continuite de laire balkanique de la syncope qui commence avec les dialectes de lAlbanie Centrale, setend a travers les parlers grecs septentrionaux et les parlers bulgares du Bas-Vardar (les regions des villes de Guevgueli, Koukouch / Kilkis, Voden / Lerine) pour atteindre la region des villes de Charmanli et Chaskovo dans le Sud-Est de la Bulgarie (Holiol~ev 1969: 30), par ex. :
alb. bag(e)tin(e), ak(u)lli, flut(u)ra (Gjinari 1970: 3637) gr. boulkoj < bolikoj, mdoul < medouli (Papadopouloj 1926: 1316, Newton 1972: 182) bulg. dunsu < donesu, loztu < lozeto, banca < banica, rapt < rabota (D. Ivanov, St. Romanski, V. Drumev sur Bas-Vardar, cites chez Holiol~ev 1969).
Par consequent, nous pouvons penser a une glosse balkanique meridionale de la syncope. Le systeme des sons des dialectes en question presente des phenomenes qui meritent detre specialement mentionnes. 1) Le melange des voyelles moyennes a et i, qui caracterise laroumain septentrional, est egalement atteste en Bulgarie. Cependent, leur distribution dans les parlers des Rhodopes nous fait penser quil sagit de deux allophones facultatifs, cf. vatamara ils tuerent, vi uiri il jouera, gaidi cornemuse, meturi balai (les exemples sont tires des textes enregistres par Katia Atanassova en aout 1994); katri, houra / hoari (P./B. 119, 120). Cette opposition instable nest-elle pas due a un rapprochement du nivellement des deux voyelles en aroumain meridional ? 2) Dans le parler des Roudares on observe un phenomene pareil a la transition j (`) > z et ({) > s, tres caracteristique du dialecte des Banja{i en Serbie (et dautres dialectes daco-roumains) et qui ont ete analyses dune faon approfondie par O. Hede{an (Hede{an 2005: 3742). Il sagit des formes comme zoc, zoaci, zos, azuti, azunji, vrazator medecin ; usa, camasa au lieu de jos, joace, ajute, ajunge, vrajitor magicien, ua, camaa (tKr). (Chez les Roudares, le passage inverse est aussi possible : s > : bierica, tea au lieu de biserica, stea.) Le passage des prepalatales aux sifflantes, ainsi que les cas de metatheses crapa/capra ; batir, batirn/batrin (tKr) chez les Roudares, observes aussi chez les Banja{i (Hede{an 2005: 43) sont deux phenomenes qui plaident en faveur de la supposition que les deux groupes de Tziganes dexpression roumaine avaient eu autrefois une vie en commun.
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3) Dans tous ces parlers sous linfluence bulgare, la consonne l a perdu son caractere roman dorso-apical et ne differe plus du l bulgare coronal. Le meme changement a ete subi par les parlers grecs en Bulgarie (Asenova 1993: 184185). En revanche, les parlers bulgares en Roumanie ont adopte, dans certains cas, la faon roumaine de prononcer la consonne l (Mladenov 1993: 329).
2) La morpho-syntaxe
2.1. Les noms Dans les parlers isoles, certaines tendances de la langue-mere saverent souvent plus developpees. Cest le cas de lanalytisme. Les dialectes roumains en Bulgarie preferent les constructions prepositives avec la / a pour exprimer la possession et lobjet indirect au lieu des constructions casuelles. Parfois, les deux sont employees en parallele :
i pe urma parini la copil sa duc sa spuie la parini fetii ; ei predlojesc la parin. E datoria la femei, la gospodina casei sa faca o piine (V. Nestorescu 1998: 120, 123) mama la doi copii ; am spus la prieteni en face de fratele lu tate, colacul cemelei ; Najunge banii la lume; Pensia la lumea noastra e mica. (tN); racovoditel la ansambal, zicem na bulgari en face de ara lu turcilor, barbatu fetii
Dans les memes cas, le dialecte grec septentrional des Karakatchans emploie aussi des constructions analytiques. La situation aroumaine semble surprenante: lobjet indirect et la possession sexprime seulement par des constructions casuelles :
soia a featiei ; dzisi a katrei, deadira a padurloru foc (P./B. 125, 127).
Ce parler ne connait meme pas les constructions analytiques qui, soumises a certaines restrictions, sont attestees en aroumain meridional dans la montagne de Pindos (Sobolev 2005: 191, 192), les constructions du type casa a viinlu (P./B. 120), etant sporadiques. Linfluence du bulgare Linterference du bulgare dans le systeme de la langue est restreinte. Elle est presentee par deux phenomenes communs a tous les dialectes : lexpression du superlatif absolu a laide du gradant calque sur le bulgare mnogo beaucoup (mult au lieu de foarte en daco-roumain) :
mult greu, mult frumos, mult e bolnav (V. Nestorescu 1998: VIII) ; mult bine, mult frumos, mult bun (tN) ;
cf. chez les Banja{i en Serbie mare bolnaua, mari bani calque dapres veliki grand (Hede{an 2005: 44)
multu strimbu, multa buna (P./B. 121)
(Dans ce cas, nous pouvons supposer aussi quune tendance heritee du latin se trouve soutenue par le bilinguisme romano-bulgare.) La formation du superlatif relatif dans le parler des Tziganes-Roudares a laide de la particule bulgare na rappelle laisance avec laquelle le romani balkanique emprunte des formants pareils a ceux des langues du milieu dans lequel il evolue mai en Roumanie, po et na en Bulgarie, cf. a Kroucheto al na bitir = cel mai batran (tKr) en romani de Bulgarie po-{ukar bori, naj-{ukar bori (la) plus belle jeune mariee (Kostov, Iliev 2004: 96). Dans ce dernier village, la phrase comparative se construit a laide de la preposition da (= de), preposition qui dans la meme fonction correspond a la preposition bulgare ot, au lieu de decit: Mai mult credeam da bulgari. Nous sommes plus croyants que les Bulgares.; Mai mult tii da copiii da bulgari. Ils savent / connaissent plus de choses que les enfants des Bulgares.(tKr). Ce phenomene est egalement connu en aroumain avec la preposition di.- et la disparition des pronoms de politesse, par ex. Voi gandii ca au lieu de Dumneavoastra gandii ca (V.- Nestorescu 1998: VII). On peut sinterroger si le changement relatif a lordre des mots releve de linterference dans la langue ou interference dans la parole : celui-ci est superficiel dans le systeme, mais suffisamment affirme dans la parole. Il sagit dun contraste avec les langues romanes le determinant est precede par le determine (comme en bulgare) :
armasu i asudatu omu, rai katri, estu omu, anei parini = parinii mei, mate casuri, mari ubuari, na hoara = satul meu, astu permislu = aceasta povestire, anoti armin (P./B. 119, 120, 121).
De exemples de ce type en aroumain de Bulgarie lemportent sur des exemples tels que istoria vargareasca (P./B. 121). Cet ordre des mots, caracteristique du grec aussi, nous conduirt a penser a une possible influence grecque, bien que nous nayons trouve aucun phenomene de ce type signale dans la partie consacree a lordre des mots en aroumain de Pindos de la recente etude de Bara, Kahl, Sobolev (2005, cf. Pordok slov). Mais on rencontre quand meme des constructions comme aroa meari, a moins quelle nimite le modele propose kokkina mhla (Bara, Kahl, Sobolev 2005: 275).
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2.2. Le verbe Deux balkanismes verbaux se manifestent dans ces dialectes : la vivacite de laoriste, archaisme conserve de lindo-europeen, et la formation du futur, une innovation balkanique. Lemploi de laoriste dans le parler aroumain des Rhodopes ne secarte pas de la frequence habituelle qui place laroumain des contrees autochtones dans laire balkanique ou laoriste est dominant par rapport au parfait. En effet, laoriste est le temps principal dans le recit du passe qui equivaut a perfectul compus en roumain. Selon V. Nestorescu, le parler de Vidin privilegie perfectul simplu (Nestorescu 1998: VII), mais dans les enregistrements realises par M. Budi dans la meme region, perfectul compus est aussi bien represente (Budi 2001). Certains occurrences permettent daffirmer que le parfait (perfectul compus) est employee pour exprimer des proces, tandis que laoriste (perfectul simplu) et surtout le present sont utilises pour decrire des actions plus concretes :
am visat (parfait) noaptea ca de la o ploaie rea s-a inecat (parfait) o femeie ma deteptai (aor.) i spusei (aor.) ca o sa aiba necazuri (V.Budi 2001: 296).
Cette nuit jai vu dans mon sommeil quune femme setait noyee dans une pluie mechante je me suis reveille et jai dit quil allait y avoir des ennuis.
Aici a fost (parfait) i magazii multe de grau A scris (parfait) la toata magazia Naul popii. Vin (pres.) romanii Scrie (pres.) la toata lumea Nau al popii (V.- Budi 2001: 185).
Ici, il y a eu aussi beaucoup dentrepots de grains. On a ecrit sur chaque entrepot Natsul du pope. Viennent les Roumains. On ecrit a tout le monde Natsu du pope. Dupa ce trece (pres.) la bataia dogoru ala cu San Stefano a spus (parfait) (V.- Budi 2001: 185). Apres le deroulement (de la bataille), le traite avec San Stefano a stipule Dans le parler des villages de la region de Nicopol, les deux temps du passe sont en opposition fonctionnelle laoriste exprime des actions recentes par rapport a lacte denonciation, par ex. cum va spusai adinenea ; nali va spusai, tandis que le parfait decrit des evenements plus eloignes par rappport a ce moment (Margarit, Neagoe 2000: 1027), par ex. i-a facut sala, cum spusei, din leamne i a trecut la deal. (V.- Budi 2001: 314). Mais dans le village de Baical, qui na pas fait lobjet dinvestigations par les chercheuses roumaines, nous avons constate un emploi frequent de laoriste, meme pour exprimer des evenements plus eloignes,
par ex. multa ploaie fusa ; pierduram vorba cu iei ; pe urma namaliram (< bulg. namal/namalvam) et apres, nous diminuames(tN). Dans le parler des Tziganes-Roudares, seul le parfait (perfectul compus) est utilise. Les formes du futur sont des formes attendues: Dans les parlers des Valaques de la region de Vidin et des Tziganes -Roudares, il nous semble qu une seule forme est employee : o sa + conj. present, par ex. o sa aiba, o sa fie (V.- Budi 2001: 296, 236), O sa-i intorc la Patile Cailor (V. Nestorescu 1998: 153) ; o sa zaracesc (< bulg. zar~am / zar~vam) je commenderai (tKr). Dans le parler aroumain des Rhodopes les formes du futur et du conditionnel sont du type septentrional: la forme du futur conserve le morpheme conjonctif sa (disparu en aroumain de Sud) : va s cadz tu tomberas, va t-sa dau je te donnerai (tRh), nu va s-mi ia (P./B. 122) ; le conditionnel se forme a partir de limparfait du verbe auxiliaire volo: Vrea s-moara di foame. Cindu earam la mari, vrea s-cadu, S-aveam lucrata, vrea s-amintu (tRh). Dans les localites des Rhodopes, cest la forme unique du conditionnel qui est utilisee, il est isomorphe avec le conditionalis irrealis du bulgare du type h da padna qui existe dans les parlers grecs du littoral bulgare de la mer Noire (Asenova 1993: 185).
3. Linterference (le bulgare langue-source)
3. 1. Phenomenes attestes dans les autres parlers balkaniques Les interferences dans les parlers romans en Bulgarie feront objet dune etude speciale. Nous nous bornerons ici a signaler certaines observations plus generales. Linterference dans la langue ici, comme dans les autres dialectes balkaniques isoles (Asenova 1993, Asenova 2001, Asenova 2005), de meme que partout ou le bilinguisme existe, touche primordialement au niveau du lexique et se manifeste par des emprunts faits a la langue du milieu (le bulgare dans notre cas). Ces emprunts sont lies a la vie contemporaine socio-politique et culturelle. Leur aspect etranger est neutralise a laide des morphemes de la langue maternelle : am reit, smenesc, spomenesc Les moyens les plus efficaces de ladaptation grammaticale sont les determinants, tels que les articles et les elements deictiques. Un seul exemple curieux : le lexeme bulgare etant accepte dans sa forme determinee, se voit determine par des moyens aroumains cf. cind eara s-hiba bulcata di largu et Di sara eara la bulcata-clo durnea (P./B. 118).
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On trouve encore des emprunts dans un groupe lexical considere resistant a linfluence etrangere les noms de parente indiquant une relation directe, tels que: aroum. afendi, male (employes aussi comme appelatifs, par ex. Unu dzisi: lele, male / Altu dzise: lel, fende chant populaire cite par P./B. 138). Ici, egalement dans les parlers bulgares isoles en Albanie (Asenova 2001: 164), et dans les villages valaques de la region de Nicopol, la denomination empruntee est rendue alternativement par les denominations heritees de la langue-mere, cf. aroum. Male, mi tai.. maman, coupe-moi et dans le meme texte Ma-sa-i dzisi sa mere lui a dit (P./B. 122) ; diado a cote de bit, bunic, baba et bunica, cicio (tN). Dans le parler des Tziganes-Roudares on trouve le calque preamoal meu dapres le bulgare praddo ariere-grand-pere au lieu du roum. stramo. Dans les parlers romans, les cas de melange des codes (code-mixing) et dalternance des codes (code-switching) observes dans les autres dialectes balkaniques isoles, ne manquent pas. On peut voir un signe clair que la competence dans la langue maternelle commence a sattenuer dans le melange emblematique des codes (emblematic code-switching) des mots non rattaches a la structure syntaxique (tags) de lenonce, non diriges (ungouverned) par les restrictions du melange, tels que les interjections, les adverbes, les particules interrogatives, sintercalent facilement dans la phrase (Appel, Muysken 1992: 124) :
Oba~e carne nu mancam pan-la Pati. (138) i face sobe, sobele sant pornite, zna~e. (166) are tingere frumoasa ili noua (129) Bine ma, cand s-a dus intr-un sat (87) Voi ave ceva protiv treburili atia (124) (V. Nestorescu 1998) ; Dali eti viu, dali eti mort. Dali te saturi, dali nu te saturi nali e mai batrin. nali va spusai emi nevasta e bulgaroaica zna~i ca voi nu va intoarcei da`e baiatu lu cmetu (tN).
Nous pouvons affirmer que le melange emblematique des codes confere un caractere universel aux langues en situation de bilinguisme. Dans les groupes syntaxiques dependents (les cas de government selon Appel, Muysken 1992: 125), le melange des codes est generalement restreint. Nous avons constate cependant que cette restriction est tres souvent eliminee dans le groupe predicatif, tout comme dans les parlers grecs isoles en Bulgarie (Asenova 1993: 189), cf. : Sintem aicia rodeni. Este puin izmislen (tN). 3. 2. Phenomenes specifiques Linterference au niveau de la semantique grammaticale se manifeste par les phenomenes suivants :
certains verbes actifs se transforment en verbes medio-passifs (reflexifs) calquant le modele des verbes respectifs bulgares : chez les Aroumains nu ti ridi feati nici = ne se sme, mala mome (chant de noces, enregistre par Katia Atanasova); chez les Valaques ne radem = smeem se (tV, tN) ; chez les Tziganes-Roudares ne muncim = trudim se (tKr) ; lexpression de lexistence a laide des verbes avoir ou etre dapres le modele bulgare : v. avoir au lieu du v. etre : aroum. Avea un kiro doi so = roum. Erau intr-un timp doi prieteni (P./B. 120) ; Avea muncitori saraci in Romania., La noi acuma ari o orba (tKr). v. etre au lieu du avoir : Sint 56 de ani ; 44 de ani sint ; la cii ani eti? (tN) ; dans les villages de la region de Nicopol on ne recourt pas souvant au redoublement de lobjet dans les cas ou ce phenomene est obligatoire en roumain : i pa iel il darete ca pe nau On lui offre un cadeau comme au parrain/temoin. On peut supposer quil sagit dune influence du bulgare. En effet, on nobserve pas de cas danticipation pronominale dans le parler des Aroumains en Rhodopes, phenomene caracteristique du bulgare litteraire : Napirtica dzisei a katrei = Vipera ii zise pietrei. (P./B. 120), mais dans les cas de lordre subjectif des mots Numta o faeam ace (P./B. 118).
4. Linterference (le bulgare langue-cible)
Les particularites dans le bulgare des locuteurs de differents dialectes balkaniques navaient jamais fait lobjet de recherches speciales. Ce manque dinteret est du au fait que les sujets dorigine non bulgare maitrisent le bulgare litteraire mieux que le parler maternel. Nous avons constate, quand meme, des changements dans le bulgare en tant que langue-cible de l'interference. Le changement le plus frequent est de nature syntaxique et concerne lordre des mots les clitiques apparaissent au commencement de la phrase, par ex.
aroum. Mu dade ~etiri katra, tovareni ss zlato. Se naplni ~erkvata s hora. T reve boli. (enregistrement de Katia Atanasova) ; Si vidl, bre? (tN)
Nous avons apperu un emploi incorrect de laspet verbal qui apparait rarement : Ne mo`eh da kazvam (au lieu de ka`a) nikakva duma. Ieu Blgari n-o am aa ca, nu pot s-o da priemam (au lieu de priema) kato taka, mo krvna dr`ava. (tN).
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Rappelons que les locuteurs romans en Bulgarie bien que bilingues, font preuve de monoculturalisme. Dans ce qui suit, nous souhaitons attirer lattention sur les cas ou le melange de cultures a trouve une expression linguistique. Les denominations des fetes orthodoxes et les noms des saints chez les Valaques de la region sud-danubienne apparaissent sous une double forme : latine et bulgare. On rencontre par ex. Sin Medru Saint Demetrius, Sinta Marie Sainte Marie, Sami, Sin Vasii Saint Basile a cote de Sveti Gheorghe = bulg. Sveti Georgi Saint Georges, Sveti Duh = bulg. Sveti Duh Saint Esprit. Chez les Aroumains qui ont vecu suffisamment longtemps parmi les Grecs, on constate la co-existence de lheritage latin Sunketru / Sunkietru Saint Pierre, Stimarie mare / Stimarie e mari litt. Sainte Marie la Grande (c-a-d lAssomption fetee le 15 aout), Stimarie nici/ Stimarie e nici litt. Sainte Marie la Petite (La fete de la Nativite, le 08 septembre) et demprunts faits au grec, tels que Tafota / Tafoti/Foti, (gr. Ta Fwta) Epiphanie, Vanghelizmo, (gr. Euaggelismoj) Annonciation, Vailu, (gr. Ta Bagia) Dimanche des Rameaux, Paques fleuries, Stivrulu, (gr. stauroj croix) Le jour de la Sainte Croix, ainsi que des hybrides romano-grecs, tels que Iutodorlu = Agioj Qeodwroj Saint Theodore, Iiorghe / Iuori = Agioj Gewrgioj Saint Georges, Iudimitri = Agioj Dhmhtrioj Saint Demetrius, Iminazi = Agioj Mhnaj, Iumihail = Agioj Micahloj Saint Michel. Sur ce melange se sont superposes probablement par la suite des elements bulgares tels que Eanevden = Enovden / Tiiani La fete de Saint Jean et des calques faits au bulgare Stivinerea = Sveta Petka, Babili sirbitoari = Babini dni, Sirbitori di luk = Vl~i praznici, etc. Les denominations des mois refletent la transhumance pratiquee par les Aroumains et qui les a mis en contact avec toutes les populations des Balkans. Elles permettent de situer laroumain au sein de laire balkanique ou les noms des mois puisent leurs sources dans les activites agricoles saisonnieres et les particularites de son atmosphere (Asenova 2001: 165). Cette aire balkanique comprend le grec, lalbanais et les dialectes bulgares du Nord-Ouest, du Sud-Ouest et du Sud Sud-Est (Zaimov 1954). On y trouve des denominations dorigine latine florar (parallelement avec mai(u)lu) mai et brumarlu novembre (cf. fr. brumaire), des calques du grec sinmedrulu octobre (chez les Karakatchans aidmitr(i)s), c.-a-d. Saint Demetrius, undreaua / indrei decembre (chez les Karakatchans
andrias), c.-a-d. Saint Andre (cf. Hoeg 1926: 201) ainsi que des emprunts curtu / curtulu < alb. shkurt fevrier et flivar < gr. populaire Flebarhj, ciriar juin< bulg. dial. ~ere{ar c.-a-d. le mois des cerises, lunarlu juillet < gr. chez les Karakatchans alunars < alwnh aire, c.-a-d. le mois du battage.
Nos conclusions
Nos observations prouvent que les parlers romans sur le territoire bulgare ne presentent pas de particularites qui les distinguent des dialectes auxquels ils appartiennent. Certaines differences constatees entre les parlers de la region de Vidin et de Nicopol ne vont pas a lencontre de cette conclusion principale. La realisation des balkanismes tels que lemploi de laoriste, les formes du futur et du conditionnel, etc. correspond a son etat dans les dialectes monteniens du daco-roumain et en aroumain de Nord. Nous ne supposons pas que linterference avec le bulgare ait joue un role decisif. Parmi les parlers, objet de notre interet, laroumain est le mieux etudie dans sa diffusion generale et moins dans son etat actuel en Bulgarie. Les parlers des Valaques sud-danubiens sont aussi bien etudies, principalement par les linguistes roumains. Sur ce fond, le parler des Tziganes semble neglige par la linguistique romane, les Tziganes -memes faisant lobjet de linteret des tziganologues, surtout du point de vue ethnographique. Dapres nous, les parlers romans en Bulgarie demandent des etudes comparatives dans le cadre des etudes sur les autres dialectes balkaniques pratiques en milieu linguistique etranger. Ce nest que de cette faon que les processus communs du melange des codes dus au bilinguisme, le degre de maitrise du parler maternel par les sujets de differentes couches sociales, etc., pourront etre evalues.
Abreviations
P./B. Popescu, R., T. Balkanski 1995 Aromanii din Rodopii Bulgariei i graiul lor. Craiova. tRh = nos enregistrements sur le terrain de la montagne des Rhodopes tN = nos enregistrements sur le terrain de la region de Nicopol tKr = enregistrements de notre etudiante Teodora Dontcheva sur le terrain du village de Kroucheto.
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Bibliographie
Asenova 1993 P. Asenova: Le grec en Bulgarie, Linguistique balkanique XXXVI, 3, Sofia, 179191. Asenova 2001 P. Asenova: Les interferences dans le dialecte de Golo Bardo Albanie. Was ich noch sagen wollte A multilingual Festschrift for Norbert Boretzky on occasion of his 65th birthday, Berlin. Akademie Verlag, 157177. Appel, Muysken 1992 R. Appel, P. Muysken: Language Contact and Bilingualism, London New York Melbourne Auckland. Bara, Kahl, Sobolev 2005 M. Bara, Th. Kahl, A. Sobolev: Die sudarumunische Mundart von Turia (Pindus), Munchen. Budi 2001 M. Budi: Comunitatea romaneasca de pe Valea Timocului bulgaresc, Bucureti. Caragiu-Marioeanu 1997 M. Caragiu-Marioeanu: Dicionar aroman (macedo-vlah), Bucureti, DIARO. Gjinari 1970 Gj. Gjinari: Dialektologjia shqiptare, Prishtine. Hede{an 2005 O. Hede{an: Jedan teren Tre{njevica u dolini Morave, Bawa{i na Balkanu. Identitet etni~ke zajednice, Beograd, 13106. Margarit, Neagoe 2000 I. Margarit, V. Neagoe: Cercetari asupra graiurilor romaneti vorbite in nord-estul Bulgariei (regiunea Loveci), Cercetari asupra graiurilor romaneti de peste hotare, Bucureti. Newton 1972 B. Newton: The Generative Interpretation of Dialect. A Study of Modern Greek Phonology, Cambridge University Press. Nestorescu 1998 V. Nestorescu: Rominii Timoceni din Bulgaria, Bucureti. Popescu, Balkanski 1995 R. Popescu, T. Balkanski: Aromanii din Rodopii Bulgariei i graiul lor, Craiova. Aleksova 2004 V. Aleksova: Rumnska dialektologi, Sofi. Asenova 2005 P. Asenova: Osobennosti funkcionirovani balkanskih dialektov v inoz~nom okru`enii, zki i dialekt malh tni~eskih grup na Balkanah, Sankt-Peterburg Mnhen. Biblion Verlag, 819. Kostov, Iliev 2004 K. Kostov, D. Iliev: Romska gramatika. Vz osnova na erliski romski govor v Sofi, Sofi. Mladenov 1993 M. Mladenov: Blgarskite govori v Rumni, Sofi. Sobolev 2005 A. N. Sobolev: Zametki o arumnskom dialektnom sintaksise, zki i dialekt malh tni~eskih grupp na Balkanah, Sankt-Peterburg Mnhen, 189198. Holiol~ev 1969 Hr. Holiol~ev: Km vprosa za izpadaneto na kraeslovnite i i u v blgarskite govori, Blgarski ezik HH, 1, Sofi, 2737. Papadopouloj 1926 A. A. Papadopouloj: Grammatikh twn boreiwn idiwmatwnthj neaj ellhnikhj glwsshj. Aqhna.
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Making use of anthropological linguistic and perceptual dialectology methods, we tried to determine the existence of a Bayash continuum along the River Drava in Croatia and also to assess the degree of tolerance and flexibility of their language system, which has developed for centuries without the normative instances of the Romanian language, in a permanent contact with the surrounding Serbo-Croatian dialects. Key words: Bayash, Romanian vernaculars, perceptual dialectology, anthropological linguistics
1. The Bayash of the Balkans In the Balkans, apart from the Romanian communities historically inhabiting the countries which border on present-day Romania (Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Ukraine), the Romanian language2 is also spoken by other groups, one being the Bayash. The Bayash are small Roma-like communities speaking different vernaculars of the Romanian language and dispersed throughout Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria, with smaller numbers in Macedonia, Greece, Ukraine, Slovakia and Slovenia. They do not speak Romani and the vast majority are bilingual, actively using their native vernacular and the idiom of the local community in which they live.3 The terms used to refer to the Bayash in different countries may vary greatly (see Sorescu Marinkovi} 2008b), the word Bayash being in many cases only a construct employed by academics to refer to these groups, many of which do not use or even know the term.4 These other groups of Romanian language speakers, hidden, marginal and problematic, as Hedean (2005: 17) puts it, have intrigued Romanian researchers from almost all the humanities (anthropologists and classic ethnographers tending to predominate), from the beginning of the 20th century onward,5 despite the fact that the actual volume
2 I will leave aside Aromanian, Meglenoromanian and Istroromanian and focus solely on Dacoromanian (which, in the following, for the sake of brevity I will simply label Romanian) and its dialects. 3 For details about the Bayash in the Balkans, see Sikimi} 2002, 2005a; in Serbia, see Petrovici 1938, Hedean 2005, Sikimi} 2005b, c, 2006a, b, c, e, Sorescu Marinkovi} 2005, 2008a, b; in Croatia, see Saramandu 1997, Radosavljevi} 2007; in Hungary, see Orsos 1997; in Bulgaria, see Dorondel 2007, erban 2007, Assenova/Aleksova in these proceedings; in Slovakia, see Agocs 2003; in Bosnia and Herzegovina, see Filipescu 1906 and Sikimi} in these proceedings; in Romania, see Chelcea 1944, Stahl 1990, Calota 1995, Kovalcsik 2007. 4 For a detailed sociolinguistic discussion on exonyms versus endonyms see Vu~kovi} 2008. In Bulgaria both members of the community and academics use the term Rudari. 5 For a detailed analysis of the existing literature in Romanian see Hedean 2005: 1624.
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of studies has never been impressive. Today, with the advance of Romani studies, we are witnessing a general interest in the Bayash in most of the Balkan and European countries where they live, with political studies tending to prevail over humanistic studies. 2. The Bayash in Croatia The Bayash and their language in Croatia have not engaged the interest of scholars until recently. However, their presence has been mentioned sporadically, but for more than a century, by linguists and ethnographers who remarked the presence of these intriguing ethnic groups in nearby Serbia or Bosnia. The ethnographer Teodor Filipescu, in an early 20th century study about Romanian colonies in Bosnia, asserts that the Karavlachs (Rom. Caravlahii or Coritarii) from Slavonia (north-eastern Croatia) must have arrived there around the end of the 17th century and settled in the Po`ega and Bjelovar-Kri`evac region (see Map 1), after crossing Transylvania, Banat, Serbia and Bosnia (Filipescu 1906: 210). However, it seems that the first one to have mentioned the gropus of Koritari in Slavonia was Ferdo Hefele, in an article published in the Zagreb magazine Vienac, no. 46, in 1890 (quoted by Filipescu 1906). Only a couple of years after Filipescu, the linguist Gustav Weigand draws attention to the Romanians living in Bosnia,6 and also mentioning those from Croatia. In 1938, the Romanian linguist Emil Petrovici, talking about a group he called the Romanians from western Serbia, mentioned again the existence of this community in Croatia, in the provinces on the rivers Drava and Sava (Petrovici 1938: 244). Almost thirty years later, the Serbian ethnographer Barjaktarovi}, in his description of the Gypsy oasis of Apatin (north-western Serbia), 7 which he had researched between 1960 and 1962, also mentions that Romanian Gypsies are to be found in Croatia, in the villages of Darda, Bolman and Karaka{ (Osijek Baranja county), and in Dalj in Slavonia (Barjaktarovi} 1964: 191). Up to this date, the only solid linguistic study of the Bayash in Croatia is that of the Romanian dialectologist Nicolae Saramandu, who in 1996 studied dialects in the Bayash community of Medjimurje, in the extreme north of the country, near the border with Hungary and Slovenia,
At that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Barjaktarovi} mentions that the Apatin Gypsies, around 190 houses, declare themselves Romanian, but in informal conversations say they are Gypsies. The settlement is divided in two, Ar|iljeni and Mun}eni (according to his phonetic transcription), like in Sonta and Bogojevo, based on a distinction between vernaculars, the author providing a contrastive index of lexemes used by the two groups (Barjaktarovi} 1964: 193).
7 6
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Map 1. Croatia and its counties. 1. Istria county 2. Rijeka county 3. Karlovac county 4. Zagreb county 5. Krapina Zagorje county 6. Vara`din county 7. Medjimurje county 8. Koprivnica Kri`evci county 9. Bjelovar Bilogora county 10. Po`ega Slavonija county
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
Virovitica Podravina county Osijek Baranja county Sisak Moslavina county Brod Posavina county Vukovar Srijem county Lika Senj county Zadar county [ibenik Knin county Split Dalmacija county Dubrovnik Neretva county The City of Zagreb
in the localities of Pribislavec, ^akovec and Kotoriba (see Map 3). The author, after briefly introducing the communities, their economic situation, social organization, physical aspect and ethnic identification of the inhabitants, compares their vernacular with those of the Coritari (as presented in Petrovicis 1938 study) and of Rudari (according to Calotas 1995 investigations from Romania), concluding that all the Romanian speaking Gypsies today speak a relatively unitary idiom, which is explained by their common origin, by geographic factors and by the historical circumstances in which they adopted the Romanian language (Saramandu 1997: 109). Saramandu goes on to identify the region the Bayash had inhabited in Romania before they started moving towards their present settlements and the main directions of migration, and at the end offers a corpus of 33 short texts phonetically transcribed fragments excerpted from the discussions with the interlocutors.
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In 2007, one more article about the Bayash from Croatia and their language was published, signed by the young Croatian linguist Petar Radosavljevi}. Although the study is not exhaustive, it makes a good point in discussing contrastively the Muntean and Ardelean vernaculars spoken by the two main Bayash groups in Croatia. Radosavljevi} 2007 draws attention to some phonetic and morphologic characteristics of these vernaculars, but in contrast to Saramandu 1997, who used his own field recordings from Medjimurje, he uses, as an Ardelean corpus, the Catholic Catechism translated into Bayash (Miljak 2005), while the Muntean corpus is represented by audiorecordings made as part of a project of the Open Society Croatia (Otvoreno dru{tvo Hrvatska) Institute, in which the author took part (Radosavljevi} 2007). Unfortunately, he does not mention the localities where the recordings took place. Nonetheless, in present-day Croatia, it is mainly sociologists and educational specialists who engage in Romani studies. This is the reason why solid linguistic, dialectological or ethnological research about the Bayash is so rare, as ethnolinguist Biljana Sikimi} notes in an oral expose in 2006. 8 The above-mentioned sociologists and education specialists note that large Roma groups arrived in Croatia in the 19th century from Romania, and that their members belonged to the Koritari Roma, were manufacturing wooden products and inhabited the regions of Medjimurje and Podravina (Hrvati} 2004: 370). But a lack of linguistic knowledge also led the same author to make unfounded statements, such as that the Bayash idiom from Croatia9 is a Romani dialect. However, other authors note that the Bayash in Hungary are Roma who settled here from Romania at the end of 19th and beginning of the 20th century and speak a variant of the Romanian language (Nik{i} 2004: 392), and, further, that groups of Bayash also inhabit Croatia, namely Medjimurje and Baranja. Although, as we can see, relatively little is known about the language of the Bayash in Croatia, the year 2005 saw one of the Romanian idioms spoken by the Bayash in Croatia published in its own alphabet for the first time in the form of a Catholic Catechism (Miljak 2005). Preparations for a Bayash dictionary were also scheduled to start in 2004. A system for transcribing Bayash vernaculars has emerged, based on the
8 Banja{i u Hrvatskoj: rumunski, ljimba dbja{ ili ciganski jezik? The Bayash in Croatia: Romanian, Bayash language or Gypsy language?, presented at the international symposium Banatul: Trecut istoric i cultural The Banat: Historical and cultural past, held in Novi Sad, Serbia, in 2006. 9 The term used in the Croatian studies dealing with the Bayash is ljimba dbja{, spelled according to the rules of Croatian orthography.
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orthographic rules of Croatian as used in some periodicals which host this kind of text. However, as in the case of other unstandardized languages, wide oscillations in the use of certain verbal forms along with bad orthography is noticeable in these publications, due to the lack of a norm and knowledge of the language structure (Radosavljevi} 2007: 513). 2.1. Fieldwork material This contribution is based on field research which took place between 18 and 20 May 2006 in Baranja,10 a geographical region of eastern Croatia between the rivers Danube and Drava. During this short field trip, three Bayash settlements were visited: Darda, Beli Manastir and Torjanci (see Map 2). The inhabitants of Darda and Beli Manastir say of themselves that they are Mun}ani and Orthodox by religion. Their own guesstimate puts their number at 3,000. They also claim that their original settlement was Novi Bezdan (Rom. mai batarna aganie the oldest Gypsy settlement). It seems that from Novi Bezdan they moved to Bolman and from there spread out to their current settlements: Darda, Beli Manastir, Jagodnjak, Kozarac, ^eminac. The inhabitants of the small village of Torjanci on the Hungarian border say of themselves that they are Ar|eleni,11 Catholics by religion and that they number around 120. According to the statements of those we spoke to, the original settlement of Ardeleni was Ore{anci, but in the mid20th century they were moved to Bistrinci, on the periphery of Beli{}e, and to Valpovo. There are many members of various Evangelist churches in both groups, mainly Adventists and Jehovahs witnesses. The traditional occupation of both Bayash groups was manufacturing wooden objects, chiefly spoons, troughs and tubs, but it seems that the women, unlike most of the women from the Bayash communities
10 The field trip was organized by a team of researchers from the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb, Croatia, who carried a series of studies as to assess key characteristics of living conditions and health in the Bayash Roma population in Baranja and identify possible demographic and socio-economic sources of variance in self-reported health and reproductive profile (see, for example, [kari}-Juri} et al 2007) and to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude for inviting us to join them, for their generosity and constant support. As well, we are greatly indebted to all our interlocutors, who happily accepted us in the community and helped us carry on our research. Two ethnolinguists from the Institute for Balkan Studies in Belgrade were also engaged in this research: Biljana Sikimi} and Annemarie Sorescu Marinkovi}. 11 In the followings, for the sake of brevity and in order to avoid unnecessary cumulation of different phonetic variants for these two groups, we will only use the terms Munteni and Ardeleni. The distinction Munteni-Ardeleni is also a linguistic one, as we will show in detail later on.
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Map 2. Part of the region of Baranja, with the contemporary Bayash settlements marked in black.
in Serbia, have never made spindles. They also produced charcoal and bricks and lately even wickerwork (Sikimi} 2006: oral expose). During our fieldwork research in Baranja, we interviewed mainly older members of the Bayash community and audiorecorded all interviews (the material, amounting to around 20 hours, is preserved in the audio archive of the Institute for Balkan Studies from Belgrade). Most of the interviews were semi-directed, the conversations generally aimed at reconstructing the traditional culture, but we also made use of a dialectological questionnaire and at the same time recorded the free conversation of the participants, in order to have as much samples of free speech as possible. This study makes additional use of the almost 3 hours of audio recordings from a one-day field trip to the Bayash community of Kur{anec in Medjimurje, on 20 January 2006,12 a decade after Saramandu. The Bayash here live in a satellite settlement completely isolated from the town which they call Lug, and most of them struggle on the verge of subsistence. They are all Catholics, have strong connections to other
12 With the help of the Croatian ethnologist Toni Maru{i}, whom I wish to thank once again for introducing me to the Bayash community, for his invaluable help in carrying out the research, and precious first-hand information about the settlement.
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Map 3. Part of the region of Medjimurje, with the contemporary Bayash settlements marked in black.
Bayash communities in Medjimurje, in Hungary and even rarely in Serbia. They estimate their number as being 900. As opposed to the Bayash in Baranja, who do not use this term to refer to themselves, they say of themselves that they are Baiai,13 calling the language they speak limba da baia. Their traditional occupation is also the manufacture of wooden products, but this seems to have vanished today; most of them are unemployed and many of them collect and return plastic bottles as a means of subsistence. Both the Bayash in Baranja and in Medjimurje make a clear-cut distinction between their group and the Roma, to whom they refer to as Lacatari, calling their language Lacatareace.14 Interestingly enough, only the Bayash in Medjimurje have the institution of
13 This term is known and partly used in the Serbian Banat and western Serbia, near the border with Croatia, but is almost completely unheard of south of Danube. 14 This terms are also used by the Bayash in Ba~ka while refering to Romani speaking Roma.
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Romani kris, which they call leze da baia, also common in Hungary, but unknown to the Bayash in Serbia.15 2.2. An attempt at mapping The mapping of the Bayash settlements from Croatia is a very problematic attempt, obstructed by all sorts of limitations which we will discuss below. In spite of the hindrances, we have drawn a preliminary network of Bayash settlements in Croatia,16 based on our research in Baranja and Medjimurje. This network was conceived following the snowball sampling principle, starting from the initial data found in the ethnographic studies to get to the community and then using the information provided by the members of the community to build upon and develop it. All this information was obtained with the use of perceptual dialectology, relying upon the subjective attitudes of the Bayash towards the language of their community and of other Bayash communities they know. This snowballing followed the mental continuity of the Bayash communities, which exists in spite of the physical distance between them (Sikimi} 2005b: 249). Speaking of limitations, it should be said that on the one hand, data from the older ethnographic studies can hardly be taken as a reference point for modern research. The dissolution or reduction of rural settlements mainly due to the persecution of the Roma in the Second World War, the dislocation of village communities and the consequent movement of the Bayash to urban areas where they tend to form peripheral satellite neighbourhoods, the fact that those to whom we spoke avoided providing us with micro-toponyms when asked about the places the Bayash communities live and offered macro-toponyms instead, all this makes any attempt at mapping Bayash settlements a most difficult task. Furthermore, today the Bayash do not appear as a separate community from the Roma in Croatia. The official censuses provide only data on the Roma in general, without regard for sub-categorization or spoken language. Thus a subjective attitude towards the Bayash communities in Croatia and their language, fragile though it may seem as a method, coupled with an attempt to obtain as exact a localization as possible of the settlements the speakers mention, were the main means used to sketch an approximate inventory of contemporary Bayash settlements.
15 We base this conclusion on our personal research, so we must admit it might not be a definitive or accurate one. 16 For a list of Bayash settlements in Serbia, see Sikimi} 2005a: 1012.
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The column on the left of Table 1 gives the places where the Bayash still live today. Some of these are followed by the Romanian name used by the Bayash instead of the Croatian toponyms, in brackets and marked with *. In some cases, we have not been able to identify the place and used only the Romanian toponym mentioned by the speakers. This first column was formed only using the data we collected personally, and not combining it with other sources which, we must admit, might have drastically changed the register of localities. One must notice that, the more distant the places the interlocutors speak about, the more macro-toponyms they tend to use. Micro-toponyms are obtained only from interlocutors from Medjimurje and Baranja, but they are not crossed. Following this logic, if we were to use data obtained in other identified Bayash centres, like, for example, Slavonija, we would have achieved a clearer and more precise register of Bayash settlements around those centres. We must also add here that, in spite of the fact that perceptive onomastics or anthropological geography does not take into account the new state borders, the information obtained in Baranja about places inhabited by Bayash in Ba~ka was extremely precise (not shown in the table). The next three columns of Table 1 give the places which had a predominantly Bayash population up to World War II. This evaluation was made mainly from lists of Roma Holocaust victims from Croatia, reprinted in The History of the Roma Holocaust (Djuri} & Mileti} 2008). As on these lists of executed persons there is no mention of Bayash, all of them being treated as Roma, the method we used to reconstruct the Bayash settlements along the Drava river and in Croatia in general was onomastic. Two categories of family names were considered Hungarian, mainly characteristic of the Ardeleni group of Bayash (Or{o{, Kalanjo{, Lakato{, Balog, Horvat, Bogdan etc), and Serbian ones, chiefly characteristic of the Munteni group (Djurdjevi}, Djordjevi}, Petrovi}, Kosti}, Mi{kovi} etc)17 and then we tried to determine in which localities the majority of the victims went by these names. The result was astonishing and, at the same time validated our assumption: the map we obtained was that of River Drava counties (BjelovarBilogora, KoprivnicaKri`evci, OsijekBaranja, Medjimurje, Vara`din, ViroviticaPodravina and VukovarSrijem counties), which goes to show that a Drava Bayash
17 Names characteristic of the Romani speaking Roma in Croatia are: (H)udurovi}, [ajn, [ajnovi}, Fan, Parapati} (Poropati}) etc. Skok suggests the following etymology: Poropati} < Rom. fara pat (without bed), one of the remains of the lost language of the Istroromanians (ERHSJ s.v. ^iribiri). The fact that the surname Poropat can be also found in nowadays Romania opens up a whole series of questions and makes Skoks hypothesis at least fragile.
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continuum, like the Danube or Sava Bayash continuum in Serbia, really existed in the past, even if this is today barely perceptible. We are aware that this method might not be entirely accurate, but believe that it can offer at least a sketch of the past distribution of Bayash in Croatia. If we are to compare the data provided by Djuri} & Mileti} 2008 with information from other sources, our hypothesis proves right. Hefele, in 1890, noticed that Koritari live close to Sava and Drava, mentioning the settlements Peteranac, Gu{}e, Stru`ec and Lonjsko polje (Filipescu 1906: 239240); the first three can be also found in Table 1. The only paradox is that, as far as Peteranac is concerned, Hefele collected folk texts from interlocutors with Hungarian surnames (Balog and Bogdan), while the execution register only mentions Djordjevi}s, thus Munteni according to our theory.
Past and present Bayash settlements in Croatia Inhabited today Munteni Bjelovar Bilogora county: Bjelovar Bjelovar De`anovac Djurdji}i Ivanovo Polje Jakopovac Kapelski Ka{ljavac Kobasi~ari Mala Pisanica Malo Korenovo Medjura~a Nevinac Nova Ra~a Pavlovac Predavec Prespa Sokolovac Utiskani Veliki Grdjevac Kolarevo Selo ^azma Daruvar Narta Velika Pisanica Veliko Trojstvo Inhabited in the past Ardeleni Roma and Bayash together
184 Ludbreg Cubinec Kri`evci Miholec Peteranec Zamladinec Koprivnica Djurdjevac Donjara Lijepa Greda Molve Podravske Sesvete Popovec Kalni~ki Reka
Osijek-Baranja county: Beli Manastir Beli{}e Bilje Bistrinci (displaced from Ore{anci (*Raanu) in the middle of the 20th century) Bolman (*Bulmanu) ^eminac Darda (*Tarda) Jagodnjak Kozarac Novi Bezdan Torjanci (*Turianu) Valpovo Donja Dubrava Kotoriba (*Cuturiba) Kur{anec (*Lug) Gori~an Macinec Orehovica (*Oravia) Pribislavec (*Pislou) *Strimou *carie Aljma{ Bistrinci Bo~kovac Dalj Harkanovci Ivanovci Josipovac Osijek Podgorac Selci Djakova~ki Valpovo Vi{kovci Ko{ka Ku}anci Nard Dopsin Kapelna
Medjimurje county: ^akovec Donje Brezje Kotoriba Macinec Strukovec Martin na Muri
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Po`ega-Slavonija county: Budimci Sisak-Moslavina county: Dubica Gare{nica Kutina Novska Sisak (the outskirts called Capra{ke Poljane) Slatina Donja Gra~enica Gornja Jelenska Gu{}e Jasenovac Krapje Krate~ko Kutina Lipovljani Piljenice Puska Stru`ec Velika Kraljeva Trnovec Bartolove~ki Naudovac Sopje Starin Virovitica Lonja Bujavica
Vukovar-Srijem county: Gunja Podgajci Posavski Stari Mikanovci [i{kovci Zagreb county: Martin pod Oki}em Novo ^i~e Velika Gorica Table 1. Past and present Bayash settlements in Croatia.
What can be deduced from this table? First of all, the picture resulting from this double mapping one present, one past shows a
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visible reduction of Bayash settlements along the River Drava. Today, the most populated regions are the two counties located at either end of the river in Croatia: Baranja and Medjimurje. This is only a seeming paradox. If we take a closer look at the history of the region around the middle of the last century, we can understand why the Bayash managed to survive in these two counties. In 1941, Yugoslav Baranja was occupied by Hungary and returned to Yugoslavia only in 1944; between 1941 and 1945, Medjimurje was under Hungarian occupation. Thus, these two regions did not belong to the Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Dr`ava Hrvatska NDH) in 19411944, the period when most of the executions were carried out in the extermination camp at Jasenovac. Even if Table 1 also registered executions of Bayash from these regions (according to the data provided by Djuri} & Mileti} 2008), it might be that they were residing in places other than their native ones. Secondly, we can see that the Munteni Bayash group was better represented in BjelovarBilogora, OsijekBaranja and VukovarSrijem counties, closer to the Serbian border, while the Ardeleni prevailed in Medjimurje in the extreme north of the country near the Hungarian border. Even if Zagreb is not part of the Drava continuum, the presence of Bayash groups (Ardeleni) there is easily explainable by the fact that, as an important urban centre, Zagreb attracted large groups of population at all times throughout history. According to Table 1, SisakMoslavina county also hosted relatively large groups of Ardeleni, whose original settlement might have been the northern region of Croatia, maybe Medjimurje. These groups might have moved in search of work to Sisak, which features both the largest metallurgical factory and the largest oil refinery in Croatia. This movement of population might have taken place sometime before World War II, but the lack of any written documents makes us believe it could have happened either before or later. 2.3. What the statistics say The complexity of the various endonyms (ethnonyms and professionyms) of the Bayash, as well as the strong mimicry they practice as a social strategy for acceptance, plagues much of the research. It is almost impossible to obtain even an approximate figure or a picture of geographical distribution from the information and figures provided by official censuses, where the Bayash do not appear as an ethnic minority. However, if we correlate the official statistics with knowledge of the origin and language of this group, as well as possible ways of self-designation, we get a possible estimate of the dimension of the group.
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Development of the population in Baranya (]ur~i~ & Kico{ev 1993) contains the results of different censuses in Baranja from 1910 to 1992, with the ethnic structure of this region. Thus, we can see that in 1910 out of a total of 20,757 inhabitants of Baranja (before the division of the province between Hungary and Yugoslavia), only 2 were Romanians (although the number of others was as high as 8,725). General state statistics of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the census of 31 January 1921, however, revealed that out of the 49,173 inhabitants of Baranja, 452 were Romanians and their distribution was as follows: Bolman 253, Darda 50, Jagodnjak 48, Novi Bezdan 33, Torjanci 60. These statistics, together with claims by the speakers (in the lack of any other historical or statistical document) that their original settlement was Novi Bezdan, from where they moved to Bolman and then onward, might point to the fact that they arrived in Baranja somewhere after WWI. The following census of 1953 is irrelevant for establishing the dynamics of the Bayash population: Romanians do not appear anymore, while the number of others is very small. Nevertheless, the 1981 census comes with a new column: Gypsies. In the case of bigger settlements such as Beli Manastir or Darda, it is difficult to assess the number of Bayash (Beli Manastir 48 Gypsies, 248 others, Darda 5 Gypsies, 294 others), but as far as Torjanci is concerned a small settlement of only 509 people in that year the figure of 132 Gypsies (and 15 others) is more than relevant. As our research indicates, in Torjanci today the Gypsy population is formed exclusively of Bayash, who live in a satellite settlement in the vicinity of the village proper, with no connection to the Croatian population after the ethnic conflict between the Serbs and Croats during the 90s, which preceded Croatia gaining independence and in which the Bayash were on the Serbian side, despite being Catholics. Figures in the recent 2001 Croatian census can help to map Bayash centres there. According to ethnicity, there are 475 Romanians and 9,463 Roma in Croatia (out of a total of 4,437,460 inhabitants). Of course, the Roma are a large category which also includes Romani-speaking Roma, but wherever the influence of Roma NGOs is strong, the Bayash declare themselves to be Roma. The largest number of Romanians can be found in the Osijek-Baranja county (223), where there are also 977 Roma. As for the county of Medjimurje, there are only 37 Romanians and 2,887 Roma (Croatian census 2001 section ethnicity). This data supports our own observations from Medjimurje, where the Romanian identity of the Bayash hardly exists. However, the results of the census by mother tongue give a new insight in the Bayash question. In the county of OsijekBaranja, 342 people speak Romanian as their mother tongue, while 711
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speak Romani (which approximately coincides with the ethnicity of the population), in Medjimurje 156 people speak Romanian and there are 2,751 Romani (the same situation), but in the county of Slavonski Brod Posavina, where there are only 12 Romanians, 334 people declared that Romanian is their mother tongue (the number of Roma in this province is 586, of which 312 claim that Romani is their mother tongue according to the Croatian census 2001 section mother tongue). Thus we may assume that in the Slavonski Brod Posavina county there is also a large Bayash community.18 In Serbia at least, during our fieldwork research, one of our work hypotheses almost always proved to be right: If the official statistics show Romanians in a locality where members of the Romanian or Vlach minority are not supposed to be, Bayash live there, usually in a much larger numbers than those given in the statistics. Other Croatian statistics on the Roma population alone differentiate among Roma groups according to the language they speak: Romani chib and ljimba d bja{. Thus, a field study from 2004 shows that ljimba d bja{ is more widely spread than Romani chib in the following counties: Sisak Moslavina: 10.6 3.3, Vara`din: 16.1 1.4, BrodPosavina: 9.0 3.8, OsijekBaranja: 14.5 2.8, Medjimurje: 38.7 2.3 (Mi{eti} 2005: 350). The author further differentiates among these language groups, saying that the members of the dialect group Romani chib are followers of Islam and are usually to be found in the counties of Istria, Zagreb and on the Adriatic Sea shore, as well as in the city of Zagreb, being more inclined to migrate and having richer migratory experiences, while the dialect group ljimba d bja{ are mostly Christian (Catholics with some Orthodox) and usually live in the Medjimurje district, generally in the continental northwest part of the country and in eastern Croatia; most live in their place of birth, showing a reduced tendency to migrate (Mi{eti} 2005: 351). As we have seen, official censuses in Croatia give a total number of over 9,000 Roma. However, estimates suggest a significantly larger figure of between 30,000 and 40,000 ([kari}-Juri} et al 2007: 709), the discrepancy being due mainly to ethnomimicry. As for the Bayash, the estimates put them at around 3,000 in Baranja, 5,000 in Medjimurje and between 10,000 and 13,000 in the entire Croatia.
18 Some Croatian scholars, unaware that the first language of a great part of the Roma population is Romanian, cannot explain the large number of Romanians registered by the censuses and of Roma becoming Romanians, as they put it, other than as a census error or a miscalculation in the statistical analysis of census data (Pokos 2005: 265).
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2.4. Construction of identity Saramandu, using data obtained from his dialectological research in 1996 in Medjimurje, asserts that even if the Croats call them Gypsies, the Bayash consider themselves Romanian because Romanian is their first language and because they do not know Romani (Saramandu 1997: 99).19 Meanwhile, our anthropological and linguistic field research in January 2006 amongst schoolchildren and the younger population in the Bayash settlement of Kur{anec showed no awareness of the local vernacular as a clearly Romanian language, nor any clear idea of Romania as their country of origin. This attitude on the part of the younger generation can be explained by the fact that modern Croatia has no border with Romania and no ethnic Romanian minority (except for very few and very specific ethnic groups of Istroromanians). Thus, in time, consciousness of their Romanian identity (if it ever existed) faded and gradually vanished (for more details see Sorescu Marinkovi} 2007). Perhaps a more logical hypothesis is that it did not exist, as the places they had come from were probably, back then, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We must also mention here the powerful impact of Romani NGOs, which support and encourage the Bayash to declare themselves as Roma. However, most of the Bayash from Medjimurje use the self-designation Baiai, as do those from Hungary. Nik{i}, talking about the latter, noticed that it is interesting that the Hungarian Bayash call themselves neither Roma, nor Gypsy (Nik{i} 2004: 392) and we might add nor Romanian assuming a completely Bayash identity. As opposed to this group, even if the Bayash in Baranja are organized in Roma NGOs and many of them declare themselves at official censuses as Roma, they call their language romane}e (Romanian) or agane}e (Gypsy), leaving, however, the question of their identity open in discussion with the researcher.20 Nevertheless, within this macrogroup, the distinction between the two dialect groups Munteni and Ardeleni is there and forms the basis for identification.
19 However, we think that Saramandus findings may be plagued by the fact that in Pribislavec he only had one informant from whom he obtained all the 17 texts given at the end of his paper. Based on these texts, we suspect that his informant, aged 34 at the time of the field research, is probably one of the local pro-Romanian activists (as opposed to pro-Roma or pro-Bayash, the Bayash community being a fragmented one at an organizational level) who had recent contacts with Romania, his use of Romanian neologisms being difficult to account for otherwise. 20 As we can see from the first transcript at the end of the paper.
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3. The language of the Bayash in Croatia Saramandu, after showing the differences and similarities between the vernacular of the Bayash from Medjimurje, Coritari in Serbia (using Emil Petrovi}s material from 1937) and Rudari in Romania, concludes that the former originate in south-eastern Criana, north-eastern Banat and south-western Transylvania, which is the zone where the main transition idiom within the Criean dialect is spoken. In this area, the palatalization of t and d and also the pronounciation of the palatals k and g is the same, namely the affricates } and |. Furthermore, } can appear as a result of palatalization of p in some words, such as in }ept (Rom. piept breast),21 }aptan (Rom. pieptene haircomb), and m becomes mn in amnaza (Rom. amiaza afternoon), a mnou (Rom. al meu mine, pron) (Saramandu 1997: 109). Saramandu also suggests that the Bayash in Medjimurje arrived in their present habitat by crossing Banat, Serbia (Vojvodina), eastern Bosnia and eastern Croatia (Slavonija) (Saramandu 1997: 110). Filipescu, back in 1906, claimed that at least some of the Karavlachs in Slavonia were emigrants from Banat and Transylvania. His arguments were their Hungarian names and the fact that they were speaking the Banaean dialect (Filipescu 1906: 210). In the following, we will focus on the distinction between the Munteni and Ardeleni Bayash in Baranja, and then present a few phonetic, morphological and lexical characteristics of the Romanian vernaculars spoken by the Bayash in Baranja and in Medjimurje. 3.1. Baranja: Munteni and Ardeleni The Munteni-Ardeleni distinction among the Bayash is mainly a linguistic one, but it can also point to the religion of these two groups, as we have seen before. If we consider it a linguistic distinction, we must stress that these vernaculars do not overlap with present-day Romanian dialects, as mapped by the Romanian linguists. Even if the Munteni group preserves some dialectal features of the vernaculars spoken today in the Romanian region of Muntenia, and the Ardeleni have linguistic features in
21 The standard Romanian equivalent is in brackets, followed by the English translation. However, we must always bear in mind that we cannot compare contemporary Romanian, be it standard or dialectal, with idioms which lost contact with the Romanian spoken continuously in Romanian lands more than 200 years ago, and which developed in a Slavic language environment. The only valid corpus for such a comparison would be Romanian linguistic material from the 18th century.
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common with idioms from Transylvania,22 their vernaculars also present many other features common to different dialectal regions in Romania. Because of their nomadic way of life,23 the Bayash picked up numerous linguistic features from the regions they passed through on their way to the present settlements, and only a detailed linguistic analysis can account for the route they followed.24 As far as the Munteni and Ardeleni from Baranja are concerned, the separate migrations scenario is more likely than the in situ differentiation scenario. It is clear that in the 20th century a Bayash continuum existed along the main river basins, regardless of the state borders of that time. Their geographical disposition followed the logic of river continuums, where they could find water and the wood they needed for their traditional occupation. In Serbia, the south-Danube continuum has already been accounted for (Sikimi} 2005a, 2005b). The Bayash must have formed a River Drava continuum, from Baranja to Medjimurje, even if this is no longer obvious today because of large population dislocations and recent migrations, as we have shown at the beginning. Sikimi} also speaks of a Bayash Catholic continuity north of the Danube and along the River Drava, a continuity which bears witness to a bygone common territory before the changing of the borders in central Europe, something that happened several times during the 20th century (Sikimi} 2006c: 107). Catholic Bayash in Serbia live east of Danube in the region of Ba~ka, in the settlements: Ba~ki Mono{tor, Apatin, Sonta, Bogojevo, Vajska, Plavna, also in Slana Bara (a satellite settlement of Novi Sad) and Adorjan (near the river Tisa) (idem: 106). After the Serbo-Croatian conflicts of the 90s, many Bayash families from Baranja (todays Croatia) moved to Ba~ka (todays Serbia) and thus contributed even more to mixing the already complicated map of this community. The Munteni of Apatin are only very recent settlers from Darda, as our fieldwork research from Apatin (still unpublished) shows. Torjanci (in fact a community displaced from Ore{anci) might also have had connections with Bayash groups from
22 We must say here that there is no Ardelean dialect mapped by Romanian dialectologists, this zone (Ardeal, also known as Transylvania) being the region where several dialects of the Romanian language meet. 23 We should not underestimate the role the different armed conflicts played when it comes to Bayash nomadism, which was not only an idyllic wood nomadism, as Chelcea 1944 puts it, or a willfully assumed way of life, as many authors are inclined to believe. For more details on this issue see Sikimi} in these proceedings. 24 Petrovici also noticed that the Coritari in ^oke{ina (Western Serbia) do not speak a unitary language, but one characterized by a mixture of dialectal features, which can be explained by their nomadic life (Petrovici 1938: 229).
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present-day Hungary, but this has not been retained in the memory of todays generations. 25 The inhabitants of Torjanci, because of their relative isolation and very small number, are under the strong influence of the Muntean idiom spoken by the surrounding villages. It must be stressed that the Drava continuum was on both sides of the river, and therefore in present-day Croatia and Hungary.26 It can be speculated that the Munteni group (of Orthodox religion) formed a wedge between the Ardeleni (Catholics) of Baranja and those from Ba~ka, but only historical evidence and extensive fieldwork research in Hungary can bear out this hypothesis. It must be mentioned that the vernacular of the Munteni group is a mixed idiom par excellence, possessing archaic Romanian characteristics, intermediate phases, lexemes from different Romanian dialectal areas and from the regional Baranja idiom they speak. It is likely that this group lived for an extended period in the south of Romania, where the Muntean dialect is spoken. As for the Slavic idiom spoken in the region of Baranja, which is inhabited by both Serbs and Croats, see Miloradovi} 2000 for a detailed discussion. In the followings, when referring to this particular contact idiom, we will call it the Baranja Slavic contact idiom, and for etymological purposes, use the abbreviation Sr./Cr., unless indicated otherwise. 3.2. Medjimurje Although our recorded material from Medjimurje amounts to only three hours, we were still able to sketch the main phonetic and morphologic features of this Bayash group. Most of the phonetic features characteristic of the Bayash in Medjimurje have been already noticed and described by Saramandu in his study (Saramandu 1997). We must again point out that we visited only one settlement (Kur{anec), thus our findings cannot be generalized to include the region because of the differences which exist between the Romanian vernaculars spoken in the various villages, so even if we use Medjimurje as a cover term, it must be borne in mind that we are referring only to this settlement. A note must be made here: as in Baranja, the contact idiom is not the literary Croatian language, but the local variety, namely the Kajkavian dialect (remote enough from the one used in Baranja), and spoken chiefly in the northern and western
25 This border was established in 1918, Baranja having shared the fate of Banat in being divided between three states. 26 Knowledge about a territorial Bayash continuity in the Balkans is still quite limited in the literature, in spite of the existing knowledge of the territorial disposition of the Bayash alone (see Sikimi}, oral expose).
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parts of Croatia (for a description of this dialect see Brozovi} & Ivi} 1988: 9099). 3.3. Some linguistic remarks on the Bayash vernaculars from Baranja and Medjimurje In view of the fact that there is only one published linguistic study that mentions the Bayash of Baranja (Radosavljevi} 2007), we would like to draw attention in what follows to some peculiarities of the idiom spoken by the Munteni in Baranja, in a contrastive manner with that used by the Ardeleni in Medjimurje, and at the same time to assess the degree of tolerance and flexibility of their language system. Even if a triple linguistic comparison (the Muntean vernacular from Baranja, the Ardelean vernacular from the same region and the Ardelean vernacular from Medjimurje) would represent a momentous one, we will not focus here on the Ardeleni group in Baranja, as the material recorded in Torjanci is very reduced and their vernacular is strongly influenced by the neighbouring Muntean vernacular and by the big number of Munteni Bayash, who overcomes by far the Ardeleni. Even if we focus mainly on the Muntean vernacular spoken in Darda and Beli Manastir, whenever the collected material allows it we will resort to examples from the Ardelean vernacular from Medjimurje. As well, in order to compensate the lack of Baranja Ardelean material, we will include lexemes from Torjanci in Table 3. We must point out that during our research we have mainly used the qualitative method of linguistic anthropology, so the linguistic material we obtained was not always complete, nor was systematic use made of the dialectal questionnaire. 3.3.1. Phonology
27
The differences between the two vernaculars the Muntean Bayash from Baranja and Ardelean Bayash from Medjimurje are most obvious at phonological level. One of the main phonetic differences between them is the lack of palatalization of dentals dinte (tooth), frunte (forehead), deget (finger) and labials piepten (haircomb) in Baranja (a characteristic of standard Romanian too), as opposed to the palataIn this paper, due to reduced technical possibilities, we used a simplified system of phonetic transcription. We have consequently marked the stressed syllables, the palatalization of consonants; the o and e were used to signalize the open character of these vowels, which come from an initial diphthong; e was used to mark an intermediary sound between e and i. In the transcripts at the end of the paper the stressed syllables were not marked anymore, in order for the texts to be easily readable.
27
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lization of dentals and the treatment of the affricate consonant in words such as zezet (Rom. deget finger)28 in Medjimurje. As far as consonantism is concerned, we can notice in Baranja the disappearance of initial v in words such as: urbim/orbim (Rom. vorbim we speak), orba (Rom. vorba word), readnica (Rom. vrednica dilligent adj, sing, fem), or even of whole sequences starting with v: nic (Rom. voinic little boy), while in Medjimurje one can observe the opposite phenomenon, namely the appearance of the prothetic consonant sat the beginning of some words, such as scaldari (Rom. caldari buckets). While in Baranja the palatal element is anticipated as in oik (Rom. ochi eye) and roika (Rom. rochia dress n.), in Medjimurje the palatal k is transformed into }: o} (Rom. ochi eye), }ama (Rom. cheama (he/she) calls), }ar (Rom. chiar even, adv), ura}i (Rom. ureche ear). Both in Baranja and in Medjimurje, the depalatalization of labials can be noticed: melu (Rom. miel lamb) in Baranja, ferba (Rom. fiarba boil vb, conjunctive, III) in Medjimurje, for example. 29 In Medjimurje, the pronounciation of initial h in words starting with a vowel was recorded: hasta (Rom. asta this pron, fem), hu}unit (Rom. ostenit tired),30 as well as the palatalization of c into k when followed by a medial vowel: kit (Rom. cat how much), kitre (Rom. catre towards). Another phenomenon characteristic to both regions is the very high frequency of phonetic accidents, the following examples, however, being taken from the vernaculars of the Bayash in Baranja metatheses: uneaua (Rom. nuiaua stick), pitvii (Rom. piftii aspic), batarni (Rom. batrani old adj, pl, masc); dissimilations: lunta (Rom. nunta wedding), lainte (Rom. nainte before adv); assimilations: mamica (Rom. nimica nothing), mamilea (Rom. nimenea nobody). As far as vocalism is concerned, the main tendency in Baranja, to put it bluntly, is to make diphthongs of certain vowels in certain positions, while in Medjimurje the opposite occurs and diphthongs are turned into monophthongs. Thus, in Baranja we notice the diphthongization of stressed e when followed by a syllable containing e (> i) or i: mearge (Rom. merge walks vb, present, III, sg), vreame (Rom. vreme time), lamne (Rom. lemne wood), feate (Rom. fete girls), zeacilea (Rom.
28
29 Also observed by Saramandu in words such as: fer (Rom. fier iron), ferb (Rom. fierb boil vb, pres, I, sg), perd (Rom. pierd lose vb, pres, I, sg), ver (Rom. vier boar), zber (Rom. zbier cry vb, pres, I, sg) (Saramandu 1997: 103). 30
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zecilea tenth nr, masc), bisearica (Rom. biserica church),31 and the diphthongization of stressed a: vearza (Rom. varza cabbage), frea (Rom. frai brothers). On the other hand, in Medjimurje, the stressed a is pronounced e in words such as verza (Rom varza cabbage)32, while non-stressed a transforms into e in the word aie (Rom. aia that (one) pron, fem).33 In Baranja, the closing of non-stressed o to u may also be observed: cupil (Rom. copil child), culac (Rom. colac bread-like cake), and the unexpected phenomenon of reduction of the stressed diphthong oa: socra-sa (Rom. soacra-sa his mother-in-law), joca (Rom. joaca play/dance vb, present, III, sg). A characteristic feature of the Medjimurje Bayash vernacular is also the monophthongation of the diphthong oa > o, as in: more (Rom. moare dies vb, present, III, sg), nostra (Rom. noastra our pron, fem), omora (Rom. omoara kills), jorda (Rom. joarda stick), and ea > e, as in: vorbem (Rom. vorbeam (I/we) spoke), sfate (Rom. sfatea (they) spoke). The only diphthongization we recorded in Medjimurje was that of stressed u > oa: joara (Rom. jura (he/she) swears), but the quality of the diphthong can vary from person to person. In the same vernacular we registered the closing of non-stressed o to u, as in: luvete (Rom. lovete (he/she) hits), bu}ozat (Rom. botezat Christianized adj, masc), burasc (Rom. borasc (I) puke), as well as the closing of final non-stressed e to i, as in beri (Rom. bere beer). A predominant feature of the Bayash vernacular in Baranja is stressing the labial character of o or u alone or in the diphtongs ua, ua and oa: tivut (Rom. tiut known), dova (Rom. doua two fem), ghivoc (Rom. ghioc shell), vola (Rom. oala pot), lavuta (Rom. lauta violin), voia (Rom. oaia sheep).34 Finally, we must also mention the pronounciation of final u in non-articulated nouns, as in melu (Rom. miel lamb),35 in Baranja, and, in
31 Petrovici noticed the same phenomenon with the Bayash in western Serbia (Petrovici 1938: 228229). 32 Saramandu recorded the standard pronounciation varza (Saramandu 1997: 105). 33 Also attested among the Bayash in Hungary (see Orsos 2003). 34 There is evidence of this phenomenon in the Romanian Banat and also in the Hungarian Banat (for the latter see Marin & Margarit 2005: LVIILVIII). Petriceicu-Hasdeu, back in 1886, in his monumental encyclopaedic dictionary of the Romanian language, which unfortunately remained unfinished, in the entry baia (pl. baiei), also mentioned that the Gypsies or even non-Gypsies from Banat and Haeg who manufacture wooden products (spindles, spoons, troughs, shovels etc.) mistake v with u, for example they say ziva instead of ziua (day), ua da instead of va da (will give, III, sg) (Petriceicu-Hasdeu 1976: 396). 35 Also noted in ^oke{ina by Petrovici in the word albu, without the definite article (Petrovici 1938: 229).
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Medjimurje, the dropping of the last syllable in the word aca (Rom. acasa home adv) and the transformation of initial i into i: inca (Rom. inca yet adv). 3.3.2. Morphology 3.3.2.1. The verb Unlike other Bayash groups studied in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia, which, under the influence of the local idioms, lost most of the past tenses and only preserved the past simple, the Bayash from Baranja preserved, in addition to the past simple, the imperfect (past progressive), which is very frequently used in their speech. Even the questions of the researcher, formulated in the past simple, are answered in the imperfect:
Au facut (make, vb, past simple, III, pl) i carbuni din lemn? Da, faceasa. (make, vb, imperfect, III, pl)
The imperfect, extensively used, has two synthetic forms: the usual one and a hybrid, deviant form, made from the usual one + the particle -sa:
facea facea-sa (make, vb, imperfect, III, sg or pl) ducea ducea-sa (take, vb, imperfect, III, sg or pl) juca juca-sa (play, vb, imperfect, III, sg or pl) era era-sa (be, vb, imperfect, III, sg or pl)
We have only recorded this variant of imperfect in the third person, singular or plural, but this does not mean it is not in use in the first and second person. The two forms of imperfect (with and without the particle -sa) have almost the same frequency and can be found even in the same sentence, with the same function:
Niveastili, featili daspletea paru, mare a fost, -aa sa legasa (tie, vb, imperfect, III pl, impersonal + -sa) in par, in c-amandoua cosae sa legasa, aia, plantici, in par. Aa i irea (be, vb, imperfect, III sg, impersonal) mante mandreaa. Forte mandra ireasa (be, vb, imperfect, III sg, impersonal + -sa) omladina. C-amandoua par faceasa cosaile-alea, paru, -atuncea planticili-alea lega-n (tie, vb, imperfect, III sg, impersonal) par. The wives, the girls would unplait the hair, long hair, and would tie their hair like this, they would tie in both tails, that, ribbons, in the hair. Before it was beautiful. The youth was beautiful. They would make tails on both sides, the hair, and then would tie those ribbons in their hair.
It must be noted that the productivity of this hybrid form is remarkable, for borrowed verbs from the Baranja Slavic contact idiom are also creolized with its help:
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E, atuncea batarnii noti-n multa randuri a fost bal, mari bal, apa, i-puca peti i ducea pan sate sa vinda. E, da iale prosasa (< Sr./Cr. prositi beg, vb, imperfect, III, pl + -sa). But our old men, back then there were ponds, large ponds, water, they would catch fish and walk through villages to sell it. And they the women would beg. i atuncea panduri-i dasa lamne, lucra el sva{ta la panduri, paza i vacili, i obilazasa (< Sr./Cr. obilaziti go around, vb, imperfect, III, sg + -sa) ilenii Then the forest rangers would give him woods, we would work everything for the foresters, he watch over the cattle and go around the ilenii E-atunci cand a init p-urm-acasa el dancolo, el cu aia sa baveasa (< Sr./Cr. baviti se engage in, imperfect, III sg + -sa) cat eu tiu. Then, when he came back home, he was engaged in that, as far as I know.
Even if this deviant variant of the imperfect (with the particle -sa) might have us believe that it is an analogical form of pluperfect (past perfect), created from a normal variant of the imperfect, its function in use, mainly denoting an action that was happening, used to happen, or happened regularly in the past and was on-going, still indicates that it is an imperfect. Sikimi} 2005d discusses the use and function of another verbal particle, -ra, in the idioms of the Bayash in Vojvodina (Serbia). These vernaculars are characterized by a high frequency of the suffixal particle -ra in the morphology of the verb (especially perfect and present), whose use is optional and which has no evident functional or stylistic utility: Care cum vreau-ra. Which how want-ra. Ce vreau duce-ra. What want take-ra. Care cum vrea. Which how wants. (Sikimi} 2005d: 158159). The use of this particle was extremely localized in Romania (a zone around Bucharest) and has no correspondent among other Bayash idioms in Serbia, being preserved only in those localities which are not under the influence of more prestigious Romanian vernaculars or of the mass media in Romanian, which would correct this deviation (Sorescu Marinkovi} 2008b). Analogically, the above-mentioned deviant variant of the imperfect might have existed at a certain period in a limited area of Romania, but it has not been recorded by dialectologists. It is highly improbable that the Bayash made such innovations in the relatively short period of time they spent in Croatia. The preservation of this deviant form might have been supported by the existence of imperfect and aorist in the Baranja contact idiom (imperfect forms: ~itah, ~ita{e, ~ita{e, ~istasmo, ~itaste, ~itahu; aorist forms:
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pro~itah, pro~ita, pro~ita, pro~itasmo, pro~itaste, pro~ita{e). Analogically to many other similar phenomena from Balkan linguistics, it might be that the frequent -{e endings of aorist and imperfect in the third person singular and plural, as well as the fact that Romanian does not make any distinction between perfective and imperfective verbs, helped to preserve and intensify the use of these forms,36 but we must admit that we are far from offering a definitive solution to this question. In Baranja, we also noted great instability of conjugation, which goes as far as to create a new paradigm, on the basis of a new infinitive, most often formed by analogy with the third person singular:37
item (we are) > iti (to be), instead of standard Rom. fi tiem (we know) > tia (to know), instead of standard Rom. ti audem (we hear) > audea (to hear), instead of standard Rom. auzi la (takes) > la (to take), instead of standard Rom. lua
At the same time, there is great variation and instability of the forms of the verb to be in the present, where Banaean and Muntean forms are mixed:
mi-s/mi-sc (I am) iati ((you) are) ii, iate ((he/she) is) is, item ((we) are) ite ((you) are) iate, is ((they) are)
In Baranja, past tense forms for the third person, singular and plural, are made with the auxiliary a, as in Muntenia, as opposed to other dialectal areas where the past tense is formed with o and or: a facut ((he/she/they) made/did), a mers ((he/she/they) went), a lucrat ((he/she/they) worked). We can also notice the identity of the third person singular and plural past tense forms of the verb, a feature characteristic to Muntenia, as well as the identity of the third person singular and plural, for the present verbal forms.
36 As Lindstedt notices, a strong second language of a bilingual individual may and does influence the first language even when it is used in a monolingual setting (Lindstedt 2005: 240) and, as a consequence, even complicated subsystems, such as the Balkan verb system with several past tenses, can be retained if there is sufficient structural overlap between the languages (idem: 205). 37 Also encountered in the Romanian vernaculars spoken in Hungary. For this comment and many of the following explanations I am greatly indebted to dialectologist Maria Marin, from the Iorgu Iordan Al. Rosetti Institute of Linguistics in Bucharest, who read the transcripts, used in this paper and made useful suggestions.
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A common feature of both Baranja and Medjimurje vernaculars is that many verbs from the local contact idioms are inflected with the help of Romanian affixes. However, in Medjimurje, verbs borrowed from Croatian are inflected in a different manner than in Baranja and in the Bayash communities of Serbia:
Medjimurje sa iavle}e Baranja & Serbia sa iave}e
< Sr./Cr. javljati/javiti se (perfective and imperfective forms) send word, give a sign of oneself, vb, refl, present, III, sg or pl < Sr./Cr. kititi ornament, vb, present, I, pl < Sr./Cr. pamtiti remember, vb, present, III, sg or pl < Sr./Cr. slaviti celebrate, vb, refl, present, III, sg < Sr./Cr. pojaviti se appear, vb, refl, imperfect, III, sg
Table 2. Serbo-Croatian verbs accommodated to the system of Romanian language in Medjimurje, Baranja and Serbia.
It might be that the differences in inflection between Medjimurje, on the one hand, and Baranja and Serbia, on the other, more exactly the -lparticle which appears in the Croatian verbs accomodated to the system of Bayash vernaculars, represent an influence and a reflex of Kajkavian phonetics of the verb (see Brozovi} & Ivi} 1988: 9197). In Medjimurje we also noted the frequent use of the imperfect (see Transcript 4 at the end of the paper), even if the Kajkavian dialect spoken there practically does not make use of the imperfect nor of the aorist. In Medjimurje we encountered the use of the infinitive as direct object, as well. It must be said that no such a construction was registered among the Bayash in Baranja or Serbia, da + present being preferred instead. This might be due to the influence of the local Kajkavian dialect, where the infinitive is used in situations where Serbian and its dialects prefer the da + present construction: nu }ii sfati (you cant talk), in Medjimurje, as opposed to nu }ii sa sfa}e},38 in Serbia.
38 This is only a presumptive example, because nu }ii sa sfa}e} can hardly be heard in Serbia, where the verb vorbi (to speak) is used instead of sfati. The former is characteristic of Muntean vernaculars, while the latter for Ardelean ones.
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The reduction of the infinitive in Romanian, which is by no means total, is usually considered a Balkanism (Steinke & Vraciu 1999: 120), however Assenova 2002 believes that not the lack or narrowing of the infinitive must be considered a Balkanism, but the substitution of the infinitive in an identical way in all the Balkan languages with subordinate constructions which alternate with the infinitive and assume its functions, until finally they replace it. The same author makes the following note: The replacement of the infinitive with analytical constructions in Serbo-Croatian completes the pattern of a typically Balkan area of an unequal distribution: a compact center of full (or almost full) replacement of the infinitive (Bulgarian, Greek, Aromanian) emerges, and moving away from that center toward the north and northwest, the infinitive construction becomes progressively more widespread (Assenova 2002: 319). Thus, the preservation of the infinitive with the Bayash from Medjimurje can be explained as the influence of the contact idiom, the Kajkavian dialect, which is far away from the above-mentioned center of replacement of the infinitive. 3.3.2.2. The article In Baranja, nouns in the genitive are declined by the use of both preposed and postposed genitival article, which, in standard and dialectal Romanian, is an either-or option:
muchea lu sacurii (Rom. muchea securii the sickles handle) muma a lu featii (Rom. mama fetei the girls mother) muma a lu ficiorului (Rom. mama feciorului the grooms mother)
Petrovici, during his 1937 fieldtrip among the Bayash in ^oke{ina, also noted this type of genitive buricu a lu zazitului (the fingertip) among others, such as: dosu minii (the backhand), osu-al umirului (the collarbone), mucu-al iii (the nipple), gura lu camaii (the skirts collar), but made no comment on it (Petrovici 1938: 231). For the indefinite article singular, masculine and feminine (Rom. un and o), the archaic Romanian variants unu and una are used (this phenomenon has also been registered in other regions inhabited by Romanians outside Romania):
una una unu unu vreame (Rom. o vreme a period) orba (Rom. o vorba a word) cupil (Rom. un copil a child) cal (Rom. un cal a horse)
In Medjimurje, this archaic form of the indefinite article is used only sporadically, much more rarely than in Baranja:
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3.3.3.3 The adjective In Baranja, we recorded the use of the adjective alt/alta (another, masc and fem) with the meaning of next, second, following, in the expression:
alta zi (Rom. a doua zi the next day)39
As for the degrees of comparison of adjectives (and adverbs), we must mention the formation of the comparative of superiority with the help of the element da, as in the Aromanian, Istroromanian and Meglenoromanian dialects,40 an archaic feature of the Romanian language (today, in standard Romanian, decat totally replaced da):
mai batarn da mine (older than me)41
The superlative of superiority is formed, as in Istroromanian, in the same way as the comparative of superiority: with the help of the adverb mai plus the positive form of the adjective (or adverb), but the stress is not on the adjective (or adverb) anymore, but on mai (Caragiu Marioeanu 1975: 200):
mai batarn (the oldest)
The Romanian vernaculars spoken by the Vlachs of north-eastern Serbia, which belong to the Dacoromanian dialect, also preserve this form of superlative.42 3.3.3.4. Other Both in Baranja and in Medjimurje, frequent use of the particle god/god/gode/godea/go| (< Sr./Cr. god ever) is noted, mainly (but not necessarily) with adverbs and (undetermined) pronouns, which emphasizes the indefinite value:
39 This might also be due to the influence of the Croatian language, where the two are expressed with the help of the same word: drugi/druga/drugo (second, following, another, next). 40 For details on the formation of degrees of comparison in these three dialects, see Caragiu Marioeanu 1975; for the present state of the degrees of comparison and their use in Aromanian, see Bara, Kahl & Sobolev 2005: 126. 41 This example was recorded in Darda. 42 For a detailed discussion on the formation of degrees of comparison in the Balkan languages, see Assenova 2002: 117123.
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ce gode-o zace (whatever he might say) pana god nu sa plateasca mult ban (as long as they dont pay a lot of money) care god (whoever)
The use of this particle in the speach of Romaniaphone populations is nothing new, being also registered in other regions inhabited by Romanians who live in a Slavic or Hungarian environment, such as the Romanians in the Serbian Banat, the Vlachs in northeastern Serbia or the Romanians in Hungary, as well as in the Romanian vernaculars spoken in the Romanian Banat (Boldurean 2007: 500 gives examples of the use of this Slavic element in the Banat dialectal literature). 3.4. Munteni vs Ardeleni: a lexical comparison In Table 3, we give a list of lexemes recorded in the Bayash communities in Croatia we have visited so far (similar to the one Barjaktarovi} published in 1964). We have grouped together the Muntean localities Darda and Beli Manastir in Baranja, because the lexical differences between them are minor. Even if we believe that the Ardelean vernacular spoken in Torjanci (Baranja) is under the strong influence of the neighbouring Muntean one, we also included in the table lexemes registered here, for a possible lexical comparison with the Ardelean vernacular from Kur{anec (Medjimurje). Some of the words were obtained as answers to the linguistic questionnaire, which, as we mentioned before, was only sporadically used, while other terms were mentioned in spontaneous conversations. Due to inconsistency in using the questionnaire, some of the terms are missing.
Kur{anec (Ardeleni) o ara beri clitari nouru ina(i)ma poplan lipi|ou roda udvar sfati Darda and Beli Manastir (Munteni) oleaca / leaca piva par ceriu imana cearap barzanca avlie *urbi Torjanci (Ardeleni) imana iorgan lipi|ou cucustric udvar a little beer glass sky stomach comforter bed sheet stork courtyard speak
203 long ago lamb sheep (in the) back, behind corn pigeon window sugar chair the Fates slaughter (the pig) tomato man / husband woman / wife the language they speak
canva birca inapoi cucuruz obloc ucur scon uran|i omora (porcu) (pres, III, sing) baia / agan baieaa / aganca baia}e
mante / curand melu voia indarat poromb golomb pinger echeru scaunu sudniile injunghiai (porcu) (imperf, I, sing) iabucia agan / ruman aganca / rumanca aganete / romanete
paradica
We observe a fairly clear distinction between south-Romanian (or Muntean) and north-Romanian (Ardelean) lexemes, the former being in use mainly in Darda and Beli Manastir, the latter in Medjimurje and the small Ardelean village of Torjanci. Apart from this, we should also draw attention to some Romanian archaisms, such as custa to live and cust life (used both in Baranja and in Medjimurje)43 and mante before, long ago (used only in Medjimurje). The verb custa (< Lat. consto, -are) represents, on the territory of Romania, an archaism encountered in old texts from the north (Moldova) and south-west (Banat) and used today only dialectally in Bihor and the Apuseni Mountains. As for mante (< Lat. magis ante), this form is found in Maramure north of the River Tisa, but also among Romanians in Hungary and in the Istroromanian dialect.
43
Not shown in Table 3, because it has the same form in all the communities studied.
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Due to close contact with the Serbian and Croatian dialects and to the fact that all Bayash are bilingual, the Romanian vernacular they speak encompasses many words from the contact idioms which are often (though not always) accommodated to Romanian phonology and phonotactics, as, for example: echeru (< Sr./Cr. {e}er), avlie (< Sr./Cr. avlija), roda (< Sr./Cr. roda). We can also observe the use of regionalisms from the Baranja Slavic contact idiom in Darda and Beli Manastir, for example: iabucia (< jabu~ica tomato), used mainly in the region of Slavonia. Even though they have not preserved the tradition that they came from Hungary, the language of the Bayash in Medjimurje is characterized by the presence of Hungarian words, as, for example: icola (< Hung. iskola school), udvar (< Hung. udvar courtyard), chiartou (< Hung. kisertet phantom).44 In Medjimurje we have recorded the word uran|i (Fates) also specific to the Bayash in Hungary (Kovalcsik 2007: 118). In Serbia, only the terms ursatori and ursoaice are in use. 3.5. Perceptual dialectology Perceptual dialectology, one of the sub-areas of investigation in folk linguistics, was the method most employed by our research team in the Bayash communities. In view of the dearth of any linguistic studies, the opinions of ordinary people belonging to these communities about the distribution of language varieties in their own and the surrounding speech communities may be a good starting point for further linguistic investigation and can provide a sketch of an approximate network of Bayash communities. Sometimes, peoples approximations confirm what we suspected or expected of a certain dialect or idiom, but in some cases there are surprising divergences from professional results or suppositions. The dialect boundaries, as they are perceived by the Bayash in Croatia, do not always overlap with the observations of the linguists and it is quite intriguing to find out why, and whether the folk can be wrong or whether we have missed something. As we said before, the differences between the Baranja localities Darda and Beli Manastir, on the one hand, and Torjanci, on the other, are minimal from the dialectological point of view, but the inhabitants of these localities emphasize their membership of two different groups, a distinction based in their subjective perception of speaking two different
44 Radosavljevi} also noted the presence of Hungarian lexical elements in the speech of the Bayash from Medjimurje (Radosavljevi} 2007: 512).
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Romanian vernaculars: Muntean and Ardelean.45 As in most cases when asked to detail the actual differences between groups and/or vernaculars, people refer only to lexical differences. Thus, a participant from Darda mentioned the following lexemes which individualize the two vernaculars: avlie (yard), used in Darda, a Muntean term, as opposed to udvar (used in Torjanci, thus an Ardelean one), cicla luntra (boat), echeru ucur (sugar), vino-ndarat vino-napoi (come back), with the observation that in Darda napoiu means food for pigs.46 Another participant from Beli Manastir points to other terms that differ in the two vernaculars, namely cuat (knife) in Beli Manastir as opposed to brica in Torjanci and marama (headscarf) as opposed to chingioua, while a man from Torjanci points in turn also to lexical differences but giving other terms: troaca, as used by the community in Torjanci, as opposed to albie (trough), used by the Munteni, poromb golomb (pigeon), cucuruz poromb (corn).47 The Bayash in Croatia, and from all over the Balkans, are aware of the existence of other Bayash communities in their surroundings and elsewhere, and despite physical distance have various connections with them, thus forming a mental network, or mental continuity (Sikimi} 2006e). This mental continuity is a trans-border phenomenon, as new borders are drawn in the Balkans and massive transplantations of whole Bayash settlements
45 Willy Diercks, commenting on the linguistic-geographic daily knowledge (the mental maps) of his subjects, argues that: Dialect boundaries, as parts of a filter that contributes to the delimitation of close surroundings, are particularly dependent on the dialect competence of the speaker/listener and on his or her ability to perceive linguistic differences. This ability to perceive linguistic differences, however, is not primarily associated with dialect competence. It is partially based on personal experience with various dialects but also includes popular opinions about the linguistic area (identifying words, identifying sounds). The concepts which are handed down and sanctioned by the group are of great importance. For example, it is possible to discover opinions of a neighboring region which refer to previously existing economic differences between the two areas differences, for example, which, through advances in agrarian technology or political intervention, no longer exist. The opinions survive longer than the actual existence of the cause of the attitude toward the neighbors language/dialect; the language cliche stays the same (Diercks 2002: 5253). 46 Otherness is most of the times also marked by pointing to differences in the ways of speaking or pronounciation. 47 Emil Petrovici considers this to be a key-term which indicates the Muntean origin of the Romanian speaking Coritari from western Serbia: Even if they havent kept the tradition that they came from Muntenia, they cannot have left the Romanian lands too long ago. Thus, they use the word porombi (plur. tant.) for corn. As corn started being cultivated in Muntenia towards the end of the 17th century, in the beginning of the 18th century these Gypsies must have still been in the places where they had been Romanized (Petrovici 1938: 228).
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take place into the countries of Western Europe. However, the further away the Bayash communities are, the more distorted and faint the perception or real knowledge of the vernaculars spoken by them. For example, the Bayash from Medjimurje talked about Bulmani and Munteni as two different groups, but did not know exactly where they live, nor could they point to specific differences in their vernaculars. Some of the participants expressed the opinion that Bulmani and Munteni are two names for the same group, others said there are two different groups, both of which live beyond Zagreb. As for the Bulmani, some said they dont know either Lacatare}e (Gypsy), nor Baia}e, but speak a mixed idiom, others just said that they cant speak proper Bayash (again, the ethnonym Baia is only common to those from Medjimurje). Saramandus informants from Pribislavec (Medjimurje) also mention the Bulmani/Bulumani and Munceni living in the Sisak Maslova~ka county, Baranja and Slavonija, saying that their language is closer to that of the Romanians from Bosnia and Vojvodina, and so to the language spoken by the researcher (Saramandu 1997: 116119). His informants distinguish three groups whose first language is Romanian Baiei, Munceni and Bulumani but cannot explain the differences between the last two. It is interesting to note how, at a distance of less than 300 km, the gentilic derived from the toponym Bolman has lost its meaning, but lived on and came to denote a particular group of Bayash which, in fact, does not exist as a separate entity. As the Munteni from Baranja say, their original settlement was Bolman hence the gentilic which, in fact, is synonymous with Munteni.48 Nevertheless, many times the perceptions of other groups of Bayash living at great distances are not distorted and coincide with the researchers observations. Thus, the Bayash from Baranja say that those from Bosnia, Karavlasi, speak the same vernacular as theirs (isto ca i noi), while the differences between the Romanian spoken in Baranja and in Medjimurje are significant and impede communication, this being the reason why they refer to Croatian. Furthermore, one participant from Darda even said that they cannot properly communicate in Croatian either, because those from Medjimurje have their own language, Kajkavian.49
48 Lacking an umbrella ethnonym to encompass all the Bayash groups, toponyms are frequently transformed into gentilics which are further used as a substitute for people speaking the same language as ours. A participant from Kur{anec, for example, speaking of her daughter who married in Serbia into a Bayash community, calls the Bayash community living there Cruuvleni (meaning from Kru{evac, even if they do not actually live in Kru{evac proper but in the villages in its surrounding). 49 See section 3.2. before for details on the Kajkavian dialect of the Croatian language.
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When asked to provide detail on the Romanian idiom spoken by the Bayash in the far north of the country, he said that they mai mult ardeleni vorbeate (speak more Ardelean), as do those from Hungary and also from Torjanci. But, as mentioned before, the vernacular spoken in nearby Torjanci is strongly influenced by the Muntean vernacular spoken in the surrounding localities and does not differ significantly from it, the exceptions being mainly lexical. In their turn, the Bayash from Medjimurje also said they can understand those from Hungary and are in contact with them, some of them even mentioning that they came from Hungary. It is important to notice that even when the participants could not point to specific linguistic differences between idioms, they would say that the community they were asked about speaks almintrilea (differently) or even that every village has its own vernacular (in tot satu almitrilea). It appears that almost each and every village has its own idiom, which differs only slightly from the ones surrounding it but is perceived as different by the members of the local community. This is also supported by Saramandu, who noticed differences in pronunciation between the cumpane in Medjimurje.50 In Serbia, idiom mixing is so pronounced that reliable linguistic conclusions can only be drawn by analyzing the idiolects of the interlocutors (Sikimi} 2005d: 158), which might also be the case in Croatia, but further investigation is needed. There exists a set of variables according to which the researcher is evaluated and categorized by the participant, such as social status, age, gender and place of origin (Sorescu Marinkovi} 2007). The language or dialect spoken by the researcher is, especially in the Bayash environment, another important factor according to which the members of the community try to build up the researcher, as perceptions of dialect are, in essence, nothing more than perceptions of people (Martinez 2003: 39). In Medjimurje, it turned out that similarities between the vernaculars we and our interlocutors were speaking were more important than differences in defining my identity, in humanizing me, in the proper sense of the word, because Baia among the Bayash in Medjimurje and agan among those in Baranja mean the same thing, that is: human, man/woman. Thus, after a discussion about Bayash and Munteni, I asked them: Io ce sant, munteanca sau baieaa? (What am I: Muntean or Bayash woman?) BaiSaramandu believes that these differences are due to the isolation that exists between the cumpane of Croatian Bayash, which, in his opinion, are relatively closed communities (Saramandu 1997: 100). Our opinion differs: as we have shown before, the Bayash communities are connected by a strong mental continuum, thus the existing differences are not due to isolation, but to the different places of origin of these groups in the Romanian lands.
50
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eai. Sa nu fii maritata atuncea n-ai fi baieaa. (Bayash. If you were not married, you would not be Bayash woman.) Dar ce-a fi? (What would I be then?) Fata. (Girl.) Questions I was asked in Medjimurje, such as: Is everybody in Romania Bayash?, have their equivalent in Baranja, but with much less frequency: E mare aganie-n Romania? (Are there many Gypsy quarters in Romania?) However, in Baranja I was once included in the other dialectal group, the Munteni, by an Ardelean participant from Torjanci, from my way of speaking: Ti bi bila Muncenia. (You would be a Muntean woman.) 4. Conclusions 4.1. If we are to determine the place of the Muntean vernacular spoken in Baranja in the Bayash vernaculars of the Balkans we can find similarities with those from Serbia, south of the Danube. Thus, it would not be too venturesome to say that vernacular belongs to the Bayash Sava continuum, while the one spoken in Medjimurje belongs to the Bayash Drava continuum. However, this division is very approximate and the recent dislocations of the population and migrations have caused major changes in the ethnic profile of the region. It would be interesting to see what lies in between these two geographical extremes, Baranja and Medjimurje, and what Romanian vernaculars are spoken by the Bayash in the other regions of Croatia, even if, as we have mentioned before, these communities were greatly affected during WWII, some of them scattered away, others completely exterminated. Thus, in their place might have settled Bayash colonists from other regions of Croatia, Serbia or Bosnia. 4.2. As regards the Romanian vernaculars spoken in Baranja, we may observe that the lack of normative instances and contact with the Croatian language allowed them to develop in a direction which is partially unknown to the other Romanian dialects in Romania. Furthermore, the norm of this linguistic system is very flexible and tolerant, the system being extremely elastic and permitting the parallel coexistence of more units with the same function.51 In normal communities, the expectation is that adults act as brakes on the innovations produced by children so that analogical and other deviant forms are corrected and do not persist. In the case of dying, pidgin and some minority languages it may be that children have greater scope to act as norm-makers due to the fact that a great deal of variability exists among the adult community (Romaine
51 Unfortunately, the reduced material from Medjimurje does not permit us to make the same statements about the vernacular spoken there.
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2001: 372). At the same time, the absence of corrective pressure or a model has made it possible to preserve some archaic characteristics which in Romania have already disappeared. It is not out of place to say that today only dialectological investigations conducted outside of Romania, in Romaniaphone communities, can offer an accurate image of the Romanian dialects, or of what they might have transformed into were it not for the normative power of the standard Romanian language. 4.3. The Bayash of Croatia, like those of the Balkans, form an authentic community of practice. Even if they are scattered all over the country, their group cohesion is relatively strong. Additionally, their remarkable group endogamy has been pointed out repeteadly. They can marry hundreds of kilometers away, in communities which inevitably speak an understandable, but nonetheless different idiom. Because of this, they need a very high communicative competence which can only be attained by a relaxing of the linguistic rules and putting understanding between the members in the first place. The Munteni group is aware of the fact that their idiom is different from that of the Ardeleni and they stress this all the time, pointing to the features that are different. However, this does not lead to exclusion, but to a widening of their lexicon and the enhancement of their communicative competence, the most important being understanding between members of the community, not the linguistic rule. Transcripts:
52
The system of transcription, as mentioned before, will be a simplified one, for the texts to be easily readable. We have only marked the stressed syllables in the linguistic parts of the paper proper. The researchers questions are put in brackets and are preceded by the initial of their name: A Annemarie Sorescu Marinkovi}, B Biljana Sikimi}, T Toni Maru{i}. As for the interlocutors, in order to protect their identity, women were marked with W, men with M and boys with B. If there were more interlocutors we added figures to these letters (e.g. W1, W2, M1, M2 etc.). We must notice that the pronounciation is not consistent with any of the interlocutors. In the first column, where the original recording is presented, we marked the words or fragments in Croatian in Italic, but in the English translation, in the second column, we used all the toponyms and anthroponyms in Croatian, regardless of the original. We used the following graphic markers, meaning: *** completely incomprehensive, word unintelligible word, pause, essential explanation, in the English text, which lacks in the Romanian one or the meaning in the original text is not complete without it, /reaction/ interlocutors or researchers reactions. Last but not least, we must express our gratitude to Biljana Sikimi}, who carefully listened to all the recordings, read all transcripts, made very useful suggestions and transcribed the fragments in Kajkavian.
52
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1) Darda, 18 May 2006: (B: i cand s-au naselit iganii aici? In sat.) M: Mul ai, mul ai, mul ai, aici a fost tri frea, aicea, in Darda, aici-n Zlatnia, ca biv{a Zlatnia cand gode-a fost. (A: Trei frai?) M: Tri frea. Steva, Iova i mai unu Nu mai tiu cum il cheama, am uitat ve}. Ei tri frea. i dan aia tri frea aicea s-a Atuncea dan Bulman isto, Bulmanu -asta isto a fost. E, da. Tri frea, da, a fost -aici s-a naselit -atuncea s-a-nsurat dabome i dan Ba~ka, dan Monoturu Ba~ki i dan, dan Turian i Bine, Turianu ei n-a fost mai atuncea, tii, el a fost Bulmanu. A, da. Aia mare naselje-a fost acia. aganie mare-a fost. Mante, acuma noi za}em aganie ca za}e ei to ca agan -atunci *** ca agan. Ce gode-o zace ei sa item, noi am iti. Nu putem, nu tiem ce item. Da ri item rudari, da ri item (B: Baiei.) M: Baia! E, nu, nu tiu, nu tiu. W: Io gandesc ca item romani, nu? M: A nu tiu. Matematica nostra e rumanasca, nu? Da cum zace ca item ruman, atuncea nu ne priznaiasca rumani. W: Pa alta ce noi item ramani, da custam in Hrvatska, al nu ni priznaiate Romania, za}e bar aa ca nu ni priznaiate. Al nikad
(B: When have the Gypsies settled here? In the village.) M: A lot of years ago, there were three brothers, here, in Darda, here in Zlatnica, former Zlatnica. (A: Three brothers?) M: Three brothers. Steva, Jova and another one I cant remember his name, I forgot it. Three brothers. And from those three brothers Then from Bolman the same, Bolman was the same. Yes. Three brothers, yes, they settled here and then married girls from Ba~ka, from Ba~ki Mono{tor and from Torjanci Well, Torjanci did not exist back then, you know, it was Bolman. It was a big settlement. A big Gypsy settlement. Before, now we say Gypsy settlement because everybody says they are Gypsy and then *** Gypsy. Whatever they tell us to be, we would be. We cant, we dont know what we are. Are we Rudari, are we (B: Bayash.) M: Bayash! Well, no, I dont know, I dont know. W: I think we are Romanians, right? M: But I dont know. Our mathematics is Romanian, right? But if we say we are Romanians, Romanians do not recognize us. W: Its different, we are Romanians, but live in Croatia and Romania doesnt recognize us, or at least its said it doesnt recognize
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noi n-am mers incolo s-audem da li ne priznaiate or nu ne priznaiate, aia lumea za}e ca nu ne priznaiate. i noi is rumani. Ali custam in Hrvatska, nu? Mai curand a fost asta pod Jugoslavijom, acu ii Hrvatska. Ali noi tiem noi aia limba ce zace romii, noi a lor limba nu tiem mamica, ni una orba. M: Ni n-am tiut, ni nu tiem, nu priipem, iate care tie. W: A da ramani ve} tiem. Ramanate orbe. Ali za}e ca nu ni priznaiate Ramania, da u stvari noi n-am mers incoloi, dantre noi mamilea sa-ntrebam sa tiem da li ni priznaiate. Aia nov aui za}e ca nu ni priznaiate, nu vrea sa ne prihvateasca. Al mo`da i vrea. Noi n-a mers mamil dantre noi sa-ntrebam. M: La nam item igoineri, la aia item iara gipsi, la atialan item Cigani, pa ne zna{ kome se da opredeli{, nemam pojma, nu tiem sa ne-opredelim sa za}em asta-i limba nostra i ara nostra. Noi n-avem ara. Noi item aa, nacionalna manjina. Da nacionalna manjina io nu tiu, n-am poima cum. Nu tiu, io gandesc ca n-ar trebuia sa item nacionalna manjina c-a nostra-i orba rumanasca orba. Acuma ce noi i laca pranesam vi{e srpski ili hrvatski, to je |e `ivi{ tako i razgovara{. Pricepi tu acuma ce zac? (A: Da, pricep.)
us. But never have we travelled there to hear whether they recognize us or not. Its only people talking. We are Romanians. But live in Croatia, right? Before it was under Yugoslavia, now its Croatia. But we dont know the language Roma speak, at all, not a single word. M: We didnt know it and we dont know it, we cant understand it, there are people who can. W: But we understand Romanian. Romanian words. But they say Romania doesnt recognize us, but, in fact, nobody went there to ask, to know whether they recognize us. They *** say they dont recognize us, they dont want to accept us. But maybe they do. Nobody went there to ask. M: For Germans we are Gypsies, for the others we are again Gypsies, for those we are Gypsies, you dont know whom to commit to, I have no idea, we dont know to commit and to say this is our language and our country. We have no country. We are a national minority. But I dont know in which way national minority, I have no idea. I dont know, I believe we shouldnt be national minority, because our language is Romanian. But now we speak more Serbian or Croatian, you speak the language of the country you live in. Do you understand now what Im saying? (A: Yes, I do.)
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M: E, pa. W: Ei vrea s-auda cum a fost mante la noi lumea, cum s-a naselit lumea. M: La noi a fost tradicija almintrilea. Pravo ono rumana}e a fost. Ardilanii i mun}anii. Noua za}e mun}anii, da-n Ba~ka ardilanii. Pa da. Da, da. Nu tiu sa zac alta. (B: Sant i ardeleani aici la Baranja?) W: Care cum s-a-nsurat -a vinit dan altilea sate, dan Apatin, dan Ba~ka i iate ardilani, ali mai mult noi item mun}ani. Da noi sa za}e ca noi item mun}ani. Acuma alta care cineva s-a-nsurat, s-a maritat, i mai p-urma incoce are porodia, cupii, i to je ondak nastanjeno. Nu e atuncea aia dancoce. Ipak aia-i do{ljaci, ce-a vinit dan alta parte. M: Nu orbeate ni tot satu jednako. Bulumanu ve} almintrilea olaca aia orba. Darda ve} almintrilea. 2) Darda, 18 May 2006: W1: -atuncea lunta cand e la noi, nu? La noi, ce ciu, nu ciu cum la voi lunta, ali la noi mearge i prosati pa fata Sora, spun tu?
M: Well, good. W: They want to hear how it was before here with us, how people settled here. M: We had a different tradition. It was a real Romanian one. Ardeleni and Munteni. We are called Munteni and those in Ba~ka Ardeleni. Well, yes. Yes, yes. I dont know what else to say. (B: Are there Ardeleni also here in Baranja?) W: If they got married and came from other villages, from Apatin, from Ba~ka, and there are also Ardeleni, but more Munteni. Its said we are Munteni. Its different if they got married here and have family and children, it means they have settled. Its not the same. Still, it means they are newcomers, they came from somewhere else. M: They dont speak the same everywhere. In Bolman its already different. Darda already different.
W2: Spune samo tu. W1: Mearge i prosate pa fata, -atuncea sa pogodeate cat. Na primer, sto kila da pane, dvaest
W1: Then the wedding with us, right? With us, what do I know, I dont know how the wedding is with you, but with us they go and propose to the girl Sister, will you describe? W2: You go on. W1: They go and propose to the girl, and then they strike a bargain about it. For example, a
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litara da rachiu, asta-a samo zac najmanje, al to, to sve najvi{e mearge, nu? Atuncea cinci-asa porci, cinci-asa, atea, voi, nu? -atuncea culacii, tortili, nu? Salatia, tot aia, -atuncea vine i ceare pa fata i pune rok in care datung, in care zi lunta aia, nu? E, atuncea a lu feati luntai, pozivaci, pa cine cheama, la ea vini. -a lu ficiorului, to sa sastaneace la fata aia. -atuncea acia faci una ca vecera, nu, faci mancari, bea, canta, -atuncea cu muzica o la pa fata pan la ua. Acuma fata trebu sa sa scot-afara. E, da neki, care mai batarn om, bariacu il pune pa ua, il inapa pa ua bariacu, i albia cu banii, albia-n jos, apa-nuntru. i to mora sa varleasca bani marun in apa aia. E, da pa nivasta nu slobodi-afara. Pana god nu sa plateasca mult ban. E-atuncea cand vine Aia dugo ei sa chicheace, nu da fata, la noi aa lunta.
W2: Sa pogodeate. W1: Pogodeala. Cat zace asta mai batarn agan, na primer ako zace sto jevra ili petsto jevra ili iljadu jevra, primer. Cand mi damo iljadu jevra atuncea fata mear-acas. Asta zace: Nu pot sa- dau io ie-atita, io- dau ie, na primer, dvesto jevra. A, pa nu po sa-mi dai tu mie dvesto jevra, fata nu mearge, fata ramane la noi pana god nu-mi dai iljadu jevra. E, atuncea asta la i scote iljadu jevra, atuncea aia ca
hundred kilograms of bread, twenty liters of brandy, and Im giving the smallest figures, but everything is the biggest, right? Then five-six pigs, five-six oxen, right? Then the wedding cakes, right? The salad, everything, and then they come and propose to the girl and set a term, what date, the day the wedding will take place, right? Well, then, the girls guests, her wedding callers, those she chooses to invite, they come to her. And the grooms, they all meet at the girls. Then here they have dinner, eat, drink, sing, then accompany the girl with music to the door. Now they have to take the girl out. But a man, the oldest, puts the flag on the door, sticks the flag on the door, and puts down the trough with water and money inside. And everybody must throw coins in the water. But they dont let the bride out. As long as they dont pay a lot of money. When that happens They haggle for a long time, they dont let the girl go, and this is the wedding like with us. W2: They agree upon. W1: The agreement. How much this oldest Gypsy says, for example if he says a hundred euros or five hundred euros or a thousand euros, for example. When you give me a thousand euros, then you can take the girl home. This one says: I cant give you that much, Ill give you, for example, two hundred euros. Well, you cant give me two hundred euros, the girl is not going, the girl stays with us until you give
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bariacu ala cu bota aia sa la i muzica canta a fata mearge. Da tu, sora-mea, po spuni mai bine. Ca io ma-mpletesc i d-ai-aa.
W2: Pa bine-ai zas. Iaca, cand sa prosate, aia prosto, ali cand sa fura fata, atuncea-i mai almintrilea. Cand prosate pa fata, atuncea aa cum ea zace, mearge i sa pogodeate cat carne, pane, tot sa pogodeate. U stvari nekad face zajedno, nekad face posebno. -atunci cand vine randu i duce pa fata aia da la ea d-acasa, o duce pan sat, okolo, cu caii. Fuca cata cinci-asa cucii. Ili carli, cum mante ireasa. Caii, cata doi cai: doi negri, doi vana, doi roii, doi albi, zavisate li pareate care mai mandre cai, care paru ala, coma aia mare. -atuncea l-inchiteate cu marami da camir, cu flori, cu rujie l-inchiteate. i in cuciile-alea ade deveruili. Iate asa deverue, iate nova deverue. i nivasta-i a zeacilea, nu? Dova, dova deverue, tote cate dova, alini are jednako. Lungi, ca i nivasta. Ali boja druk~ije. Dova roe, dova vanate, dova vearde, dova galbine. i are buchetu-n par i a lor deverii cu featili-alea isto, are isto buchetu in pazanari, ei su gatii in ruva nagra, camaa alba
me a thousand euros. Well, then this one takes out a thousand euros, then they take off that flag with that stick and the music plays on and the girl walks. But you, my sister, you can tell better. Because I ***. W2: You told everything right. Look, when one proposes, thats simple, but when the girl is stolen, then its different. When they propose to the girl, then its as she says, they go and agree on how much meat, bread, they agree upon everything. In fact, sometimes they make it together, sometimes separately. Then when the time comes and they take the girl from her house, they drive her through the village, all around, with horses. They pull five-six carriages. Or carts, as before. The horses, two by two: two black, two brown, two red, two white, it depends, the nicest horses, which have that big hair, big mane. Then they adorn them with Cashmere scarves, with flowers, with roses. And the biresmaids sit in those carriages. There can be six or nine bridesmaids. And the bride is the tenth, right? Two by two bridesmaids, they wear identical gowns. Long, like the bride. But the colour is different. Two are red, two blue, two green, two yellow. And they have a bouquet in their hair and the groomsmen with these girls the same, they also have the bouquet in their pocket, they wear black costumes, white shirts W1: And a necktie
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W2: i apela mandru nagra ca i mante cum ireasa, nu? Cu pi, c-aa c-acu ponovo ce sa duce. -atuncea ei ade in carle-alea unde mai mandru, unde pichirile-alea mandre albe, i camirurle-alea, acia ade omladina care su mai mandre gati. W1: i nivasta. W2: i nivasta cu muzica. In unu posebno nivasta i |uvegija cu muzica. -atuncea mearge car dapa car pan leate ?. Ali laintea lu carli lora, unu copil, care mandru, care tanar, el ade pa unu cal. Calu-ala, isto pasta el iate }ilim unu, }ilim unu pasta el pa ce el ade. Nu e sedlo, nego }ilim. -inchitit cu pichire, calu ala. i cu flori. i cupilu ala tanar isto gatit in ruva nagra W1: i muzica. W2: i el are zastava, bariacu, -in sus pa koplje maru. W1: Maru-n sus pa koplje.
W2: And nice black shoes, as it was before, right? With a peak, its modern again. They sit in those carriages where its the nicest, where there are those white and nice towels and those Cashmeres, here the best dressed youth sit. W1: And the bride. W2: And the bride with the music. In a special carriage there is the bride and the bridegroom with the music. And then carriage after carriage. But before their carriage, a boy, a nice and young one, he rides a horse. And on that horse there is also a rug, he sits on it. There is no saddle, but a rug. Adorned with towels, that horse. And with flowers. And that young child is also dressed in black W1: And the music. W2: And he has that flag, and on the spear the apple. W1: The apple up on the spear. W2: And he goes ahead, he goes for example from here to that van and there they stop. Until the carriages appear. So he doesnt allow those carriages to go ahead him, he always goes in front. And he turns that horse over a little bit, he dances. M: The lady knows, its the same in Serbia. W1: The horse dances on the music. It goes on the side and dances.
W2: i el mearge lainte, mearge, primer, dancoce pana la comb-ela -incolo sta. Pana nu vine carli. Aa ca el carli-ala nu slobode sa mearga laintea lui, el ii stalno lainte. i cat-olaca l-intorce calu ala, joca. M: Pa doamna asta tie, i-n Sarbia aa, isto. W1: Cum godea canta muzica, aa ca calu ala joca. Sa strane meara calu ala i joca.
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W2: Il joca pa cal. Calu joca. W1: Atuncea limuzinili, dapa carli-ala ce-nchitite cu tanereamea aia, cu nivasta i cu |uvegija, atuncea colona cu limuzanili. Isto-nchiti. Iate lume i tanara i mai batarna, svakako. Atunci cand vine-n centar, aciia sta, ili icea, primer ba ici la noi a stat W2: La bisearica. W1: Unde-acu dugheana asta aici a stat, incolo sta i muzica canta, da omladina pa cesta joca. Atunci isto la bisearica ve} unde sa cununa, da li-n optina ili in bisearica incolo isto sta.
W2: He makes the horse dance. W1: Then the limos, behind those adorned carriages, with that youth, with the bride and the bridegroom, then the convoy of limos. Also adorned. There are both younger and older people, all sorts. Then when they arrive in the center, they make a halt here, for example here at us they made a halt W2: At the church. W1: They made a halt right in the place of this store, they stop and the music plays on, but the youth dance in the street. Then the same in the church or wherever they get married, in the townhall or in the church, its the same.
3) Beli Manastir, 19 May 2006: M: Here it was the house of M: Ici a fost casa lu pandurului, nu? A lu lugarului a fost. t h e f o r e s t r a n g e r , r i g h t ? T h e -acu el scriasa carte, n-avut pa foresters house. And now he wrote cine trimeate. Nego-l trimetea pa a letter, didnt have anybody to ala, aide, az in car i du cartea asta send it with. But he would send that la asta i la asta. -aa, atuncea one, come on, get in the cart and facea albiachii, facea lamne, take this letter to this and that. Like metere, in cubicuri, nu? this, and he would also make ***, he would cut wood, cubic meters, right? (B: Yes, yes.) (B: Da, da.) M: He would cut wood and M: Faceasa lamne i vindeasa, cu-aia custasa. Da batarnili sell it, he earned a living like that. note, baba-mea ea veasa trasta, pa But our old women, my grandspate, ea margeasa la nam, in mother, she had a big bag, wearing Lacapalba, in Novi ^eminac, in it on her back, she would go to the Sairiciu i margea i lucra pa la Germans, in Lacapalba, in Novi lume. E, atuncea batarnii noti-n ^eminac, in Sairiciu, and work for
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multa randuri a fost bal, mari bal, apa, i-puca peti i ducea pan sate sa vinda. E, da iale prosasa.
(B: Ihm, ihm.) M: Pa trasta, nu? (B: Da.) M: Cum sa spun, batranii not-a fost padura. (B: Ihm.) M: Pan paduri, nu? (B: Ihm.) M: Bine, aia, to, batarnii, nu noi. (B: Batrani, batrani, da, istoria.) M: In padure, noi ve}im in padure-am custat. A io mi-s in padure i facut. (B: Coliba?) M: E, iac-aicea-n rat, la Jagodnjak. Io nu mi-s facut in sat, nego ba la Benta la padure. Incolo mi-s facut eu. Tat-meu el lucrasa, ala ce -am spus, pan a fost lumea vie, el lucra la panduri, el a fost pismano. i atuncea panduri-i dasa lamne, lucra el sva{ta la panduri, paza i vacili, i obilazasa ilenii i Cum sa spun, a fost el *** sluga lu pandurului, nu?
people. But our old men, back then there were ponds, large ponds, water, they would catch fish and walk through villages to sell it. And they the women would beg. (B: I see.) M: With the bag, right? (B: Yes.) M: How should I put it, our forefathers were people of the woods. (B: I see.) M: In the woods, right? (B: Yes.) M: Well, our ancestors, not us. (B: The ancestors, the ancestors, the history.) M: In the woods, we have lived in the woods most of the time. I was also born in the woods. (B: In a hut?) M: No, here in the swamp, in Jagodnjak. I was not born in the village, but right in Benta, in the woods. Thats where I was born. My father worked, as long as he lived, for the forest rangers, he was litterate. Then the forest rangers would give him woods, we would work everything for the foresters, he would watch over the cattle and go around the *** and How should I say, he was *** the foresters footman, right?
218
ROMANCE BALKANS
4) Kur{anec, 20 January 2006: W: Ali aa can more sineva, postoji aie ca sa iavle}e, aca. Auz seva ca signalu, ca znacu. Io am vazut. Io am mers isto-napoiu-sta, cum s-o facut sara, dok ide devet sati, io to~no am vazut-u c-aa a|e e, cu lipi|ou mare, in cap. Io nu }iu sine era aia, nu }iu sine era aia, a ba o murit Mira lu Indre-n zale-le. Io cu e vorbem. Se, zac, fas tu aise? Nimic nu-m zase. Iara zac io: A se fas aisa? Nu }ii sfati, zac, nu }ii vurbi53? i }ii se e, pa min m-a suzburat pele, m-am spariet ceva, m-am intors da chitri e, pa fuga am alergat inontru, in casa, la el. Am spus a lui. A el n-o vazut. Am mers cu el afar sa vada, nu vad pa nimea, zase. Aie io numa sangur-am vazut. Mare. (T: A unge ast-a fost, aici?) W: Ais. Aise, da-napoi. Odma otraga. Za ovom ku}om, otraga. Da. E, onda su bili strahi. Men se sve ko`a je`ila. Be`ala sam vnutri. Pa zna{ da nisam imala vi{e da govorim nit re~. Nisam mogla kazati ni{ta od straha. E, vidi{. Zna~i, postoji aia, postoji duh. (T: i-i frica?) W: Pa, pa cum nu. B: Mene je bilo strah, odjedamput vam se netko pojavi na cesti i naprimjer, pri~ate s njim. W: But when somebody dies, it can be that something appears to you. You hear something like a signal, like a sign. I saw it. I went out in the back, in the evening, it was nine in the evening, I saw her sitting with a big bed sheet over her head. I dont know who she was, but Indres Mira had just died those days. I was speaking with her. What are you doing here? No reply. I repeat: What are you doing here? Cant you talk, cant you speak? And you know what, I got goose-pimples all over, I got scared, I turned away from her and rushed into the house to him. I told him that. He didnt see it. I went outside with him to see her, I dont see anybody, he says. It was just me who saw it. It was big. (T: Where was that, here?) W: Here. Here, in the back. Right behind. Behind this house, yes. Well, that was scary. I got goose-pimples all over. I ran inside. You know I didnt want to say any word anymore. I couldnt utter a word, thats how scared I was. You see. It means that somethnig exists, some apparition. (T: Are you scared?) W: How could I not be? B: I was also afraid, out of nowhere something appears on the road and, for example, you talk to it.
219
W: A ja sam govorila ***. A aia ai mai auzat, chiartou, }ii se-i aia chiartou? (A: Chiartau? Nu.) W: Chiartou. Aia-i foc. Aa mare para, focu. (A: A, ihm.) W: E, aia e. B: Chiartou? W: Chiartou, da. Ala-i can more kad nije dete kr{}eno. Zna{? @idov. Dok umre. Onda se to poka`e. To je chiartou sa zase p-a nostra. Ako ide{ pravo na njega on te uzima i s puta i vodi te, {to bog zna kamo, di luta. Ako ide{ direktno u njega. Uvek mora{ stati na mesto dok ti se on makne, ta vatra. Ta vatra. Onda ima{ prednost da ide{. A da ti ide{ direktno na onu vatru, ne daj bo`e. To ti je jako opasno. Onda moj tata je zalutal, zna{ da skoro kaj nije do{el vnutri vu vodu, tu peskaru veliku, a on je hodal na posal. To se naj~e{}e doga|a dok je bila, za vreme magle, dok je vani velika magla. Da, onda se to doga|a. A on je bil, na posel je i{el, u pet sata ujutro. Delal je v Vara`dinu. To mu se pojavilo na putu. On je stal na mesto, pa ka`e, i{el pri njeg je, al nije on mel strah, nikad. On je takav bil, kad je v polno}i nekam i{el. Ve} je stari ~ovek bil. I{el bi negde i rekel. Sam si je spominal, onda je, tam se je zadr`al neko vreme, evo ti ta vatra dalje, dalje od njega. Gleda za onu vatru. Tak je veliki plamen bil /she shows with her hands/. Dalje, dalje, d a l j e , o n d a j e o n i { e l r a v n o.
W: I spoke ***. But have you heard of chiartou, do you know what chiartou is? (A: Chiartau? No.) W: Chiartou. Its a fire. A big flame, a fire. (A: Oh, I see.) W: Yes, right. B: Chiartou? W: Chiartou, yes. When a nonbaptized child dies. Do you know? Jew. When its dying. Then it appears. Its chiartou in our language. If you go straight to it, it sweaps you off the road and takes you away, God knows where, where it wanders. If you go straight to it. You must always stay where you are until it goes away, that fire. That fire. Then you are free to go. But if you go straight into that fire, God forbids! Its very dangerous. Then my father lost his way, you know that he almost stepped into the water, into that big place for digging sand, he was going to his workplace. This happens mostly when the weather is foggy, when theres a lot of fog outside. Yes, then it happens. He went to work, at five oclock in the morning. He was warking in Vara`din. It appeared to him on the road. He stopped on the place, he said, it was walking in front of him, but he was never afraid. That was him, when he was going somewhere at midnight. He was already an old man. He would go somewhere and said. He understood (himself) and then he spent there some time and that fire
220
ROMANCE BALKANS
Chiartou-i ala. Jadof copilu. O murit al nu-i bu}ozat. Nekr{}eno dete bilo. Ili dete ili odrasli koji nije kr{}en i to se pojavi. Da.
(A: i cine vede focu ala, chiartou? Muierile numa?) B: Care god. Nije va`no. W: Bilo {to. Ili mu{ko ili je `ensko, uglavnom nekr{}eno koji je. Il po}e vi|e to, il po}e vi|e cari umbla aa p-acolo. Ali svako ve~er. Io cand eram in icola da umblam, umblam in hasta icola, io in tota sara mama im vina i tata inain}e, ca io avem u kasnim satima, vinem {esti razred. Io vinem, avem mul}i sasuri, sedam sati po neki put sam znala imati, a zimska doba, ve} je no}. Mama i tata vine-nain}e la mine. Ali mama i tata uvek il vi|e, nu sa-ndura sa-m spuii se-i aie. Ali uvek intrebam: Mama, se-i aie? Nu sa-ndura sa-m spuie. Sa nu ma baze-n frica, ca po neki put nu-m pu}e sa-m vie-nain}e, sangura vinem io aca. Cand avem {est sati, }ii, sangura vinem. Mi-i mare frica, de-ie nu-m spuna ei mie se-i aie. Ali uvek sa poiavle aie pa cararea asta ba. Da. Cum ii, peskara asta, }ii. Kak je ova peskara. Uvek na istom mestu.
moved away from him, further and further. He gazes at that fire. It was a big flame like this /she shows with her hands/. Further, further, further, then he went on. Thats chiartou. A Jewish child. It died, but was not baptized. It was a non-baptized child. A child or an adult person who was not baptized. That can also happen. Yes. (A: And who can see that fire, chiartou? Only women?) B : A n y b o d y . I t s n o t important. W: Whatever. Be it male, be it female, but non-baptized. Everybody can see it, people who pass by can see it. But every evening. When I was a pupil, going to school, to this school, my mother and father would come every evening to meet me, because I would have classes till late, I was in the sixth grade. I would come, Id have a lot of classes, sometimes even seven, and in winter its already dark. My mother and father would come to meet me. Mom and dad would always see it, but didnt have the heart to tell me what it was. But I would always ask: Mom, what is that? She wouldnt have the heart to tell me. Not to get afraid, because sometimes they couldnt come to meet me, so I had to turn back home alone. When I had only six classes, you know, I would turn back home alone. I was very scared, thats why they didnt want to tell me what it was. But it would always appear on this very road.
221
(A: -il ve|a i voi.) W: i io-l vi|em. Intrebam pa mama: Se-i aia focu-la, sine fase nop}a foc? Nu-i nime, nu-i nimic aie, zase. Nu ma baga-n frica. Ali ei sfate. Daspre zaua, can sa scula. A io auzem cum sfate ei. Mama i tata. Vorbe: focu-la. A io punam io forma, ma culc, n-aud. E, can ma sculam: N-am auzat iu, mar|oilor, zasem. Mar|oala, am auzat io, tu pa mine ma minsunei? /she laughs/ }ii se-i minsune}? Min.
(A: Da, da, lagati.) W: Tu pa mine ma minsunei. Ba c-acu }iu se-i aie. Acu tas, ca nu-i nimic aie, im zase mama. Nu-i nimic aie.
Yes. On these places where you dig sand up, you know how they look like. Always in the same place. (A: And you would also see it.) W: I would see it too. I would ask my mom: Whats that fire, who lights a fire in the evening? Its nobody, its nothing, she would say. Not to scare me. But they would talk. In the morning, when they would wake up. And I would overhear. Mom and dad. They would say: that fire. But I would just pretend to be asleep, not to hear. Well, when I wake up: I didnt hear anything, jokesters, I would say. You, jokester, I heard you, are you trying to lie to me? /she laughs/ Do you know what minsune} means? To lie. (A: Yes, yes, to tell a lie.) W: Youre lying to me. But now I know what it is. Now you shut up, its nothing, my mom would reply. Its nothing.
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This paper forms part of the discussions and field reports on the ethnolinguistic vitality of the small ethnic group of the Bayash, submitted at the Balkan linguistics conferences in Sofia in 2002 and St Petersburg in 2004 (Sikimi} 2003, 2005a). Here we present a brief insight into the current situation of Romanian vernaculars spoken by the Karavlachs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on fieldwork conducted in 2006 in the village of Lopare. The Karavlachs of Bosnia all Orthodox Christians, sometimes considered Gypsies by locals and their network of settlements have been the subject of several ethnographic studies, if very few linguistic ones, having been discovered by the academic public in the late nineteenth century. The most comprehensive and controversial is an ethnographic study by Teodor Filipesku, published in 1907 in a reliable scientific journal of the time: the Glasnik zemaljskog muzeja u Sarajevu (the Herald of the National Museum in Sarajevo). The scientific dispute over Karavlach ethnicity began in the early 20th century between Serbian ethnologist Tihomir Djordjevi} (1907, 1907a) and Romanian researcher, Isidor Iean, over data contained in the latters monograph of 1906:
Mr Je{an mentions Orthodox Romanians in the Vlasenica district and their well-preserved nationality. They moved to this region a long time ago, perhaps during the time of the Romanian struggles against the Turks on the left bank of the Danube But Mr Je{an should know that these are not Romanians but Romanian Gypsies, of whom there are many in Serbia and Bulgaria. Weigand personally discovered them 1889 in Albania, somewhere between Elbasan and Berat.
Tihomir Djordjevi} here refers to a well-known study by Gustav Weigand Die Aromunen (1888). According to another Romanian author, Teodor Filipescu (1907: 239), Bosnian Karavlachs of the early 20th century would not agree to being described as Gypsies, and this firm opinion on the Karavlachs ethnic origin is shared by Filipescu himself (The Karavlachs are Romanians by origin and not Gypsies). Linguist Gustav Weigand (1908: 174175) also disputes the opinions of Iean and Filipesku, partly because of a long conversation he had with a Karavlach from Mao~a. The debate on the ethnic origin of the Karavlachs and Bayash continued at intervals throughout the 20th century. This debate has recently been analysed from the Romanian perspective by anthropologist Otilia Hedean (2005: 1624). Post-war ethnologists call the Karavlachs Gypsies, Romanian Gypsies, Vlach-speaking Gypsies etc. (cf. Pavkovi} 1957; Filipovi} 1969: 47, Radovanovi} 1994: 183184, 191, 198 etc. passim), but lately authors refrain from explicit ethnic attributes (Popovi} 2002; on the
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tinkers of ^ipulji}, Drlja~a 2005). Nevertheless, as they had declared themselves in the census as Serbs and not as Roma, Karavlachs were mentioned as such by some Bosnian NGOs in 2000: (http://www. aimpress.ch/dyn/trae/archive/data/200011/01105-006-trae-sar.htm)
There are several other Roma communities in Republika Srpska. The MauroVlachs are Orthodox Christian Roma of Romanian origin. They have been living in what is now Republika Srpska for over 300 years. They are fairly well integrated into the local community and have their own homes and stable settlements. The survey shows that one member of each family works in Western Europe. They are quite well off and their children attend school. The largest communities are at Mali Sitne{ near Srbac, Devetina near Hrva}ani, Batkovi} near Bijeljina, and Ostru`nja near Doboj mistakes in the names of Bayash settlements have been corrected.
This paper will consist of three sections: 1. The current ethnolinguistic situation of Romanian Karavlach vernaculars and a reconstruction of the Karavlach network of nodes, based on data obtained by the methods of perceptive dialectology. 2. The usage of the Romanian vernacular as a secret language and even a developed lexical subsystem to cover several salient terms (in this case ethnonyms) 3. The linguistic analysis of collected folklore texts connected to the traditional custom of Lazarica, sung in Serbian, which sheds some light on the road possibly traveled by the Karavlach from the Romanian language regions to their present settlements in Bosnia. 1. Karavlachs in Northern Bosnia Filipesku (1907) mentions nineteen Karavlach settlements in Bosnia, most of them in the north and some not easily identifiable today, over a hundred years later. Some of Filipeskus settlements were very small even in his time, the majority just neighbourhoods of some larger non-Karavlach settlements and known under different names.1
1 Filipeskus list of Karavlach settlements in Bosnia (1907): Purkovi}i (probably close to Kalesija); Simi}i (an hours walk from Vlasenica, close to the river Ti{}a); Kne`ina (close to the river Bio{tica, Vlasenica region), Jadar (south of Srebrenica, close to the villages of Bre`ani and ^i~evac), Kusonje Ljeskovica; Kamenica (close to Kusonje, by the river Drinja~a); Lopare; Modran; Batkovi}; Mao~a (these four settlements are in the Bijeljina region); the following seven settlements are in the Te{anj region: [pionica; Nemila; Vozu}a; Ostru`nja; Pra~a; Stanari; Pribini}; the village of Slatina (close to Banjaluka) and Sitnje` (Srbac region).
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These diffuse speech communities were seen as such even later, in the mid-twentieth century, by the famous Bosnian romologist Rade Uhlik (1955: 58):
One small migration wave of Romanian Gypsies reached Bosnia. These newcomers, known as Karavlasi, or Kalavrasi established about twenty settlements in northern and eastern Bosnia, mainly in the Tuzla and Banjaluka districts. They were never a numerous population, until World War II about one thousand and few hundred people. After the war, less than a thousand remained in the Bijeljina region as a compact community, and the rest, scattered in small communities, have almost disappeared. Although Karavlachs dislike Gypsies and want to draw a clear line between them, they are nonetheless considered Gypsies.
Ethnographer Milenko Filipovi} (1969: 4748) in his study of the Majevica Mountain region mentions a small group of Romanian Gypsies, called Karavlachs in the village of Lopare. According to his 1966 field research they came from the Ardeal region (Erdelj), their ancestors being lingurari (wooden spoon makers) and gonari (wooden tub makers). Filipovi} (1969: 48) cites the year 1725, under the Austrian occupation, as the first historical mention of Karavlachs in the Bijeljina region. According to one item of information provided by Teodor Filipesku (1907: 350), the Karavlachs settled in the Vlasenica region in 1804, when one of their ancestors crossed the River Sava at Mitrovica, therefore from Austro-Hungary. The linguistic data we obtained in the village of Lopare indicate that the settling would have certainly taken place in several waves and from various directions, which is also a view shared by Filipesku (1907: 339). According to field research by anthropologist and geographer Vojislav Radovanovi} from 1947 to 1949, there were Karavlachs in northwest Serbia who had been moved there from Bosnia. These are to be found at ^oke{ina: the families of Kraji{nikovi}, Kosti}, Marinkovi}, Mitrovi}, settled there from Bosnia in 1876 as they fled from the war raging near Bijeljina, and from the settlement of Bela Reka the families Mitrovi} Vlach Gypsies from Lopare village and Jovanovi} from Lopare, settled there in the second half of the 19th century (Radovanovi} 1994: 184, 198, 199).2 For these anthropological and geographical reasons, the dialectological description of the Romanian speech of ^oke{ina village given by Emil Petrovici (1938) is entirely relevant to at least some of the
2 Historian Milorad Ekme~i} (1996: 281284), in his study on the Bosnian uprising (187578) mentions the attack of the Serbian army on the town of Bijeljina during July 1876. The war operations of the Serbian army in northern Bosnia lasted till the middle of September 1876. On refugees from Bosnia and attempts to forced return from Serbia during 1877 see Ekme~i} 1996: 312313.
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Karavlach speech variants in Bosnia. There is a certain limitation as a published transcript of the Petrovici interviews speaks of their moving there from the town of [abac in northern Serbia. Thanks to the colonization of the Banat by the Bayash/Karavlachs following World War II, the Romanian speech variants of ^oke{ina can nowadays be studied in the south Banat village of Omoljica (Sikimi} 2007b). After the civil wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia, the network of Karavlach settlements again changed drastically. Some remnants of scattered groups from Bosnia were recently studied in the outskirts of the town of Priboj, in southwest Serbia (Sikimi} 2006).3 Our fieldwork took place on 78th June 2006 in the town of Bijeljina and in Lopare in the Mt. Majevica area. The Karavlach community in the suburb of Lopare practically disappeared in the Holocaust of World War II. Some who were small children at the time survived to later rebuild the settlement (Filipovi} 1969: 48). In June 1944, as a plaque at the entrance to the settlement testifies, 58 Karavlachs were killed in the village of Lopare. Forty years ago, while ethnologist Milenko Filipovi} was doing research there, there were 14 houses, including some more recent settlers from Ostru`nja near Doboj and Mao~a on Mt. Majevica.4 The Karavlachs in the suburb of Lopare today say that Karavlachs live in several scattered enclaves in the north of Republika Srpska, the first and the largest being the village of Batkovi} near Bijeljina; the second, a small community of only seven houses in Lopare near Mt. Majevica, Ostru`nja near Doboj, the two villages of Sitne` and Devetinja in the Banjaluka region, and several settlements to the northeast near the town of Vlasenica, the largest settlement now being Drinja~a. The inhabitants of the former sizeable settlement of Mao~a (Mt. Majevica) about 150 houses moved to Batkovi} or fled to Serbia. Batkovi} village and the Banjaluka region also has a long tradition of seasonal guest workers (gastarbeiters) in Austria and Sweden.
3 In recent years many papers and one collection of works appeared (Bayash in the Balkans, Identity of an ethnic community, Belgrade 2005) based on fieldwork between 2002 and the present. The research data are still not avilable to the academic public because they were published only in Serbian, but contain transcriptions of conversations in Bayash Romanian vernaculars translated into Serbian (Sorescu Marinkovi} 2005, Sikimi} 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2006a, 2006b, 2007, 2007b). Sorescu Marinkovi} 2007, Sikimi} 2005a, 2006c, 2007a are available in English. 4 The field research of the Karavlachs was initiated and organized by historian Zdravko Antoni}, to whom the author of this work is especially grateful. Linguistic analysis of Karavlach speech patterns is based on six hours of audio material.
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The Bayash/Karavlach migrations, therefore, must be viewed as a consequence of local conflict and wars and not only of the nomadic and semi-nomadic way of life of this community. 2. Perceptual dialectology data From a dialectological point of view, the Karavlach vernaculars in Bosnia belong to the group that we can call Balkan Bayash Romanian vernaculars, described for the first time by Romanian linguist Emil Petrovici in 1938. His description of the ^oke{ina vernacular in Western Serbia, close to the border with Bosnia, is likely to be valid for all the Bosnia Karavlach contemporary vernaculars. According to Asenova/Aleksova (this volume), Balkan Bayash or Rudari vernaculars are mixed; there is a variance of opinion among Romanian linguists and anthropologists as to their dialectological origin (cf. Radi}/Tomici 1986; Calota 1995; Saramandu 1997; Hede{an 2005). The reliability of perceptive dialectology data obtained through interviews with the members of this small community is borne out by the observations of Filipesku (1907: 352):
Karavlachs from the village of Purkovi}i do not marry women from their own village, they take girls from other Karavlach settlements, this is the reason why all the families have relatives throughout the Karavlach settlements in Bosnia.
The reliability of the trans-border knowledge the Karavlach and Bayash community had of themselves, without any media or institutionalized support, was in some measure due to the great mobility of members of these groups, strict endogamy until very recently notwithstanding territorial dispersion and the tradition of seasonal migrations, defined as semi-nomadic. From fieldwork since 2002 among Romanian-speaking groups in South Slavic vernacular surroundings, we can reconstruct a sort of Bayash continuum along the River Sava, similar to the River Drava continuum described by SorescuMarinkovi} in this collection. For the Karavlachs (we use this name for the Bayash group from Bosnia) the Sava is not a boundary, the same Bayash ethnolinguistic type being found on both sides of the river which forms the border between the now two separate countries: Croatia on the one side and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the other. The case with the River Drina is similar, with Karavlach/Bayash settlements being found on both sides, but only in its northernmost regions, today two different countries, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The following discussion was held in the small Karavlach community of Gudura on the outskirts of Lopare, today consisting of less than twenty people. The speakers are a man M born in the settlement of Lopare and a woman W from Kalesija, approximately 30 km to the southeast. The informants, as might be expected of spontaneous statements from the perceptive dialectology aspect, see local differences as lexical (scaunu vs. stol; via vs. baira). In this interview, the researcher raises a lexical question (the term for comb) which is key for the classification of Bayash vernaculars (Weigand 1908: 175; Petrovici 1938: 228). However, this perceptive distinction of two local speech patterns is spontaneously initiated at the outset by the informants though a dialectologically significant difference in the stressed -e-, when the following syllable contains an -e-, ori- (<e): lemne vs. lamni, cf. Petrovici 1938: 228 and SoreskuMarinkovi} in this volume. (The researchers interventions are in round brackets):
1 W: Ali izme|u nas ima razlike, pri~e. Izme|u, ja ovo odakle sam ja, mi druk~ije pri~amo. Oni ka`u lamne, lemne, a mi ka`emo lamni. (Aha, pa to je velika razlika.) M: Ona ka`e, zna{ {ta je drvo? (Lemn.) M: E, lemn. Dobro, ti ka`e{ u orginalu. A mi ka`emo lemn. L. W: A vidi{, oni ka`u stolci scaunu, a mi ka`emo stol. Druk~ije imamo dosta rije~i. (Kako ka`ete ~e{alj?) W: Taptenili. (A vi?) M: Pepteni. W: Oni ka`u u`etu via, a mi ka`emo baira. Baira, ja. W: But there are some differences among us, how we talk. Between, me, where Im from, we talk differently. They say lemne for lamne (wood), but we say lamni. (I see. Thats a big difference.) M: She says, do you know what wood is? (Lemn.) M: Right, lemn. Good, you say that in original. But we say lemn. L. W: But you see, they call a chair scaunu, and we say stol. We have a lot of different words. (How do you say comb?) W: Taptenili. (And you?) M: Pepteni. W: They say via for rope, and we say baira. Baira, yeah.
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The two existing variants of Karavlach speech mentioned in the conversation are perceived by local speakers as variants confronting a third variant. The Romanian vernacular of the researcher (given in round brackets), is perceived as the original, despite the fact that the researcher was not a native speaker of Romanian and was always trying to adjust to the local Romanian vernacular. Possession of the original, true, authentic Romanian language is automatically attributed to the person of prestige status, such as a researcher from Belgrade in a small Karavlach community. This linguistic prestige was not accorded to the same researcher in the compact, autochthonous Romanian communities in Serbia, and especially not in the Banat (Sikimi} 2006d). Here we would like to point out the implications of recognised socio-linguistic opinion, especially for small, diffuse language communities, that dialect or language contact often leads to the structural assimilation of one variety into the other, or the assimilation of both. There are various ways of explaining which linguistic structures undergo such convergence and which do not. One predicts that what is perceived by the speakers as salient in one variety is taken over more easily and faster by the other than what is perceived as less salient, while more salient features of the assimilating variety may be given up more readily that less salient ones. With the other words, dialect features which are perceived by the speakers as salient are taken up and given up more easily and faster than those which are perceived as less salient (Auer/Barden/Grosskopf 1998: 163). 3. Romanian as a secret language The local Romanian Karavlach vernacular, under the endnonym ludarete, is a relict of the old ethnonym Rudari, now unusual because it is a homonym for a S/Cr word meaning miners. It has never been supported by the school system or media and today has a restricted home usage or is employed as a sort of secret language. (The term is still present among the Bulgarian Bayash.) Within the same vernacular, the Karavlachs also developed several secret words to replace easily understandable local ethnonyms (e.g. Turks > Carsta, Croat > oaca, Serb > Blotu). The complex ethnic situation in Bosnia is precisely defined at lexical level, in contrast to the identification of Serbs in Serbia as the selas, peasants, in opposition to the Bayash. This special lexicon is used in socially delicate situations, mainly conspiratorially but also with an expressive function. The Karavlach secret term blot has been confirmed as regional in Romanian, cf. Bulgar/Con-
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stantinescu-Dobridor 2003, 2003 (s.v. bleot, bleata) in the meaning of stupid person, fool, boor. Semantically comparable data come from Aromanian sources (Liaku-Anovska 2000: 52). The Aromanians call Bulgarians and Macedonians zdanganj boor, rude person, impudent person. (The single term for Bulgarian and Macedonian is vargareshce, Liaku-Anovska 1995: 219). Other testified Aromanian terms are: subtsari Greeks: thin, shallow brain; portsi shi lavoshi Serbs: pigs and loathsome; purintsa: Muslims: those who do not eat meat. (For the etymology of the lexeme and its prevalence in south-Slav secret languages see Vu~kovi} 2004); mocani Romanians: shepherds, boors, rude people, impudent people.
2 A fost o ara promiena, ca toi era carsta. tii ce e carsta? Turci. tii? Nu tii ce e carsta? (Nu.) Pa, turci. Muslimani. (Aa se spune?) Ludareate. La noi zici ludarete carsta. Carstat sa zace. Carstaali, Turci. Nu putem s-zacem turci ca da ce ca tu tii turci cand zacea, ca intre noi, zace, uite carstatu. Carstatu. Razumeti. -acuma, vezi, Bilja, a fost i oaca, normalno. (oaca e Hrvat?) Ja, ja. Hrvatska, da. (i cum spunei la sarbi? Selaci, sau?) Blotu. Blotu. (A blotu e sarb?) Da. Blotu. Botu zace la sarb. (Daca spui sarbu el razumete.) Da, razumete, da zace blotu, nu tie. i noi, acuma, tii, o ara a fost samo sarbi, a fost, da ajuta, Stano, Bosanski Novi. Noi am fost jedno patru-cinci blo. tii, cu bloi lucram in brigada noi, a fost un carstat cu noi, jedno asa a fost. It was a small change, all of them were carsta. Do you know what carsta means? Turks. Do you know? You dont know what carsta means? (No.) Well, Turks. Muslims. (You say it like that?) In Ludari language We in Ludari language say carsta. Carsta we say. Carstaali, Turks.We cant say Turks because you understand when someone says Turks, among us we say carstatu. Carstatu. You know. And now, you see, Bilja, there were oaca, all right. (oaca is Croat?) Yes, yes. Croatia, yes. (And how do you call Serbs? Selaci, or?) Blotu. Blotu. (And Blotu is Serb?) Yes. Blotu. Botu we say for a Serb. (If you say Serb he will understand?) Yes, he will understand, and if you say Blotu, he doesnt know. And we now, you know, there were just Serbs, they were, help me, Stana, Bosanski Novi. We were about four-five blo. You know, we were working in a brigade with bloi, and there was one Carstat with us, about six of us.
Although perceived as secret, the term [okac is in fact a common regional term for a specific Croat group (for a detailed cultural interpretation of this ethnonym see Filipovi} 1967). In the next example, in the same utterance the secret term for Serbian women (bloata) and the usual one for Croat women (Rvatia) are used. The local term for a
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Muslim woman is cadana, which cannot be perceived as being secret either; it is also registered by Filipesku (1907: 236) with the meaning Turkish girl. From the sociolinguistic standpoint the local perception of the term oaca as a secret one is important, it fits into the system. This is an example for the expressive function of the secret lexicon. The words in bold letters are recent lexical borrowings which illustrate the level of hybridization in Karavlach Romanian speech:
3 Io ma uit, intreb io, pa reepie, o bloata, era bloata pravo, nu era rvatia, nego bloata. Avea mo`da, u ono vreme, a jedno cinzaci i doa i trei d-ai, aa. Mo`da aa doba mea era atunci. I am looking, I am asking, at the reception, bloata, she was a real bloata, she was not a Croat, but bloata. At that time, she might be about fifty two, three years old, something like that. Perhaps about my age at that time.
Serious social insecurity is a good context for using the codes of conspiracy. The Karavlach system is obliged to hide the recently borrowed term milicija (police) as a salient one and considered to be not secret enough, although phonetically adapted to the Karavlach system. Because the secret term poieni policemen registered only in the plural is denied by our informants as being polysemic, it can be interpreted as a semantic shift meaning keeper of the field > policeman. (In S/Cr the terms poljak, poljar, a person who works in the fields in the meaning keeper of the field, comes from the same base). A similar semantic equation has been confirmed with the Bayash in Baranja, Croatia (pandur policeman = lugar forester, cf. SorescuMarinkovi} in this volume, transcript number 3) and is certainly connected to the traditional craft of the Bayash, which is the making of wooden objects.
4 Aia, sora mea mandra, a-nceput pliznala, a-nceput aia, prva pomo}, itna, noi zacem poieni miliaia, poienili, miliaia, da. (N-am auzit.) E, poieni. Nu zacem: ete vine miliaia, zna~i i oni znaju, nego poienili, aia sa tie. (A {ta bi to ina~e zna~ilo vama, jel ima jo{ neko zna~enje?) Zna{ {ta zna~i? Da-t ka`em. Kad ka`e{ evo milicije, zna{, isto milicija. A poieni miliaia. (A da li ta re~ poieni jo{ ne{to zna~i?) Ni{ta vi{e. (Nema neko drugo zna~enje?) Da ne bi oni doznali to. Da ne bi oni znali. Da se pri~a o-njima, da oni idu vamo. Zacea: vin poienili, miliaia. That, my beautiful sister, the shooting started, this started, first aid, emergency squad, we say poieni, police, poieni, police, yes. (I havent heard it.) Yes, poieni. We dont say here come the police, that would mean they could also understand, we say poieni, we understand. (What might it also mean to you, does it have any other meaning?). You know what it means? I will tell you. When you say here comes the police, you know, the same, police. But poieni police. (But this word poieni does it have any other
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meaning?) Nothing else. (No other meaning?) So that they dont find out. So that they dont know. That were talking about them, that they are coming this way. They say: here come the poieni, police.
As is usual for semantic information obtained from field work, this term is explained in context, quoted as it is used, thus marking the necessity of concealing its true meaning: ete vine miliaia; Kad ka`e{ evo milicije Here come the police; when you say Its the police. In all these examples, it is clear that this is not the use of Romanian as a secret language within the family (as is the case in those Bayash communities in Serbia where it is used only by the older generation to hide something from the children), nor its use in public, as a secret language not understood by the non-Bayash. The opportunities to use Romanian in this way in Serbia are limited to communities where there are no other Romanian language speakers (Romanians, Vlachs). On the other hand, they are almost unlimited in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. 4. Tracing the Karavlach road to Bosnia: ethnolinguistic evidence Filipesku gives a detailed description of Romanian traditional customs still existant in 1907. He noted the custom of pouring water for the dead after 40 days only in Mao~a, where water is poured over a hempen ligature used to bind the deceaseds legs. Among customs of the calendar cycle mentioned by Filipesku 1907, we should point out a fragment related to \ur|evdan, when a piece of turf a clump of earth with grass is dug up and then stood on. This custom is practised at Easter in numerous Romanian speaking communities in Serbia. The same custom is practiced among the Vlach Roma communities of some Serbian Banat settlements: as a field research of June 2008 showed, in the Romanian villages of Riti{evo i Stra`a it is today practiced only by the Vlach Roma; in the Serbian village of Bavani{te it is also practiced only by the Vlach Roma (Sikimi} 2007c: 164). This custom, which is still linked by calendar to \ur|evdan, has been preserved in Lopare to this day, under the common Romanian term brazda. From the ethnolinguistic point of view, Karavlach girls and women are well known to practise the traditional custom of Lazarica, but sing only in the local Serbian vernacular. Linguistic analysis of this reduced and deformed fragment of the Lazarica song yields a form of the instrumental atypical in the local vernaculars of Lopare. In fact this form Da nas lepo daruje, sas belice parice is typical of the Prizren Timok zone and some vernaculars of the
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Kosovo-Resava dialect spoken in northeast Serbia. We can assume that the entire text was adopted somewhere in that region and transferred to north and northeast Bosnia.5 I must add that the Bayash in northeast Serbia living among Romanian-speaking Vlachs still remember and even practice Lazarica or the Lazara custom in Romanian language.
5 Lazariili iate. Iate, i asta a jocat. Pa postu Patului. Pa postu Pa}ului, majke. (Se pazete obi~aj?) Ja, da, da. P-aicea iati, obi~aj. (i ce canta?) Ova ku}a bogata. (In sarbete canta? Poi sa cani?) Nu canta ea, canta doi ini ali. A ea joca. (Cu ce?) Cu, dan tambura canta. A-a, ea joca aa, sangura joca. Ea joaca aa. A muma sa canta dan gura. i tat-su, eti. i dan tambura canta tat-sau. A ea joaca. Muma-sa i tat-su canta dan gura i dan tambura. Ova ku}a bogata, puna ramna dukata. Ponajvi{e goveda, okreni se, lazarko. Ovom gazdi za zdravlje, da su `ivi ove gazde, i ove gazde gazdarice. Da nas lepo daruje, sas belice parice. Da nas lepo daruje, sas berice jajce i bijele parice. (Se merge la Lazareva subota?) Mearge tot postu pa}ului. Ii placa tot postu pa}ului. (Cand se incepe?) S-inceapa la. La Todorova subota. La Todorova subota. Ai}a tot postu placa. Do Lazara. Lazardan je zadnji dan. Lazarke. E, ea-a jocat svi pet sedmica. There are lazariili. There are, this one too was dancing. During Lent. During Lent, my son. (Do you still keep this custom?) Yes, yes, yes. Over here there is this custom. (And what do they sing?) Let this house be rich. (Do you sing in Serbian? Can you sing this?) She doesnt sing, two other people sing. She dances. (To what?) To, they play the tambura. No, she dances just like that, she dances by herself. She dances like that. And her mother sings. And her father, so. And her father plays the tambura. And she dances. Her mother and her father sing and play the tambura. This house is rich, filled to the top with gold coins. Even more cattle, turn around, lazarko. For this lords health, long live this lord and lady, and this lady of the house. To make us a fine present of white coins. To make us a fine present of a white egg and white coins. (They go on St Lazaruss Saturday?) They go during all of Lent. They go during all of Lent. (When do they start?) They start on. On St Theodors Saturday. On St Theodors Saturday. Here they go during the whole of Lent. Till St Lazaruss day. St Lazaruss day is the last day. Lazarke. She was dancing all five weeks.
The transcript continues to show consistent phonetic differences in the speech of the two informants in Lopare village. The folklore text is conservative in linguistic terms. The transcript shows that the folklore text, in this example the Lazarica song tends to be translated from
5 A dialectological picture of Serbian speech patterns on Mt. Majevica is provided in Radovanovi} 1999, 2000 and 2002.
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one dialect into another, here from ekavian into jekavian (belice parice / bijele parice). There is also important supporting information from Donja Tuzla in 1904, reported by Filipesku (1907: 224), that the Karavlach women as Lazaricas women singing the Lazarica songs sing very beautiful folk songs and dance folk dances, for the most part old-Serbian. 5. Whose tradition? To study the intangible heritage of a mobile group such as the Karavlachs is to see the customary analytic methods of Slav ethnolinguistics and ethnolinguistic geography in an entirely different light. Information obtained from the Karavlachs of northern Bosnia tend to make the established isoglosses of traditional south Slav rituals and customs rather relative.
6 Ona je, jadna, ali ban i ban zaradate. Da lumea ban, naki}e, marame, krpe, aa da mancare, svega. (i cand pleaca lazariili, la fiecare casa? La svaka ku}a?) La svaka ku}a ide. Toata casa joaca, unde go vine. Placa in Priboi, placa in Tobut, placa Lipovi. Placa Iablania. (Cum pleaca atunci, cu auto?) Cu autobusu. Placa, autobuzu placa. Cu caru, neko kola uzima pa sjedaju, pa. Da, ea i tat-su i muma-sa. Eto. (i svako dan se face asta? Samabata, duminica?) Da, da. Toata zua placa. Ide svaki dan. Donese para najvi{e. (Jel to i ranije tako bilo?) Ja, od starine. Da, i prije, da. (Ali prije nije moglo da se ide, pe{ke se i{lo, kako se i{lo?) Prije, a sad, eto malo. Eto, sad ide. (A vi kad ste bili dete, jeste i{li?) Ja sam igrala. Da, i ja sam igrala, e da sam ovde mrtva igrala, kam pusta sre}a. Poor thing, but she earns a lot of money. People give her money, jewellery, scarves, clothes, something to eat, a bit of everything. (And when the Lazaricas go round, they go to every house? To every house?) To every house she goes. She dances in each house, wherever she comes. They go to Priboi, they go to Tobut, they go to Lipovi. They go to Iablania. (How do they go, by car?) By bus. They go, they go by bus. By car, someone takes a car, they sit, so. Yes, she and her father and her mother. Thats it. (And they do this every day? Saturday, Sunday?) Yes, yes. She goes every day. Goes every day. She gets a lot of money. (This was the same in the past?) Yes, since olden times. Yes, even then, yes. (But long ago you couldnt go, people used to go on foot, how did they go?) Then, but now, it is so. You see, she goes. (And you, when you were a child, did you go?) I danced. Yes, I danced too, eh, and if I could only dance dead here, wouldnt that be great
It is evident that the Lazarica custom, with its emphasis on the quantity of money the Lazarica-girl usually gets, means one thing for the
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Karavlachs and another for the local Christian Orthodox. This may also be the reason for the extended duration of the custom to 5 weeks instead of only a day. In the Karavlach settlement of Slatina, near Banja Luka:
The spring custom called Lazarica in the Slatina region coincides with the time of the settling of Karavlachs in the village of Slatina. They brought this custom with them and started practising it immediately. The autochtonous people in the villages of this region accepted the Lazarica custom as their own (Popovi} 2002: 125126).
Tihomir Djordjevi} (1907: 380), points out that the Karavlachs of Slatina are settlers from Serbia. Another local monograph of the region north of Banjaluka mentions that the Karavlachs from the village of Sitne{ practised the Lazarica custom for decades in all the villages of the region, and that this way of earning money was maintained until 1970 (Ko{uti} 1995: 2728).6 According to map II115 in a comprehensive study by Plotnikova 2004 (Ethnolinguistic Geography of South Slavia) the Lazarica custom in Bosnia is attested in four settlements, and each time described as a ritual performed by Gypsy women. 7 Similar ethnolinguistic conclusions on the relatively recent introduction of the Lazarica custom to Bosnia are evident from other studies aimed at reconstructing cultural isogloses of Balkan spring rituals against snakes (Plotnikova 2006, Sikimi} 2001). From our fieldwork in Bosnia, from Karavlachs currently living in Serbia and some recent local or regional monographs, new nodes may be entered on this map for northwest Bosnia, while following Plotnikovas idea that the Lazarica custom is practised only by Karavlach girls (cf. Kajmakovi} 1974: 96, village of Sitne`, Ko{uti} 1995: 9596). 6. Concluding remarks To describe the current situation and reconstruct the genesis of the speech and traditional culture of diffuse speech communities such as the Bayash/Karavlach in the fragmented Balkans remains a complex task for
6 On Bayash and Roma girls practicing Lazarica custom in Serbia cf. Ili} 2005, Golemovi} 2002. 7 The settlements are: point 37 Vu~jak (Filipovi} 1969a: 80) ritual procession of Gypsy women; point 38 Bosnian Posavina (Serbs), Filipovi} 1969a: 140, ritual procession of Gypsy women; point 39, Majevica, Serbs, Filipovi} 1969a: 183, ritual procession of Gypsy women; point 40 Spre~a near Zvornik (Serbs) Filipovi} 1969a: 30, ritual procession of Gypsy women.
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Balkan linguists. It stands in direct correlation to the reconstruction of voluntary and involuntary displacements of the Bosnian Karavlachs in the 20th century, some of them across the ocean to North and South America, internal migrations (Sikimi} 2006 has already described the linguistic situation of Bosnian Karavlach secondary settlements in Serbia Priboj and Koceljeva), seasonal worker migration to Western Europe beginning in the early 1960s, and finally displacement due to the civil wars of the 1990s. The compendious analysis of data from fieldwork among Romanian-speaking communities outside Romania in the Balkans enabled the introduction of the concept of mental continuity, aimed at defining Bayash group endogamy and their distant group awareness, all influencing the exogamy of small settlements. Research in the field followed the logic of private chaining of separate settlements, the logic of mental continuity in the Bayash community in Serbia today that exists regardless of the individual physical distance dividing their members. This mental continuity, in the light of the new borders now being drawn in the Balkans and of massive movement by entire Bayash settlements to the countries of Western Europe, is seen as trans-border (Sikimi} 2005, 2005a, 2006c, cf. also, from the sociological point of view, recent studies by Dorondel 2007, erban 2007). Knowledge of ones fellow countrymen is shown through recognition and knowledge of members of the same small ethnic group, even those working temporarily in foreign countries. Nowadays marriages between members of settlements hundreds of kilometres from each other are very common, some of them living in different countries, including Romania, after the collapse of Yugoslavia. In reconstructing the possible Karavlach roads to Bosnia and the annual roads of semi-nomadism, one more thing should be observed: active exogamy in quite small communities could support various lexical, phonetic or even morphological innovations without the moving of the community as a whole. While very much aware that the ethnographic truth surrounding the Karavlach may become a matter of dispute and that the results of field research may be misused, or seen at the present juncture as just another cleaving of the Roma ethnos, the author remains convinced that each transcript of a true conversation is a great contribution, a research obligation in the ethical sense. Any further analysis and interpretation will reflect the current degree of knowledge and awareness of both scholars and the public. Today, the articulation of language rights is a significant issue in sociolinguistics. Language policy and planning are developing in three different but closely related academic directions: the language ecology movement, the linguistic human rights movement and minority lan-
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guage rights in national and international law. The exercise of a language right in a real life context is connected to its implications for wider social and political stability, the disjuncture between legal arguments in favour of minority language rights and the actual language policies of many nation states, and the disjuncture between claims for macro-language rights and micro-language practices. May 2005: 320 points out that:
the micro-language claims necessarily require the codification and homogenisation of language groups and related languages and thus ignore the often far more complex, fluid, and at times contradictory, micro-language practices of individuals from within those groups.
The lack of academic (not only linguistic) interest in the Karavlach is just a reflection of the lack of interest on the part of the parent country (if this parent country is also parent to its official language), local minority organisations, both Romani and Romanian language scholars, and Romanists in general. This may be due to personal prejudice or to the real complexity of the task, primarily for linguists who need to be proficient not only in South Slavic and other Balkan and/or Hungarian languages and Romanian dialects, but also to be thoroughly grounded in Roma Studies. The Bayash/Karavlach roads traversing the Balkans are far from being reconstructed; there is a serious lack of historiographical research that might shed new light. Purly linguistic data and classical dialectological and sociolinguistic research are insufficient for the study of nomadic and seminomadic peoples. Thanks to recent fieldwork among the Rudari of Bulgaria by Asenova/Aleksova (in this volume) and Bayash guest-workers in Germany (Leschber, this volume) we can hope that this challenging task will be finally achieved.
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Radovanovi} 1994 V. Radovanovi}: [aba~ka Posavina i Pocerina, Antropogeografska ispitivawa, M. Radovanovi}, Beograd. Radovanovi} 1999 D. Radovanovi}: O odnosu majevi~kog govora prema ijekavsko{}akavskom (isto~nobosanskom) dijalektu, Srpski jezik 4, Beograd, 607621. Radovanovi} 2000 D. Radovanovi}: Suglasni~ke grupe {t/{} i `d/`} u majevi~kom govoru, Srpski jezik 5, Beograd, 419425. Radovanovi} 2002 D. Radovanovi}: Jotovawe u majevi~kom govoru, Srpski jezik 7, Beograd, 339346. Saramandu 1997 N. Saramandu: Cercetari dialectale la un grup necunoscut de vorbitori ai romanei: Baiaii din nordul Croaiei, Fonetica i dialectologie XVI, 1997, Bucureti, 97130. Sikimi} 2001 B. Sikimi}: Sveci creva motaju, Kult svetih na Balkanu, Liceum 5, Kragujevac, 3987. Sikimi} 2002 B. Sikimi}: \ur|evdan kod vla{kih Roma u selu Podvr{ka, Kultura 103104, Beograd, 184193. Sikimi} 2003 B. Sikimi}: Banja{i u Srbiji iz balkanske lingvisti~ke perspektive, Aktualni problemi na balkanskoto ezikoznanie, Sofi, 114129. Sikimi} 2005 B. Sikimi}: Banja{i u Srbiji, Banja{i na Balkanu, identitet etni~ke zajednice, Beograd, 249275. Sikimi} 2005a B. Sikimi}: Linguistic Research of Small Exogamic Communities: the Case of Banyash Roumanians in Serbia, Jazki i dialekt malh tni~eskih grupp na Balkanah, Biblion Verlag, Sankt-Peterburg Mnhen, 257266. Sikimi} 2006 B. Sikimi}: Karavlasi u selu Brnare kod Priboja, Mile{evski zapisi 6, Prijepoqe 2005 2006, 221230. Sikimi} 2006a B. Sikimi}: Svadbena terminologija kod Bawa{a (rumunskih Cigana) u selu Tre{wevica kod Jagodine, Issledovani po slavnsko dialektologii 12, Arealne aspekt izu~eni slavnsko leksiki, Moskva, 4563. Sikimi} 2006b B. Sikimi}: Elementi rumunske tradicionalne kulture u Vranjevu kod Novog Be~eja, Actele simpozionului Banatul trecut istoric i cultural, Novi Sad Panciova 2005 2006, 156162. Sikimi} 2006c B. Sikimi}: Transborder ethnic identity of Banyash Roma in Serbia, TRANS, internet journal for cultural sciences 16, Wien 2006, www.inst.at/trans/16Nr/14_4/sikimic16.htm Sikimi} 2006d B. Sikimi}: De la Torac la Clec: informaia minimala de teren, Caiete de teren. Torac metodologia cercetarii de teren. (A. SorescuMarinkovi}, ed.), Novi Sad, 173201 Sikimi} 2007 B. Sikimi}: Dve mawine: Srbi i Bawa{i u Ma|arskoj, Etnografija Srba u Ma|arskoj 5, Budimpe{ta 2006 2007, 101112. Sikimi} 2007a B. Sikimi}: Gurban in the village of Grebenac: between participants memory and researchers construction, Kurban in the Balkans (B. Sikimi}, P. Hristov, eds.), Belgrade 2007, 181195.
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Sikimi} 2007b B. Sikimi}: Tragom terenskih istra`ivanja Emila Petrovi}a u Srbiji: ^oke{ina, Lokve i @drelo, Probleme de filologie slava XV, Timioara 2007, 443454. Sikimi} 2007c B. Sikimi}: Idem svuda po inostranstvo sa mojima decama, Dru{tvene nauke o Romima u Srbiji, Odeqewe dru{tvenih nauka SANU, kw. 29 (Qubomir Tadi}, Goran Ba{i}, eds), Beograd, 143168. Sorescu Marinkovi} 2005 A. Sorescu Marinkovi}: Napolitanci iz Mehovina, Banja{i na Balkanu, identitet etni~ke zajednice, Beograd, 175200. Sorescu Marinkovi} 2007 A. SorescuMarinkovi}: The gurban displaced: Bayash guest workers in Paris, Kurban in the Balkans (B. Sikimi}, P. Hristov, eds.), Balkanolo{ki institut SANU, Belgrade, 137151. erban 2007 S. erban: Politics against ethnicity. The case of Rudari from Varna district, Transborder identities. The Romanian-speaking population in Bulgaria (S. erban, ed.), Bucureti, 241276. Uhlik 1955 R. Uhlik: Iz ciganske onomastike I, Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja u Sarajevu, n.s. 10, Sarajevo, 5171. Vu~kovi} 2004 M. Vu~kovi}: Porinta Tur~in u tajnim zanatlijskim jezicima, Srpski jezik 9/12, Beograd, 417427. Weigand 1908 G. Weigand: Rumanen und Arumunen in Bosnien, Jahresbericht des Instituts fur rumanische Sprache 14, Leipzig, 171197. Weigand 1888 G. Weigand: Die Aromunen III, Leipzig.
ROMANIANSERBIAN CODE-MIXING PHENOMENA: DOCUMENTATION OF A ROMANIAN EXTRATERRITORIAL VARIETY SHOWING EXTENSIVE ROMANIAN-SERBIAN CODE-MIXING PHENOMENA
Abstract: The data collecting process took place in 20052006 and resulted in six hundred hours of digital recordings. Our main male informants were around 50 persons, immigrated to Germany in their childhood. All informants are of Romany origin, so called Bayash. We have found in the recordings simple code-switching phenomena as well as numerous code-mixing phenomena and singular features of Fused Lects. The linguistic in-group variety used by the middle generation is without doubt a temporarily used variety, heavily endangered by obsolescence and language death, since the youngest generation does not know this variety and never showed any interest towards learning or even understanding it. The peer-groups of the youngest generation already born in Berlin differ from these of the middle or older generation to an extreme extent. The third generation has been socialized in Berlin in multicultural peer-groups among ethnic boundaries. As a consequence, the respective self-definition has changed fundamentally: from a clearly defined ethnic-based rural self-definition of an in-group, being once of fundamental importance for the survival of the group it has changed to a more relaxed modern urban self-definition of youth-culture, mostly based on common social features of the respective peer-groups. Key words: code mixing, obsolescence, Romanian vernaculars, immigrants Definition and properties of code-mixing
Bhatia/Ritchie (1996) explain the difference between code-mixing and code-switching as follows:
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Code-mixing refers to the mixing of various linguistic units (morphemes, words, modifiers, phrases, clauses and sentences) primarily from two participating grammatical systems within a sentence. In other words, CM is intrasentential and is constrained by grammatical principles and may be motivated by social psychological motivations. Code-switching refers to the mixing of various linguistic units (words, phrases, clauses and sentences) primarily from two participating grammatical systems across sentence boundaries within a speech event. In other words, CS is intersentential and may be subject to some discourse principles. It is stimulated by social and psychological motivations.
Generally spoken, code-mixing varieties show a high level of linguistic creativity. This is valid to the same extent for the mixed varieties recorded in Berlin. From a sociolinguistic point of view we can define the function of code-mixing varieties as in-group languages.1 Romaine (1995) emphasizes that attitudes to code-mixing from the point of view of persons not being part of the in-group have generally been found to be negative. Kotik-Friedgut (2004) suggests psychological factors (contextual and personal factors) which determine code-mixing in communication of trilinguals. Contextual factors according to Kotik-Friedgut include the fact that knowledge of a specific language has to be shared by interlocutors, the feeling that semantic connotations of some term or expression in the other language can describe more exactly a situation or express a certain emotion or concept; some specific terms are relevant for a specific reality. As personal factors she describes the level of mastery of a specific language by each participant of the interaction which determines the relative frequency of code-switching and code-mixing. Furthermore an insufficient proficiency influences code-switching and mixing especially in cases of reduced energetic recourses like in stress, or due to fatigue. Detailed research about code mixing has been conducted by Pfaff (1979), Auer (1999) and others. According to Auer stabilized mixed varieties should be called Fused Lects. The transition from language mixing to Fused Lects is primarily an issue for grammatical research; essential ingredients in this transition are a reduction of variation and an increase of rule-governed, non-variable structural regularities. About the state of the art of the code-mixing research see Poplack (2000) and for a detailed discussion about the mixed languages debate see the contributions in Matras/Bakker (2003).
1 Data analyzed for example in Lawson/Sachdev (2004) support the notion that code-mixing is an in-group communication strategy, cf. also Lawson/Sachdev (2000), Myers-Scotton (1993).
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The data collecting process took place from the middle of November 2005 till the end of May 2006. As a result we obtained around six hundred hours of digital recordings.2 The speakers did not know that their speech was being recorded. As a consequence authentic speech was recorded. Our main male informants were Z. and D. and their relatives (around 50 persons). Z. and D. immigrated to Germany in their childhood. All informants are of Romany origin. They have no knowledge of the native language of their ancestors, the Romany language. The speakers are so called Bayash3, they refer to their local variety of Romanian as ruman(i)es}e. The main informants were born in Varvarin near Kru{evac (Serbia), some of their older relatives (as uncles, cousins of the grandmother) were born in Stri`ilo and Suvaja (Serbia).
The older generation of the grandparents and the older relatives speak a Romanian dialectal variety almost exclusively, while the youngest generation (children and teenagers, born in Germany) use mostly Berlin dialect. In one exceptional case, a 13-year-old girl talked Romanian, exclusively with elder female family members. Her Romanian variety was strongly
2 The first four months the author analyzed about 400 hours of the recordings. The last ten weeks a Romanian native speaker, a native of Romanian Banat (Jimbolia), analyzed around 30 % of the recordings. 3 Sikimi} (2005a, b), Hede{an (2005).
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influenced by standard Romanian, presumably due to contacts with standard Romanian-speakers in Berlin. No example of the use of Serbian in the speech of the teen-aged children could be found. So the trilingual code mixing phenomena are mainly found in the speech of our main informants Z. and D., the middle generation in the thirties. So this middle generation is in our case the most interesting one, being perfectly trilingual. Several of their conversations were conducted exclusively in Berlin dialect, with some traits, typical for Berlin local foreigner talk mostly while talking to Germans or Turks or Arabs. The main informant Z. was fluent in Serbian colloquial language, although he left former Yugoslavia in the age of three years. He was able to talk colloquial Serbian without any switches or mixing phenomena. Both male informants, aged 33 and 38 years, were able to talk an extraterritorial Romanian local dialect, which was distinguished from Standard Romanian mostly by phonetic and lexical differences and by switches with Serbian. Z. has an active knowledge of Serbian, while D. can understand the Serbian insertions of Z. in a conversation, but he never used extensive Serbian insertions in his discourse; with the exception of the frequently used Serbian formula g|e si? at the very start of a telephone call, but then D. switched mostly to Romanian, more rarely to German. The two main informants talked in this language variety with conspiratorial aims and they talked it with elder relatives. While using this variety as a kind of secret-language to confirm an in-group identity, the informant D. showed in his conversations with elder relatives sometimes a kind of euphoric happiness. The use of extreme dialectal features was often accompanied by his giggling and laughter. Several times he underlined, that only his family-members are able to understand ruman(i)es}e. The in-group variety was used mainly: a) in every-day family communication with elder relatives b) in conversations with conspiratorial aims with emphasis on the use of an extreme dialectal relatively unmixed Romanian variety with traits of a secret language for the promotion of criminal objectives. These conversations were held exclusively with (elder) male relatives. Auer (1999) stated that speakers, using code mixing may also contrast a language mixing mode with other (mixing or monolingual) modes within their repertoire, and to select a certain mixing mode from the repertoire may signal group identity. Features of the extraterritorial Romanian dialect can be found above all on the phonetic and the lexical level. There can be stated strong interferences with Serbian and the morphological integration of Serbian words into the dialect, also syntactic interferences and mixing.
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The creation of new multilingual varieties can be seen as effect of a surrounding heterogeneous speech-community. After their emigration the speakers of an already mixed Romanian-Serbian variety mixed again their variety with a third language (Berlin local dialect)
Scheme of the variety, using material from three languages:
Fig. 2: The constituents of a trilingual code-mixing variety in Berlin, used by the informants Z. and D.
In 2004 we had the opportunity to make recordings of a Romany group, natives of Belgrade. They were the second generation to have lived in Belgrade. Later, the whole families moved to Berlin. The grandmothers used a variety consisting of even four components, as follows:
Scheme of the variety, based on the mixing of four languages:
Muysken (2000: 36, 95) according to Kamwangamalu (2001) defines three types of code-mixing: insertion, alternation, and congruent lexicalization.
Both insertion and alternation focus on structural constraints on mixing. The former views constraints in terms of the structural properties of one language, the matrix language; the latter (alternation) views constraints in terms of structural equivalence between the languages involved (i.e., switching is possible only where it does not violate the structural integrity of either of the participating languages).4 Insertion is said to be akin to spontaneous lexical borrowing and, depending on languages, it may consist of single bare nouns, bare noun phrases or adverbial phrases. Alternation entails a true switch from one language to the other, and involves both grammar and lexicon. Congruent lexicalization refers to a situation where the participating two languages share a grammatical structure which can be filled lexically with elements from either language.
According to Muysken (2000) insertions tend to be: (a) content words rather than function words, (b) morphologically integrated constituents, (c) selected elements (for example objects or complements) rather than adjuncts, (d) nested (the fragment preceding the insertion and the fragment following are grammatically related), (e) single, unique constituents. As for the bilingual verbs, Muysken (2000) distinguishes four types of bilingual complex verbs: (a) inserted verbs: a guest verb is inserted into a position ordinarily reserved for a host, native, verb, (b) nominalized verbs in a compound: a guest verb is a nominalized complement to a causative helping host verb, (c) adjoined verbs: a guest verb is adjoined to a helping verb, (d) infinitive verbs: a guest verb is an infinitive and the complement of a host auxiliary. Muysken concludes, that in terms of dominance in use, it is suggested that in migrant communities, styles of code-mixing will develop from insertion to alternation to congruent lexicalization. In this case, there is possibility for shift from one matrix language to another across generations.
Examples from the code-mixed variety, using material from three languages (Romanian, Serbian, German): 1. iave}e maine la mine okolo deset, jedinajset saate, und dann treffen wir uns, kein Problem
Poplack (1980).
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Call me tomorrow at ten, eleven oclock, and then we will meet, no problem (alternation of bilingual mixing (iave}e !) with Serbian and German) 2. nu am vi{e zu tun cu el I am not concerned with him anymore (double embedding of a Serbian and a German insertion in a Romanian sentence) iel acua5 m-adus samo im Prinzip viertausend Now he brought me only four thousand (= money) (double alternation: switch to Serbian, than to German) am mancat veseria (< ve~erja), gerade I have just had my dinner (see No. 3)
3.
4.
Examples from the code-mixed variety, using material from two languages (Romanian/German): 6. 7. is vorbei Mann, ma trag indarapt6 Its all over, man, Im getting out of it (alternation) ma duc kurz dahin I will go there for a short time (alternation)
9.
5 Dicionar de arhaisme i regionalisme (2003: 12) Rom. (pop.) acui (adv.) imediat, indata. 6 Glosar dialectal Muntenia (1999: 241) indarapt (adv.) inapoi.
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Integration of German verbs into the Romanian discourse:7 10. maine o fac abschleppen Tomorrow they will tow my car away 11 o fac begleiten I will accompany her 12. fac ausraumen I move out (of) 13. ai facut uberstehen You have come through Examples from the code-mixed variety, using material from two languages (Romanian/Serbian): 14. saada am pla}it radnicii Now I have paid the workers (alternation, loan form Serbian) 15. ma duc, da ni{ta radim Ill go away and do nothing (alternation) 16. pri~am pe urma I will tell it after that (alternation) 17. da, mora vrei nu vrei, mora Yes, it is necessary . whether you want to or not, it is necessary (insertion)
Numerals etc. are often loaned from Serbian (or from German): 18. kanim de nop}iu, devet We will leave at night, (at) nine oclock 19. vii devet dupa mine i me(r)gem Come at nine oclock to me and we will go
7 An intense morphological adaptation of German verbs into the Romanian discourse congruent lexicalization, according to Muysken (2000: 6) refers to a situation where the participating two languages share a grammatical structure which can be filled lexically with elements from either language was observed while recording the speech of a bilingual Romanian-German control group in autumn 2003, examples: 1. *a betelui < German bestellen to order, in: i la ase numai m-aduce medicamentele alalalte ca trebuii beteluite a fost totui dragua asta cu farmacia, ca a zis, ca mi le beteluiete repede, sa mi l-aduc astazi 2.*a chindigani < German kundigen to cancel (a contract) m-am chindiganit apartamentul I cancelled the rental contract for my apartment
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20. de nop}e, sedam saate In the evening, at seven oclock 21. daca sint toi u uosam saate, wa? If everyone will be there at eight oclock? (with German dialectal confirmation particle) 22. do {est saate sint acasa I will be at home until six oclock 23. do {est trebe sa fie gata It has to be ready before six oclock
33. -ainstead of Standard Rom. -eae. g. in: nu dozvoles}e sara In the evening its not allowed 34. -}(e/i)(-) e. g. in: instead of -t(e/i)(-) un|e mergi? la cara}e instead of la carate to the karate(-lessons)
The accent is often moved in an initial position according to the position of the Serbian accent:
36. picere8 instead of picioare feet (with vowel assimilation in an unstressed position) Examples for dialectal features on the lexical level: 37. a}a aici e. g. in: eu sint la dvajset minuta/ .. sint a}a ie arabu a}a? Is the Arab (guy) there? 38. an other dialectal variant of a}a aici is: aea e. g. in: za deset minuta sint aea 39. acua instead of acum e. g. in: iel acua m-adus samo im Prinzip viertausend Now he brought me only four thousand 40. maliga instead of mamaliga 41. radnicii (n. pl. art.) the workers, radnic (n. sg.) worker < Serbian radnik 42. eu caniesc instead of standard Romanian eu plec e. g. in: ~a odma caniesc I will leave soon 43. a se iavi to call < Serbian javiti (se) iaves}e! call me! e. g. in: um sechzehn Uhr iaves}e! e. g. in: te iavi se pe urma pe mine Call me after that
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46. laince (cf. inain}e) before, at the beginning e. g. in: nula ies}e laince zero is at the beginning 47. valie down e. g. in: vin in valie I will come downstairs 48. *a cheta to want am chetat instead of am vrut < Rom. a cauta ? 49. *a dozvoli < Serbian dozvoliti to permit e. g. in: nu dozvoles}e sara In the evening, it is not allowed 50. *a razumi to understand < Serbian razumeti e. g. in: ma razumes}e? instead of: ma inelegi? do you understand me?9 51. *a capri to understand < Serbian kapirati? instead of Standard Romanian a inelege e. g. in: ma capres}e?/ ma capres}i? instead of: ma inelegi? do you understand me? 52. *a pui "to smoke" < Serbian pu{iti to smoke instead of standard Romanian a fuma e. g. in: - ce face Naida? pue igari (she) smokes cigarettes 53. *a izvini < Serbian izviniti to apologize instead of standard Romanian a scuza cf. izvinis}e for: scuza-ma 54. *a misli to think, to guess < Serbian misliti to think e. g. in: ai mislit-o you guessed it
Curses from Serbian are integrated into the Romanian dialectal discourse, for example:
Hede{an (2005: 3033). Dicionar de arhaisme i regionalisme (2003: 304) Rom. (pop.) moroi strigoi, varcolac.
10 9
59. bela putana (< Ital. bella puttana?) e. g. in: g|e si, bela putana? (mostly in the very beginning of a telephone call, conducted by two male speakers, in the sense of where did you get to?)
Concerning dialectal features (phonetic, morphologic and lexical) of several Bayash varieties, cf. Hede{an (2005), Petrovici (1938) and Saramandu (1997: 102108).
Observations
In some of the examples given above, Romanian is the dominant language, the matrix language; in other examples Serbian is the matrix language. Embeddings are made from Serbian, Romanian and/or German. Congruent lexicalization could be proven. Alternation and insertion are frequent: insertions can be found as single words and also as larger constituents. The matrix language often defines the grammatical frame of the sentence. It could be observed and confirmed that simple insertions can be treated according to the rules of the embedded language.12 In the case of the embedding of German separable prefixed verbs it seems that the Romanian verb a lua has been furnished with a supplementary prefix in the case of Rom. (mixed) *a lua ab to fetch, to take away and Rom. (mixed) *a lua weg to take away (Examples 8 and 9), probably with the aim of allowing a higher semantic differentiation. In these cases it is difficult to decide which language defines the grammatical frame. Matrix languages can switch, but in the present case it rather seems to be a feature
11 12
Petrovici (1938: 231), Saramandu (1997: 98, 115 etc.). Cf. Auer (2006).
259
of a Fused Lect, as Auer (1999) defines it. In the case of the examples 1013, maine o fac abschleppen tomorrow they will tow my car away, o fac begleiten will accompany her, fac ausraumen I move out (of), ai facut uberstehen you have come through, the Romanian verb a face is used in order to accommodate German infinitival verbs in a Romanian sentence frame. This is a kind of simplification strategy: instead of expressing himself in Romanian with the required Romanian conjugated verb, the speaker combines a simple Romanian a face (fac and so on) with a simple German infinitive. This method of simplification could be observed several times, and it worked very well in the communication process, which indicates again the presence of traits of a Fused Lect.
Language and self-definition
As a result, it can be stated, that we can find in the recordings simple code-switching phenomena (for example: several telephone calls are started in German and continued in Romanian) as well as numerous code-mixing phenomena and singular features of Fused Lects. The linguistic in-group variety used by the middle generation of the two main informants Z. and D. is without doubt a temporarily used variety, heavily endangered by obsolescence and language death, since the youngest generation does not know this variety and never showed any interest towards learning or even understanding it. The peer-groups of the youngest generation already born in Berlin differ from these of the middle or older generation to an extreme extent. So the effort of the grandmother of the teen-aged son of the main informant Z. to limit the contacts of the boy to Gypsy girls, while she threw his German girl-friend out of the apartment, can be seen as a desperate attempt from the side of the older generation to conserve a situation, not anymore corresponding to the actual reality of the third generation, a reality which has undergone already changes. The third generation has been socialized in Berlin in multicultural peer-groups among ethnic boundaries. As a consequence, the respective self-definition has changed fundamentally: from a clearly defined ethnic-based rural self-definition of an in-group, being once of fundamental importance for the survival of the group it has changed to a more relaxed modern urban self-definition of youth-culture, mostly based on common social features of the respective peer-groups.
260 References
Auer 1999 P. Auer: From Code-Switching via Language-Mixing to Fused Lects: Toward a Dynamic Typology of Bilingual Speech, International Journal of Bilingualism 3, 309332. Auer 2006 P. Auer: Embedded language and matrix language in insertional language mixing: Some problematic cases. Abstract. International Colloquium on Language Contact and Contact Languages, University of Hamburg, Research Centre on Multilingualism. Bhatia/Ritchie 1996 T. K. Bhatia; W. C. Ritchie: Bilingual Language Mixing, Universal Grammar, and Second Language Acquisition, Handbook of Second Language Acquisition, (Ritchie/Bhatia eds.), San Diego, 627688. Bulgar/Constantinescu-Dobridor 2003 Gh. Bulgar, Gh. Constantinescu-Dobridor: Dicionar de arhaisme i regionalisme, Bucureti. Hede{an 2005 O. Hede{an: Jedan teren Tre{njevica u dolini Morave, Banja{i na Balkanu. Identitet etni~ke zajednice (Sikimi}, B. ed.), Beograd, 13106. Kamwangamalu 2001 N. Kamwangamalu: 2nd Review: Muysken, Bilingual Speech. LINGUIST List 12.1550. Kotik-Friedgut 2004 B. Kotik-Friedgut: Psychological factors in trilingual code switching and mixing. Abstract, 15.10.06, http://www.spz.tu-darmstadt .de/projekt_l3/Conferences/AbstractsInnsbruck/abstract.html Lawson/Sachdev 2000 S. Lawson, I. Sachdev: Codeswitching in Tunisia: Attitudinal & behavioural dimensions, Journal of Pragmatics 32, 13431362. Lawson/Sachdev 2004 S. Lawson, I. Sachdev: Identity, Language Use and Attitudes, in: Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol. 23 No. 1, 4969. Marin/Margarit 1999 M. Marin, I. Margarit: Glosar dialectal Muntenia, Bucureti. Matras/Bakker 2003 Y. Matras, P. Bakker: The Mixed Language Debate. Theoretical and Empirical Advances, De Gruyter, Berlin etc. Muysken, P. (2000) P. Muysken: Bilingual Speech: A Typology of Code-mixing, Cambridge University Press. Petrovici 1938 E. Petrovici: Romanii din Serbia Occidentala, Dacoromania IX, Cluj, 224236. Pfaff 1979 C. W. Pfaff: Constraints on language mixing, Language 55, 291318. Poplack 1980 Sh. Poplack: Sometimes Ill start a sentence in Spanish Y TERMINO EN ESPANOL, Linguistics 18, 581618. Poplack 2000 Sh. Poplack: Code-switching, International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Smelser/Baltes eds.), Elsevier Science Ltd., 20622065. Romaine 1995 S. Romaine: Bilingualism, 2nd ed., Oxford. Saramandu 1997 N. Saramandu: Cercetari dialectale la un grup necunoscut de vorbitori al romanei: Baiaii din Nordul Croaiei, Fonetica i Dialectologie XVI, 97130. Sikimi} 2005a B. Sikimi}: Banja{i na Balkanu, Banja{i na Balkanu. Identitet etni~ke zajednice (Sikimi}, B. ed.), Beograd, 712. Sikimi} 2005b B. Sikimi}: Banja{i u Srbiji, Banja{i na Balkanu. Identitet etni~ke zajednice (Sikimi}, B. ed.), Beograd, 245275.
262
Balkanic varieties of Romanian (Romanian, Istroromanian, Meglenoromanian and Aromanian) evolve through contact with a South Slavic language the same kind of phenomena take place, even though the morphological or semantic possibilities may differ. Thus, verbal aspect appears to be a very sensitive element when contact between Romanian and Slavic languages is involved. Key words: Romanian, Valach, description, aspect, verbal prefixation
Les parlers roumains de Serbie sont extremement interessants pour des etudes de linguistique generale et de dialectologie. Lune des pistes a creuser est celle de la variation : les donnees que je presente sont fondees sur mes recherches de terrain effectuees a Valakonje, et mes analyses comptent pour ce village. Valakonje est un village de Serbie orientale denviron 1500 habitants, majoritairement valaques, tous bilingues. Do- est un morpheme grammatical emprunte au serbe par le valaque. Il sert de preverbe. Inutile de dire que cette prefixation nest pas imaginable en roumain standard. Do, en serbe, est dabord une preposition qui signifie jusqua, vers . Utilise en tant que preverbe, do- marque le perfectif. Dune faon generale, son semantisme est clair en serbe, il marque latteinte dune limite. En valaque, la preposition signifiant jusqua est toujours pana. Par contre, do- en tant que preverbe est emprunte. Des ce premier abord, une question se pose : do- est-il un morpheme grammatical transparent pour les locuteurs valaques ? Les Valaques sont aujourdhui tous bilingues, de ce fait, le semantisme de ce prefixe doemprunte au serbe est connu. Ce preverbe est quasiment le seul productif en valaque. Les deux autres sont pro- qui marque une action refaite (comme re- en franais), et |es-/|is- qui marque leloignement (comme de- en franais). Do- peut accompagner la grande majorite des verbes. Je vais dabord analyser des exemples attestes, tires de mon corpus ou bien entendus dans la vie quotidienne. Neanmoins, pour affiner mes analyses, jai aussi construit quelques exemples. Effectivement, il etait necessaire de revoir ces donnees sous leclairage du systeme linguistique plus complet. Dans la deuxieme partie, je presente quelques tests portant sur le semantisme interne, notamment sur les traits : +/- dynamique, +/telique ou +/- momentane. Dans un troisieme temps, jai mis en perspective mes faits avec le serbe et dautres varietes de roumain dans les Balkans. Lanalyse des exemples est tres complexe pour ce prefixe. Le semantisme reel semble echapper, sans doute parce que les faits decrits sont en cours de grammaticalisation. Limpression qui se degage est que dodonne quelques pistes semantiques qui sont a chaque fois correlees au
263
contexte. Le semantisme de base vehicule par do- est lachevement ou bien la visee de lachevement. Concernant les notions de laspectualite, je me base sur les travaux de Zlatka Guentcheva (1990) et de Jean-Pierre Descles et Zlatka Guentcheva (1997, 2003). Dans son ouvrage sur le temps et laspect en bulgare, Zlatka Guentcheva (1990) developpe lidee que les formes imperfectives secondaires expriment non pas un achevement realise mais seulement un achevement vise. (Guentcheva 1990 : 66) ; puis : Lopposition passe donc entre limperfectif et le couple PF, IS1 puisque le premier exprime labsence dachevement, tandis que le second exprime une notion dachevement. Lautre opposition passe, dun cote, par un achevement seulement vise mais non atteint et, de lautre, par un achevement atteint. (Guentcheva 1990 : 6667). Le valaque ne possede pas un systeme aspectuel aussi complexe morphologiquement que les langues slaves, et la prefixation avec do- est encore assez recente a priori. Nonobstant, je postulerais lhypothese que le verbe non prefixe nest pas marque dun point de vue aspectuel, et que par opposition, le verbe prefixe exprime soit une visee dachevement, soit lachevement. Mais voyons ces faits plus en detail. 1. Analyse dexemples attestes La valeur aspectuelle qui domine est celle de lachevement. Une nuance apparait parfois avec cette valeur aspectuelle, puisque do- peut etre la marque dune action achevee, ou dont lachevement est vise, malgre une pause au cours de cette action. Je donnerai quelques enonces ou, a mon sens, do- a plutot une valeur de visee dachevement. Il est pertinent parfois de se demander si le prefixe ne porte pas une nuance modale aussi. Finalement, do- avec une negation donne une lecture quantitative. (1) Valaque
Domaninc PREF.manger. PRES.1.SG asta ceci pa puis o sa vad. voir. FUT1.1.SG
Quelquun propose au locuteur de finir le plat : lenonciateur repond quil veut dabord manger son assiettee et quil reflechira apres. Nous avons une action en cours, le fait de manger. Lenonciateur pense a la borne finale de son action qui est pragmatiquement limitee a son assiettee, exprime par asta, ceci . Cest effectivement lenonce entier quil faut
1 PF :
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analyser. Domaninc asta je mange ceci exprime ici clairement un achevement. Ajouter de la nourriture dans son assiette signifie pour le locuteur recommencer la meme action ; il aura fini sa premiere assiettee, mais il aura peut-etre encore faim. (2) Valaque
Sa
REFL
doumplut
PREF.REMPLIR.PART.PAS
cuofa ? seau.FEM.SG.DEF
Lachevement est exprime dans cet exemple. Lalambic est en train de couler, il ne sagirait pas de perdre de la marchandise. On aurait pu avoir la meme phrase sans ce prefixe. Do- dans cet enonce trahit-il limpatience de lenonciatrice ? Ou est-ce plutot latteinte de cette borne qui est mise en valeur grace a ce morpheme ? (3) Valaque
(M : Bajka, gde je ? Bo : Da se presvu~e Gospo|a phrase en serbe) Ma : O dofacu Gospo|a 3.F.SG PREF.faire.PS.3.SG Madame (M : Bo : Ma : Bajka, elle est ou ? Madame se change en serbe) Madame la bien fait jusquau bout !
bine bien
Deux femmes dun certain age reviennent dune promenade en ville, alors quil fait chaud. Les deux femmes sont fatiguees, et les autres les attendent pour se mettre a table. Lenonce qui nous concerne ici est doublement ironique. Dabord, lenonciatrice (Ma) reprend le terme Gospo|a de son allocutaire, Madame en serbe, pour se referer a lautre femme qui est partie se changer. Le o est ici un pronom feminin vide : il sagit dune expression quasiment figee, ou le verbe faire est accompagne de ce pronom semantiquement vide pour signifier faire une betise . Le terme Madame amplifie ainsi le contraste entre le verbe et le sujet, dautant plus que le verbe est prefixe. Lenonciatrice souligne par ces procedes la folie qui les a prises de faire un tres long chemin par cette chaleur et a leur age : lachevement est atteint.
2 Dans certains cas, le reflechi et lauxiliaire avoir samalgament, du coup le participe passe seul vaut pour un parfait compose.
265
(4) Valaque
(Bre atita se |epar}e la Mosoruoni-ia, i miersai i miersai, zic da se drac ma !) Sa dodusara la cimpu la Oprian, REFL PREF.partir.PS.3.PL a champ a Oprishan zic, se e asta. dire.PRES.1.SG quoi etre.PRES.3.SG ceci (Que cest loin chez les Mosoruon, jai marche et jai marche, je me dis, mais diable, quarrive-t-il ?) Ils sont partis jusquau champ dOprishan, je me dis, que se passe-t-il ?
Dans cet enonce, lenonciatrice raconte sa longue marche jusqua la maison de ses amis assez eloignee de chez elle. Comme elle vieillit, marcher est devenu plus difficile, mais la locutrice inverse limage avec beaucoup dhumour : cest la maison de ses amis qui sest deplacee plus loin, et qui est partie jusqua un autre repere spatial a levidence encore plus eloigne. Le verbe partir prefixe montre lachevement de cet eloignement, que lenonciatrice constate sur son chemin. (5) Valaque
(@ : Ve : @: Ve : @: Ve : Copilo-la nu veni ! Da l sa dus la cuola, da lS-a fi insurat ! rires N-a mai venit |e Va veni cu goviia Da |e un|e }iu iuo. Are in comii o fata) Fie}ili se alarga dupa fille.F.PL.DEF qui courir.PRES.3.PL apres il prind ele acuma 3.M.SG.ACC attraper.PRES.3.PL 3.F.PL.NOM maintenant doprind PREF.attraper.PRES.3.PL
el
3.M.SG
il
3.M.SG.ACC
(@ : Lenfant nest pas venu elle parle de son fils ! Est-ce quil est parti a lecole, est-ce queVe : Il sest peut-etre marie ! rires @ : Il nest pas rentre depuisVe : Il va peut-etre rentrer avec la mariee @ : Quest ce que jen sais. Il a une copine dans le voisinage) Ve : Les filles qui lui courent apres, elles vont lattraper, maintenant elles vont lattraper pour de bon !
Dans ce dialogue, une femme se moque gentiment de lautre. La premiere sinquiete du fait que son fils dune vingtaine dannees nest pas rentre depuis une fete la veille. Elle suppose quil est parti directement a
266
lecole. En revanche, lautre femme la taquine en lui disant quil est parti chez une fiancee, et dans le cas contraire ce sont les filles qui vont lattraper ! La prefixation peut etre ambigue dans cet exemple. A priori, les filles sont interessees depuis longtemps par ce jeune homme, mais cette fois-ci, et pour rassurer la mere, les filles lauraient attrape. Plusieurs tentatives pour avoir ce garon ont echoue, mais ici, lachevement est atteint. (6) Valaque
(Sv : Pana ia la snimane, ala, ia a pus tana asiia, vrun|i-va pe vr-o stolia, pe vr-o i ii fura nov~aniku. xxx i iuo nu o intrebai cum sa intuarsa @ : Da un|e a fuost ia, in Zaiser? xxx Ca fura) Sv : Ca ia acuma sa doduse Que 3.F.SG.NOM maintenant REFL PREF.partir.PRES.3.SG u u aut. dans serbe dans serbe out anglais (Sv: Pendant quelle passait son examen, elle a mis son sac la, quelque part sur une chaise, sur une et on lui vole son portefeuille. xxx Et je ne lui ai pas demande comment elle etait rentree. @ : Et ou est-ce quelle etait, a Zaje~ar ? xxx puisquil y avait) Sv : Parce que la, elle va craquer pour de bon
La locutrice explique que sa sur sest fait voler son portefeuille pendant son examen medical. Celle-ci avait deja beaucoup de soucis, et la locutrice a peur quelle craque pour de bon : lachevement est rendu par la prefixation. Lexpression est curieuse en soi, puisquil sagit dun emprunt depuis le serbe (lui-meme etant un emprunt de langlais out), partir en vrille . (7) Valaque
(Ve : audz Majo, miie im veni suomnu Vl : rire M : Bun, Bajko. Pa da produ`imo, Bajko, samo malo, nema, Bajko, puno vi{e, jo{ petnaest re~i ima.phrase en serbe) Vl : Pa da dopuni le Eh bien PREF.mettre.IMPER.2.SG 3.F.PL (Ve : ecoute Maja, jai envie de dormir maintenant Vl : rire M : Bon, Bajka. On continue juste un peu, il ny plus beaucoup a faire, il y a encore quinze mots. phrase en serbe) Vl : Eh bien, donne-les jusquau bout !
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Lors dun questionnaire dialectal, lune des informatrices dit quelle a envie de dormir. Lenquetrice comprend ce besoin ; pour autant, elle se rend compte quelle na plus beaucoup de mots a traiter, et elle commence a negocier le prolongement de la seance pour quelques minutes. Lautre informateur voit que la fin du questionnaire est proche et utilise le verbe mettre prefixe a limperatif pour bien insister aupres des autres sur le fait quil veut aller jusquau bout. Dun point de vue semantique, il sagit dun achevement. Les exemples exposes precedemment correspondent a la notion dachevement. Les contextes en general explicitent cette lecture. Dans les exemples qui suivent, la visee de lachevement domine. Parfois, malgre tout, lambiguite demeure. (8) Valaque
Babi grand-mere.F.SG.GEN. dopica. PREF.tomber.PRES.3.PL nu
NEG
numa mais
Elles les dents ne poussent plus chez grand-mere, mais elles finissent de tomber.
La locutrice parle a un enfant qui vient davoir ses premieres dents, au contraire delle qui perd ses dernieres dents. Je crois que la grand-mere dans cet extrait souligne cette derniere phase, ses dents vont tomber jusqua ce quelles ne puissent plus tomber, parce quil ny en aura plus. En ce sens, je parlerais ici de visee dachevement. Remarquons que le verbe tomber est au present, et quil porte sur lui le prefixe verbal, ce qui, a priori, lui donnerait une valeur dachevement. Or, si on doit traduire cet enonce en serbe, ce nest pas la forme perfective que lon mettrait, mais la forme imperfective : (9) Serbe
Babi vi{e grand-mere.GEN.F.SG plus ispadaju. tomber.IMPERF.PRES.3.PL ne
NEG
rastu, pousser.PRES.3.PL
nego mais
Elles les dents ne poussent plus chez grand-mere, mais elles tombent.
Cet imperfectif en serbe est un imperfectif secondaire qui exprime une visee dachevement. Il est interessant de voir que le serbe reprend un
268
imperfectif secondaire la ou se trouve une visee dachevement, comme le note Zlatka Guentcheva pour le bulgare (1990 : 66). (10) Valaque
(@ : S-ca un|e ii tractoru ? i cind pe urma sa intuors dupa tractor iar ! Bo : Istina? @ : S-a intuors! Pa da! Ai cu mine! Uodma ! ) Sa dus i la doluvat REFL partir.PC.3.SG et 3.M.SG PREF.prendre.PC.3.SG ca vad ca veni que voir.PRES.1.SG que venir.PS.3.SG (@ : Il me demande ou est son tracteur ! et puis apres il est encore retourne chercher son tracteur ! Bo : Vraiment ? @: Il est reparti ! Bah oui ! Allez, tu viens avec moi ! Tout de suite ! ) Il est parti et il la pris, jai vu quil etait revenu.
3
Dans cet extrait, la locutrice explique que son mari avait un peu bu lors dune fete la veille, et quil avait du abandonner son tracteur quelque part : le probleme est quil ne se souvient plus ou et il le cherche depuis un moment. Alors il demande a sa femme de laccompagner dans sa recherche. Or la locutrice, qui doit soccuper seule de toute la ferme, nest pas particulierement disposee a suivre son mari, et repond ironiquement a son epoux quelle le suit tout de suite . Dans sa derniere tentative, le mari a reussi a retrouver son tracteur : cet achevement est exprime par le prefixe do-. Mais cet exemple est tres intriguant, puisque le prefixe reprend aussi bien la visee de lachevement exprimee par les departs successifs du mari pour retrouver le tracteur que lachevement en lui-meme, puisque le mari est revenu avec son vehicule. (11) Valaque
(@ : Numa venii slubazii apa-ia odata, nu miarze.) Am venit acuma sara, vasili venir.PC.1.SG maintenant soir.F.SG.INDEF vache.F.PL.DEF zbiara, nau apa. crier.PRES.3.PL NEG avoir.PRES.3.PL eau.F.SG.INDEF
Cette locutrice nest pas originaire de Valakonje, mais elle y vit depuis son mariage. Dans lexemple suivant, elle prononce le verbe miarze elle marche avec un a , tandis qua Valakonje, on trouve un e : ce nest quun exemple parmi dautres de la variation.
3
269
Doveni ! PREF.venir.PS.3.SG (Slubazii iar pumpa-ia, ca sa dus atuns tuata, s-a dus tuata apa) (@ : Je suis juste rentree, jai laisse couler leau, elle ne marchait pas.) Je suis rentree ce soir, les vaches criaient, elles navaient pas deau. Elle est arrivee ! (Jai laisse la pompe marcher, puisquelle est partie alors completement, toute leau etait partie)
Une fois de plus, la locutrice exprime dans le contexte immediat precedent lenonce avec do- quelle a effectue plusieurs tentatives avant dobtenir un resultat. Ici, elle sest retrouvee sans eau, et elle a du ouvrir le robinet plusieurs fois avant son arrivee. Une nouvelle fois, la visee et lachevement sont entrelaces. (12) Valaque
(D : Pa i ele, esta pana o vreme, pa urma nu e, ma a trecut vremia i |e ele. V : Aha, i |e pui, i |e tuot. Ma i a}a ve} ajun.) Numa sa dovina Buosa. seulement que PREF.venir.SUBJ.3.SG Bosa Is ajun. etre.3.PL arriver.PART.PAS.M.PL (D : Mais cest pareil pour a, il y en a jusqua un moment, puis on nen trouve plus, mais de toute maniere la periode est passee pour a aussi. V : Oui, et pour les poules et pour tout. Mais de toute maniere ceux-ci aussi sont deja bons. Il faut juste que Bosa arrive. Ils sont prets.
Deux femmes discutent de la nourriture pour la volaille qui nest plus disponible en magasin, parce que la periode de lannee pour faire grandir les poussins est passee. V(eroslava) explique que les poules sont arrivees a la bonne taille pour etre abattues, mais Bosa, qui peut sen occuper, est absente pour le moment. Ils sont arrives signifie quils sont arrives au bon poids . Dans lenonce avec le prefixe, la visee est clairement exprimee : elle est dautant plus evidente que le verbe est mis au subjonctif. (13) Valaque
Pana Pendant vuoi 2.PL domanca,
PREF.manger.PRES.2.PL
iuo 1.SG
ma
REFL.1.SG
Pendant qu vous finissez de manger, je vais jusqua chez eux. pana : selon le contexte, pendant ou jusqua
Lenonciatrice a fini de manger avant les autres et annonce quelle va se lever de table pour aller travailler. Le contexte dans lenonce (13) est tres riche : le verbe est au present, il est preverbe avec do- et il est accompagne par pana . Pana signale quon se trouve a linterieur dun processus dont on envisage la borne finale, il sagit dune visee dachevement. (14) Valaque
Ma
REFL.1.SG
sa
SUB
dolucru
PREF.travailler.SUBJ.1.SG
aia. cela
Dans (14), la borne finale de laction est visee. On peut voir une nuance dans lemploi du preverbe do-. La personne a travaille puis a pris une pause pour regarder son emission preferee a la television. Le locuteur retourne au travail et pense terminer son ouvrage. Cet enonce arrive a la fin de la pause : le travail a commence avant, la phase qui souvre est une suite de ce travail qui sera acheve. Le verbe de la principale renforce lidee de lachevement, puisquil sagit du verbe aller , dont les frontieres entre labstrait et le reel sont pas parfois permeables. (15) Valaque
i Et i et |e pour ma
REFL
invri}ii retourner.PS.1.SG i et
i et iuo 1.SG o
3.F.SG
ma
REFL
Et je me suis retournee et je me suis levee et je reussis a donner le cafe pour la pomana et je le bus.
Pour cet enonce, le contexte est tres clair. Lenonciatrice avait lintention de donner le cafe dans son rite,4 mais elle sest evanouie. Cet incident la empechee de donner le cafe une premiere fois, elle a
4 Dans ces rites du quotidien, on donne une boisson ou de la nourriture pour les ames des morts dans lau-dela.
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du sy remettre a son reveil. Ce qui compte pour elle, cest detre parvenue a effectuer le rituel malgre lincident. (16) Valaque
Dofacui turiiaia ier, PREF.faire.PS.1.SG saumure.F.S.DEF.DEM hier doadunai piparcaia |i PREF.ramasser.PS.1.SG poivron.F.SG.DEF.DEM de adusai plotozelili cru|e, apporter.PS.1.SG tomate.F.PL.DEF vert.F.PL
pe sur
siia la
Je fis (finalement ?) la saumure-la hier, je finis de ramasser le poivron qui trainait par la, japportai les tomates vertes,
Dans (16), nous avons deux fois le prefixe do-. Le cotexte naide malheureusement pas a interpreter ce passage. Le seul element quil nous apporte, cest que la locutrice fait une longue liste de tout ce quelle a fait la veille. La conversation se tenait entre deux autres personnes et lenquetrice nintervenait pas a ce moment. De toute maniere, il est impossible de detecter toutes les ambiguites de la parole. Dans cet exemple (16), les deux preverbations peuvent etre interpretees differemment. Le verbe faire , dofacui, au parfait simple, prefixe, exprime vraisemblablement un regret de la personne qui aurait souhaite preparer la saumure plus tot. La deuxieme occurrence de do-, qui sajoute au verbe ramasser , signifie sans doute que la personne avait deja utilise des poivrons avant, mais quil lui en restait encore quelques uns quelle voulait ramasser jusquau bout pour ne pas quils se perdent. La dame raconte sa journee de la veille, dans une longue enumeration avec lenonce (17) qui suit. (17) Valaque
Ma dusai aller.PS.1.SG Doruparam PREF.arracher.PS.1.PL
REFL.1.SG
sa
SUB
le
3.PL.DAT
ajut aider.SUBJ.1.SG
lor.
3.PL.DAT
cucuruzola mais.M.SG.DEF.DEM
Je suis partie les aider. Nous avons fini darracher le mais la-bas.
Pour cet exemple non plus, le cotexte nest pas suffisamment explicite. Ce qui est certain, cest quils ont fini de cueillir le mais sur la parcelle en question. Soit il sagit du pur achevement, soit ils ont deja travaille sur ce champ et ils ont fini cette fois-la, soit ils ont reussi finalement a faire entierement ce champ de mais. On voit la lambiguite dune forme pour laquelle le contexte linguistique naide pas, et la
272
presence de lenquetrice lors du dialogue ny change rien. Lenonce (17) suit de quelques dizaines de secondes lenonce (16). La personne raconte sa longue journee de travail : elle oppose son activite effrenee a celle de ses enfants qui ne travaillent pas (autant) a la ferme. Ce discours oriente serait une forte motivation pour trouver trois verbes prefixes en moins dune minute. Dans ce sens, lachevement prime probablement sur la visee : nimporte le nombre de tentatives, ces taches sont terminees grace a son labeur, et non pas celui des autres. Une autre valeur, liee a la premiere, se degage de certains emplois. Cette valeur semantique serait plus modale. Do- exprimerait une certaine attente, comme eventuellement dans les exemples (18) et (19). (18) Valaque
Ii 3.SG.DAT dotaiara
PREF.couper.PS.3.PL
cracu? jambe.M.SG.DEF
On parle dun homme age qui avait la gangrene. Lenonciatrice demande si on lui a coupe la jambe. Il faut comprendre quil a longtemps ete question que lon ampute la jambe, et lenonciatrice ne savait pas ce quil en etait. Une amputation ne peut pas etre faite a moitie, et ce nest pas sur ce qui a ete enleve que porte linterrogation : ce nest donc pas une question purement aspectuelle. Dans cet enonce, do- ne porte pas directement sur le verbe, mais sur lensemble de levenement et sur lattitude que lenonciatrice a vis-a-vis de cet evenement. Dune certaine maniere, la question commence au moment meme ou lamputation a ete envisagee, et do- marque alors ce cheminement depuis le depart. Linterpretation est rattachee a la visee de lachevement, qui dans ce contexte porte une nuance modale. (19) Valaque
Douspii PREF.reussir.PS.1.SG sa
SUB
domatur.
PREF.balayer.SUBJ.1.SG
Cet enonce est tres complexe.5 Nous avons deux verbes preverbes qui se suivent, le premier etant un emprunt du serbe. Le verbe uspeti est
5 Le lecteur aura remarque quune majorite des exemples donnes sont au parfait simple. Quil nen tire pas des conclusions hatives, quil soit locuteur de roumain standard ou dialectal ! Le parfait simple est tres employe dans la variete de Valakonje. Il se trouve
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une forme perfective en serbe (il soppose a uspevati, imperfectif en serbe), il naccepte pas de preverbe (*douspeti, *nauspeti, etc.).6 La forme valaque douspii PS je reussis est composee dun prefixe et dun verbe empruntes au serbe separement. En serbe, la juxtaposition de ces deux elements est agrammaticale. Le valaque est donc capable demprunter des elements lexicaux et grammaticaux a partir du serbe, et den composer une grammaire differente. Une ambiguite peut subsister dans linterpretation de cette phrase, qui lors de son enonciation, etait accompagnee dun long silence avant et apres. La locutrice a eu une maison pleine de monde toute la journee, et elle na pu balayer quapres le depart des invites. Soit lenonciatrice exprime grace a do- ses nombreuses tentatives ou dune certaine maniere elle vise lachevement (ou son intention de nettoyer depuis longtemps), tentatives qui se sont soldees par un succes (dou une traduction avec finalement ), soit la locutrice valide lachevement de sa reussite ( jai bel et bien reussi ). Le meme probleme se pose avec sa domatur (litteralement) que je prefbalaye : finir par tout balayer ou tout balayer jusquau bout ? En dehors du fait que le verbe reussir implique une intentionnalite, il me semble que ce do- rend compte du chemin parcouru entre le moment ou lenonciatrice saperoit que le sol a besoin detre nettoye, et le moment ou elle a realise son action. De cette faon, jattribuerai la valeur aspectuelle dachevement au deuxieme element de lenonce, domatur, balayer prefixe. Cette interpretation serait logique, car la surface envisagee au depart aura ete balayee dans son integralite. Voyons maintenant un autre enonce dont lanalyse est complexe. Par consequent, je me limite a quelques explications de contexte, et quelques pistes de reflexion eventuelles. (20) Valaque
Va dopleca PREF.partir.FUT2.3.PL copiii}a. enfant.M.PL.DEF.DEM
Lexemple (20) est tres difficile a analyser. Va + infinitif, contrairement au roumain, nest pas le futur de base, mais un futur modal
que ces exemples sont tires de narrations, ou le parfait simple trouve toute sa place en tant que tiroir qui fait avancer le recit . Voir a ce propos Petrovi} (a paraitre), Le passe en valaque . 6 Dospeti, parvenir , existe, mais sa construction et son semantisme ne se recoupent pas.
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epistemique.7 La forme va dopleca, que jai traduite par ils vont finir par partir , est complexe. On y trouve de la modalite (avec lauxiliaire va, qui provient de verbe vouloir desemantise), du temporel (une sorte de futur), et de laspectualite, avec lemprunt du preverbe do-. Le contexte : la grand-mere a envie de rester avec ses enfants qui vont partir, mais en meme temps, elle doit soccuper de ses affaires, donc elle attend que ses enfants partent pour tout faire. La locutrice vise lachevement, or celui-ci nest pas attribuable a sa volonte (modalite epistemique imputable a cette forme de futur). Le dernier exemple atteste est different des autres, meme si je le rattache de facto a la lecture aspectuelle de la prefixation valaque. La construction avec la negation suivie du verbe prefixe, dont je rattacherais le semantisme a la visee dachevement, donne une lecture quantitative. (21) Valaque
Ei 3.PL nu
NEG
dobiau
PREF.boire.PRES.3.PL
apa eau
|isa. dici
Je nai note quun enonce de ce genre, car il est typique de cette vie quotidienne si difficile a obtenir sur une bande. Malgre tout, cette construction est courante. Son semantisme est clair et ne presente aucune ambiguite. Je rattache pour ma part cette construction a celle de la visee de lachevement. En serbe, do en tant que preposition signifie jusqua, a cote , en tant que preverbe, do- marque latteinte dune limite, dune etape. Le valaque garde cette idee datteinte dune limite, dune borne, dans son semantisme de base. Accompagne de la negation, le verbe prefixe avec do- eloigne laction de lachevement, ou lobjet de sa transitivite. Dune certaine maniere, cette construction composee de la negation suivie dun verbe prefixe est une sorte deuphemisme grammatical. Dans lexemple (21), le fait de ne pas boire leau du robinet en visant la totalite de celle-ci signifie en realite que les gens evitent den boire, pour des causes sanitaires en loccurrence. La valeur principale de cette marque est latteinte de la borne finale. Selon les contextes, la lecture dun achevement ou dun achevement vise est privilegiee. Dans certains cas, un verbe prefixe montre quune action a ete commencee et repetee a plusieurs reprises avant darriver, ou de viser
7
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sa fin. Parfois meme, la visee est accompagnee dune once de modalite. La construction avec la negation donne pour sa part une lecture quantitative, que jai rattachee a la notion de visee. Finalement, quelques constats simposent. 1. Do- apparait dans les dialogues, plus rarement dans les narrations. Ceci montre que les contraintes dapparition de do- sont encore importantes, ce qui limite sans doute sa frequence pour linstant. Il est a parier quune plus forte desemantisation accompagnant une plus grande grammaticalisation integrera davantage cette forme en tant que prefixe aspectualisant. 2. Dans Descles et Guentcheva (2007), les auteurs definissent quelques types de verbes touches par la prefixation avec do- en bulgare. Les verbes touches sont les verbes de maniere de motion,8 des verbes de cumul,9 des verbes daddition,10 et des verbes relies a un changement dans les etats emotionnels.11 Il est a noter que le valaque, a travers les exemples cites ci-dessus, suit ce classement dans une certaine mesure. On peut classer dans les verbes de motion les exemples : dodusara (4), doduse (6), aller , doveni (11), dovina (12), venir , dopleca (20) partir ; dans les verbes de cumul : doprind (5), attraper , doluvat (9), prendre , doadunai (16), ramasser , doruparam (17), arracher , etc. ; et pour les verbes daddition : doumplut (2), remplir , dopuni (7), mettre etc. Bien sur, tous les verbes ne rentrent pas dans ces categories, et lune des categories citees dans larticle de Descles et Guentcheva (2007) ne trouve pas dequivalents dans le corpus que jai etudie en valaque ; cependant, cette classification semantique sapplique aisement a cette variete de roumain. Le linguiste aimerait sans doute que les morphemes soient bien circonscrits, clairs, simples. Il nen est rien. Lenonce (20) est un archetype de la complexite formee par la trinite temps-aspect-mode. Neanmoins, lanalyse enonciative et pragmatique donne quelques elements de comprehension. Cette prefixation est un phenomene assez recent dans la
8 Descles et Guentcheva 2007 : 36 Many manner-of-motion verbs can combine with the prefix do- : gonja to pursue, to run after, dogonja (Pf) / dogonvam to reach, to catch . 9 Descles et Guentcheva 2007 : 39 : A significant group of do-verbs derive from verbs having the property of cumulativity : `ana to harvest/ do`ana (Pf) to finish the harvest .
Descles et Guentcheva 2007 : 4142 : Do- is found in a series of verbs indicating the meaning of addition: sipvam (impf) to pour in addition .
11 Descles et Guentcheva 2007 : 42 : Let us now consider the group of constructions related to a change in affective human states: domarzja (Pf) me start feeling lazy .
10
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langue, ce qui explique sans doute lambiguite de ces formes.12 De plus, le changement concerne le systeme verbal, qui est lui-meme en restructuration vis-a-vis du roumain originel. 2. Tests Cette forme (do-) est tres productive, on lentend quotidiennement. Si je me base sur mes enregistrements, je donnerais une estimation dune occurrence par heure environ. Cependant, je tiens a rappeler quun corpus enregistre nest quune partie des productions quotidiennes. Or, il est plus aise denregistrer des narrations lors dune pause-cafe plutot que des dialogues banals que lon peut faire en preparant la soupe. Lenqueteur ne peut pas enregistrer en permanence toutes les occurrences quil entend. Ainsi, pour completer mon analyse, jai decide de faire appel a des tests sur ce preverbe, malgre la mefiance que jeprouve envers ce genre de procedes.13 Je me suis demande quelles sortes de verbes acceptaient cette forme, selon differents criteres, comme par exemple : +/- dynamique, +/telique, +/- momentane. Les resultats presentent un certain interet. Je ne reproduis pas ici dautres tests que jai operes parce quils napportent pas de resultats probants.14 Les verbes statifs Le verbe etre exclut15 apparemment cette preverbation, ainsi que le verbe connaitre , comme le montrent les phrases (22) et (23). Lexemple (24b) serait acceptable dans certaines circonstances.16
12 Mon sentiment de locuteur natif me mene a croire que ce phenomene de Valakonje est recent. Pour autant, des dialectologues ont note son apparition depuis plusieurs dizaines dannees dans dautres endroits, en particulier dans le Banat des deux cotes de la frontiere (Flora 1969, ou Neiescu 1970). Lun nexclut pas lautre, a lechelle de la vie dune langue. 13 Lacceptabilite des exemples construits depend du locuteur et de son humeur Voir plus precisement Labov et son etude (2001). 14 Par exemple, un verbe prefixe accompagne dun complement de temps introduit par |e, en ( en cinq minutes par exemple, etc.) neclaircit rien a priori. 15 Lors dun terrain ulterieur, jai eu loccasion dentendre un exemple avec le verbe etre . 16 Mais doit-on aussi essayer dimaginer des contextes ou ces verbes seraient acceptes, sous une forme ou une autre ?
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(22) Valaque
a. Fluara Fleur.F.SG.DEF b. * Fluara Fleur.F.SG.DEF esta etre.PRES.3.SG doesta PREF.etre. PRES.3.SG frumuas-a. belle.F.SG frumuasa. belle.F.SG
(23) Valaque
a. El 3.SG b. * El 3.SG cunoas}e connaitre.PRES.3.SG docunoas}e PREF.connaitre.PRES.3.SG pe sur pe sur Ana. Ana Ana. Ana
Il connait Ana.
(24) Valaque
a. El 3.SG b. ? El 3.SG are avoir.PRES.3.SG doare PREF.avoir. PRES.3.SG un
INDEF.M.SG
un
INDEF.M.SG
Lexemple (24b) est imaginable dans le cas ou quelquun a longtemps souhaite avoir une voiture et en a finalement obtenu une. Peut-etre les phrases (22) a (24) seraient-elles plus audibles au parfait compose ou au parfait simple ? +/ Teliques Voici quelques exemples, sous forme de tableau, pour illustrer la telicite. Pour dautres exemples, le lecteur pourra aussi se referer aux enonces de la partie precedente. Ici, ce sont des exemples construits au parfait compose17 pour le verbe manger avec des objets directs a la forme definie et indefinie. Jai ajoute le partitif pour pouvoir comparer.
17 Je rappelle que ce genre de denominations est le resultat des traditions grammaticales roumaines, que je reprends dans mes etudes.
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Tableau 1: Manger a la troisieme personne du singulier au parfait compose Parfait compose Sans complement Verbe A mincat. Il a mange. Do- + Verbe A domincat. Il a fini par manger. / Il a fini de manger. Negation Nu a domincat. Il na pas fini de manger./ Il na pas tellement mange./ Finalement, il na pas mange. Nu a domincat o pine. Il na pas mange un pain entier. / Il na pas fini de manger un pain.
Complement indefini
A domincat o pine. Il a fini par manger un pain./ Il a fini de manger un pain. A domincat pina.
Complement defini
Nu a domincat pina. Il a mange le pain. Il a mange le pain Il na pas mange (jusquau bout)./ le pain jusquau Il a fini par man- bout./Il na pas fini de manger le ger le pain. pain. A mincat pine. Il a mange du pain. Nu a domincat pine. Il a fini par man- Il na pas ger du pain./ beaucoup mange Il a fini de manger de pain./ du pain. Il ne mangeait pas beaucoup de pain. A domincat pine.
A mincat pina.
Complement partitif
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(26) Valaque
a. A eksplodirit. exploser.PC.3.SG b. A doeksplodirit. PREF.exploser.PC.3.SG a. Il/elle a explose. b. Il/elle a fini par exploser.
Il apparait quavec des verbes momentanes, la lecture avec la visee dachevement soit plus probable que les autres possibilites. La phrase (25b) sappliquerait par exemple dans le cas dun vieil arbre pour lequel tout le monde sattendait a ce quil tombe. Pour autant, des contextes ou la lecture dun achevement pur serait compatible avec un verbe momentane prefixe est toujours imaginable Les verbes de modalite (27) Valaque
a. A doputut PREF.pouvoir.PC.3.SG b. A putut pouvoir.PC.3.SG sa
SUB
sa
SUB
Le verbe pouvoir accepte le preverbe do-. Cependant, dans ces cas-la, le locuteur preferera deplacer le prefixe sur le verbe principal, pour ne pas le garder sur un verbe de modalite tel que pouvoir . Jimagine que le verbe vouloir aurait les memes exigences. Evidemment, le sens nest pas tout a fait identique. Il semble que le premier exemple aurait une lecture davantage modale, un empechement aurait ete depasse. Les verbes de phase Les verbes de phase, tels commencer ou finir de acceptent ce prefixe verbal. (28) Valaque
A dopornit PREF.commencer. PC.3.SG Le film a finalement commence ?/ filmu ? film.M.SG.DEF Il a (finalement) commence le film ?
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(29) Valaque
A dofirsit PREF.finir.PC.3.SG filmu ? film.M.SG.DEF
Pour conclure cette deuxieme partie, ce prefixe marche-t-il avec tous les tiroirs verbaux ? Je nai pas eu dexemples ou cette prefixation sest faite avec limparfait et le plus-que-parfait, mais je rappelle que ces deux tiroirs ne sont pas les plus usites en valaque. Pour autant, une action telique ne me semble pas incompatible avec la preverbation en do- a limparfait : le resultat serait un iteratif. Tous les modes sont possibles avec do- : lindicatif est evidemment le plus courant, mais on le trouve aussi a limperatif (7) ou (30), ou au subjonctif (12) et (14). Une mere peut tres bien donner cet ordre a son enfant, comme latteste cet exemple enregistre : (30) Valaque
A table : Bo : Mirko, doia Mirko, PREF.prendre.IMPER.2.SG (Mi : Neka, ostavi. reponse en serbe Bo: Iai asta ?) Bo: Mirko, finis a! Mi: Non, laisse. reponse en serbe Bo : Tu prends a ? asta ! ceci
Ce type dexemples est quotidien. Ainsi, cette forme est tres repandue et elle est compatible avec quasiment tous les tiroirs et tous les modes. La grande majorite des verbes est concernee par cette prefixation. En effet, seuls les verbes statifs ecartent cette prefixation, meme si la prefixation est sans doute envisageable dans certains cas tres contextualises. Quant aux verbes + momentanes, ils privilegient la lecture de la visee de lachevement. Malheureusement, il est impossible de donner une regle qui prevoirait le sens de lenonce. Il faut calculer a chaque occurrence lensemble des donnees du contexte afin de faire le bon choix semantique et de comprendre les implications de lenonce. Parfois, meme avec le contexte, lambiguite demeure.
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3. Comparaisons a. Do- en serbe La grammaire de Stevanovi} (1975 : 43435) decrit en un court paragraphe les emplois du prefixe do- en serbe,18 dont je traduis les grands traits ici. Deplacement dans le temps ou jusqua une frontiere : do}i, dotr~ati, do`iveti, Deplacer un objet jusqua soi, ou un endroit : dobaciti, dovesti, doneti Finir jusquau bout une action non terminee avant, et finir une action en general : dogoreti, dozidati, dopuniti, do~itati Prendre contact avec quelque chose ou quelquun et le prendre eventuellement : doviknuti, dodirnuti, dozvati, dokazati Faire une action jusquau bout au profit de quelquun ou epuiser laction du verbe simple : dosuditi, dotrajati De cette courte description, il est evident que cest la troisieme valeur qui a inspire le valaque, celle qui touche a la fin dune action. Doreste uniquement un prefixe aspectuel en serbe, avec un large panel dutilisation. Il serait pertinent danalyser do- avec les imperfectifs secondaires serbes par exemple, et de voir si la visee de lachevement napparait pas, puisque le valaque fait apparaitre aussi bien lachevement que la visee dachevement. Par ailleurs, dans son utilisation, le valaque ajoute parfois une valeur modale qui nexiste pas en serbe. b. Do- dans dautres varietes daco-roumaines Quelques mots a propos du roumain. Le roumain standard nemploie pas ce preverbe do-. Pourtant celui-ci a ete remarque dans quelques villages banatiens, des deux cotes de la frontiere serbo-roumaine. Il a ete question que Petru Neiescu integre des questions sur do- et pro- dans son Atlas Regional du Banat.19 Radu Flora en fait etat dans son ouvrage sur le parler roumain du Banat yougoslave. Il cite (1969 : 6366) notamment D. andru20 (1937), qui explique que do- ( jusqua ) pre- ( par-dessus,
18 Il serait interessant deffectuer une description complete de lemploi du prefixe do- en serbe et de comparer ensuite ces donnees avec le valaque, ce que je propose de faire dans une recherche ulterieure. 19 Voir Petru Neiescu (1970). 20 Je nai malheureusement pas eu acces a cette recherche de andru (1937).
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avant ) et iz- ( de, depuis ) sont empruntes dans la region de lAlmaj, une zone au sud-ouest de la Roumanie. Le preverbe pre- est cite, il se realise comme pro- en realite. Pour ce prefixe, je retrouve la meme forme et la meme utilisation a Valakonje : (31) Valaque
MREFL
am produs.
PREF.partir. PC.1.SG
En revanche, les valeurs du prefixe do- dans le Banat en Serbie et en Roumanie divergent, dapres lanalyse des donnees de andru et Flora (les exemples (32) et (33) sont repris dans Flora 1969 : 65, avec son orthographe). (32) Roumain du Banat (Flora 1969 : 65)
O doajyuns. PREF.arriver.PC.3.SG Il vient juste darriver.
(34) Valaque
Ajunsa. arriver.3.SG.PS Il/elle vient darriver. / Il/elle arriva.
Lexemple (33) parait peu probable dans mon parler, les verbes statifs etant reticents envers ce preverbe. De plus, le tiroir utilise est limparfait. Quant a lexemple (32), il montre un do- qui permet de rendre le passe immediat. Cette utilisation de do- ne correspond pas a celle de Valakonje. Dune part, a doajuns signifierait il a fini darriver = il est arrive, il est finalement arrive , et dautre part, cest une autre forme grammaticale, et en loccurrence le parfait simple, qui permet de rendre le passe immediat a Valakonje, comme le montre lexemple (34). De plus, Flora donne quelques autres exemples de verbes prefixes dans sa partie sur la morphologie (1969 : 466) ou la traduction semble a chaque fois adaptee
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au verbe particulier21 plutot qua letude en detail de la forme. Ainsi, pour saisir completement lexemple (32), il faudrait savoir si le parfait simple existe dans le parler en question, et si ce nest pas une traduction rapide effectuee par un locuteur, ou par lui-meme, que Flora donne comme glose. Le probleme est de savoir quelle est la part de semantisme due au prefixe do-, ou au verbe en question (verbe de motion en loccurrence), et la part due au contexte de lenonciation pris comme exemple (si toutefois Flora sest base sur un discours libre et non pas sur un questionnaire rapide). Afin de mieux apprehender la difference demploi de ce preverbe dans le Banat et a Valakonje, voici un autre exemple fourni par Flora. (35) Roumain du Banat (Flora 1969 : 466)
O doa}eptat. PREF.attendre.PC.3.SG Il a beaucoup attendu. Il en a eu assez dattendre. Na~ekao se. traduction en serbe donnee par Flora 1969 : 466
(36) Valaque
A doa}eptat. PREF.attendre.PC.3.SG Il a attendu (jusquau bout). / Finalement, il a attendu.
Il est impossible en realite de se faire une idee precise a partir de traductions effectuees en serbe, malgre tout, Flora et moi donnons un sens distinct a cette preverbation. Est-ce du a des faits linguistiques differents ou bien a des outils methodologiques et conceptuels dissemblables ? Par ailleurs, une autre recherche plus recente traite rapidement des emprunts du serbe en roumain dans la region du Banat. Richard Sarbu (2006 : 17) signale lemprunt de certains prefixes : do-, pro-, za-. Pour lui, ces prefixes marquent la modalite daction (2006 : 17). Dapres lui, dodonne une valeur durative ou terminative , on leur attache le sens dune action finie, son point final dans le temps, dans lespace et dans la quantite (2006 : 17).
21 Je precise que le livre de Flora traite de linguistique areale basee sur des recherches de terrain. Son livre est une synthese des occurrences phonetiques et morphologiques. Il nexplicite pas les occurrences, elles sont citees sans contexte, sans meme des phrases.
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i Et
am avoir.AUX.1.SG l3.SG.ACC
Nu am mai rezistat pana la capat i l-am batut. Traduction de Sarbu en roumain, sans les gloses Je nai pas pu resister jusquau bout et je lai battu.
Pro- marque une action faite de nouveau (Sarbu 2006 : 18), et za-, qui en serbe est une marque inchoative, ne garde ce sens en roumain que dans certaines circonstances. Sarbu donne quelques exemples attestes, tout en signalant (Sarbu 2006 : 18, dans sa note en bas de page) que les exemples quil fournit ont ete notes par lui dans des villages differents. Est-il certain que les utilisations de ces prefixes sont identiques partout ? Sil sagit dAktionsart, comme il le signale (Sarbu 2006 : 17), peut-on parler dun systeme ou on opposerait linchoatif avec un terminatif ? Ainsi, linnovation du Banat roumain et serbe est partagee, le phenomene a eu le temps de se repandre des deux cotes de la frontiere. Ce phenomene a donc du setaler sur un certain laps de temps. En revanche, linnovation du roumain de Valakonje nest pas liee avec certitude au phenomene du Banat, puisque les valeurs de Valakonje ne se recoupent pas avec celles notees par Flora. Le court paragraphe de Sarbu ne permet pas de me prononcer vis-a-vis des donnees et de sa position ; sans doute est-ce du a lhabituelle variation que les chercheurs de terrain rencontrent a chaque pas. Un fait interessant note par Sarbu est lemprunt du prefixe za-, en tant quinchoatif, dont le nombre doccurrences est limite a quelques formes. Il ny a guere quun exemple avec ce prefixe repris en commun entre le Banat et Valakonje, et il sagit dun nom : zapostit, le debut du jeune . Ainsi, lemprunt de do- a Valakonje sest peut-etre construit localement et independamment.22 Cet emprunt est-il ancien dans ce village ? Je pense en realite quil sagit dun phenomene encore recent en cours de grammaticalisation. c. A propos de laroumain, du meglenoroumain et de listroroumain Petar Atanasov (1990 : 208) a fait etat dune opposition aspectuelle en meglenoroumain. Ce parler a developpe un vrai systeme dopposition inspire
22 Biljana Sikimi} et Annemarie Sorescu rencontrent ce prefixe dans certains points denquete de la Serbie orientale. La variation est partout presente, et la frequence dutilisation est aussi tres disparate, selon les points denquete et selon les idiolectes.
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du slave environnant. Cette opposition perfectif / imperfectif 23 sexprime par un prefixe ajoute a la forme perfective et par labsence de celui-ci a la forme imperfective, qui peut, par ailleurs, etre changee par un suffixe. Atanasov (1990 : 208) donne une liste dune douzaine de prefixes :
Certains de ces prefixes marquent un debut daction (pru-, za-, raz-), dautres laccomplissement/ lachevement dune action (du-, na-, iz-, etc.).
Il remarque aussi des changements de sens. Il ajoute quil y a aussi une opposition imperfectif/iteratif qui ne concerne que les verbes dorigine macedonienne (1990 : 209). Il est evident que le meglenoroumain depasse amplement le phenomene que jobserve a Valakonje. Le meglenoroumain possede une opposition qui concerne le systeme verbal entier, ce qui nest pas le cas a Valakonje : la perfectivisation reste un choix de lenonciateur. Mais il est particulierement important de voir que ce meme prefixe do- exprime aussi lachevement en megleno-roumain (exemple24 cite par Atanasov 1990 : 208 : toariri/dutoariri : filer la laine ), comme en roumain de Valakonje. Cicerone Poghirc fait etat du meme phenomene et donne quelques autres verbes sans pour autant donner le semantisme de ces marques (1981 : 58) : ardu/duardu : bruler , beau/dubeau boire , etc. Il precise toutefois que ce procede sapplique meme a des verbes dorigine latine (1981 : 58), pareillement a Valakonje, comme le montrent les enonces precedemment cites. Poghirc (1981 : 58) traite aussi dun autre parler roumain, listroroumain, ou laspect verbal serait encore plus developpe. Trois oppositions sy trouvent : imperfectif/perfectif, imperfectif/iteratif et perfectif/iteratif. Ces contrastes ont des realisations complexes qui sopposent dans des paires aspectuelles dorigine slave et latine, avec eventuellement des prefixes et des suffixes. Il parle notamment de paires hybrides dans certains cas ou un verbe dorigine latine soppose a un verbe dorigine slave comme be/popi boire , tor~e/spredi filer la laine . Le seul exemple quil cite pour listroroumain avec le prefixe do- concerne un verbe dorigine slave : leti/doleti voler (1981 : 58), dont le semantisme serait laccomplissement ou lachevement. Fraila confirme linfluence du croate et eventuellement du slovene sur listroroumain, ou se trouve une categorie morphologique de laspect verbal (Sarbu et Fraila 1998 : 27). Elle se manifeste a travers des paires aspectuelles dont lopposition est la
Je garde la denomination de Petar Atanasov, qui suit les appellations slaves. Les formes ne sont malheureusement pas contextualisees, seuls les morphemes concernes sont cites.
24 23
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limitation ou non de laction dans le temps et lespace, selon les termes de Fraila (Sarbu et Fraila 1998 : 27). Par sa presentation, il corrobore les dires de Poghirc. Parfois, les paires verbales slaves sont empruntees directement : jivi/dojivi vivre , beli/pobeli blanchir , etc. ; a dautres moments la prefixation sopere directement sur un verbe istroroumain : muri/pomuri mourir , cuhei/scuhei bouillir, preparer ; on trouve aussi des suffixes : lucra/lucravei travailler , etc. ou bien des paires construites par une opposition istroroumain/slave : manca/poidi manger , etc. Ces phenomenes sont signales chez les differents auteurs sans pour autant etre amplement decrits, ce qui ne permet pas a mon sens une comparaison factuelle plus approfondie. Malgre tout, dans le cas de ces autres parlers de roumain balkanique, le phenomene est beaucoup plus avance. Tout porte a croire que des creations de vraies oppositions aspectuelles soperent dans ces divers endroits. Par opposition, le phenomene de Valakonje invite a penser que ce parler na pas encore installe un systeme dopposition aspectuelle systematique, ou do- ne serait quun prefixe parmi dautres. Au contraire, dose specialise dans ce sens, aux depens des autres morphemes de serbe qui auraient pu accompagner ce processus, comme za- dans le Banat. Lhypothese probable est que do- porte en lui un trait semantique dachevement suffisamment fort, tout en netant quun emprunt grammatical, pour devenir un prefixe aspectuel. Comme cette opposition nest pas encore systematique, on peut en conclure que les oppositions aspectuelles des tiroirs verbaux, et en particulier au passe, sont encore operatoires dans la langue (voir a ce propos Petrovi}, a paraitre). Neanmoins, il est interessant de voir que la situation de contacts de langues cree un environnement propice a des emprunts similaires. Ainsi, dans trois endroits distants geographiquement et sous linfluence de trois langues slaves differentes (serbe, macedonien et croate) le meme phenomene dopposition aspectuelle grace au prefixe do- apparait dans trois varietes de roumain balkanique. Pour conclure, il sagit dune innovation assez importante dans le systeme verbal valaque. Lutilisation de ce morpheme est tres productive et frequente. Neanmoins, le systeme verbal nest pas completement atteint par cette innovation dans la mesure ou tous les verbes ne presentent pas une paire aspectuelle predefinie comme ce serait le cas en meglenoroumain ou en istroroumain. Rendre perfectif un verbe est plutot une option que le locuteur peut activer ou non au moment de son elocution. Pour distinguer lachevement de la visee de lachevement, le valaque ne presente pas de distinction morphologique comme le bulgare par exemple ; le semantisme de la forme sexplique par le contexte, et les tests linguistiques
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natteignent pas toujours leurs buts. Il faut aussi preciser que cette evolution linguistique est due a un contact de langue, donc a une influence externe (superposition de ce parler roumain avec le serbe). Finalement, dans quelle mesure le reste du systeme verbal est-il touche par ce changement linguistique ? Abreviations
DAT : datif, DEF : defini, DEM : demonstratif, F : feminin, FUT1 : futur 1, FUT2 : futur 2, GEN : genitif, IMP : imparfait, IMPER : imperatif, IMPERF : imperfectif, INDEF : indefini, M : masculin, NEG : negation, PL : pluriel, PART : participe, PAS : passe, PC : parfait compose, PRES : present, PREF : prefixe verbal, PS : parfait simple, REFL : reflechi, SG : singulier, SUB : subordonnant, SUBJ : subjonctif, 1 : premiere personne, 2 : deuxieme personne, 3 : troisieme personne.
Bibliographie
Atanasov 1990 Petar Atanasov : Le megleno-roumain de nos jours : une approche linguistique, H. Buske, Hambourg. Avram 1984 Larisa Avram : A few remarks on tense and aspect in romanian, Revue Roumaine de Linguistique, Tome 24, numero 6, novembre-decembre 1984, 537545. Crainiceanu 2002 Ilinca Crainiceanu : Aspect and Coercion in the Romanian Perfect Compus and Imperfect, Balkanistica 15, septembre 2002, 129146. Descles, Guentcheva 1997 Jean-Pierre Descles, Zlatka Guentcheva: Aspects et modalites daction (representations topologiques dans une perspective cognitive), dans Studia Kognitywne : Semantyka kategorii aspektu i czasu, Warszawa, Slawistyczny Osrodek Wydawnczy, 145173. Descles, Gunetcheva 2003 Jean-Pierre Descles, Zlatka Guentcheva : Comment determiner les significations du passe compose par une exploration contextuelle ? Langue Franaise, 138, Paris, Larousse. Descles, Gunetcheva 2007 Jean-Pierre Descles, Zlatka Guentcheva : Aspectual meaning of verbal complex predicates with the prefix DO- in Bulgarian, Southern Journal of Linguistics, Southeastern Conference on Linguistics, 2948. Flora 1969 Radu Flora: Rumunski banatski govori u svetlu lingvisti~ke geografije, Filolo{ki Fakultet Beogradskog Unverziteta, Beograd. Guentcheva 1990 Zlatka Guentcheva : Temps et aspect : lexemple du bulgare contemporain, Editions CNRS, Paris. Guentcheva 2002 Zlatka Guentcheva : On the Semantics and Functions of Bulgarian Prefixes, Balkanistica, Vol. 15, 194216. Haase 1995 Martin Haase: Tense, Aspect and Mood in Romanian, Tense systems in European Languages, R. Thieroff, J. Ballweg, Max Niemeyer Verlag, Tubingen, 135152.
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Labov 2001 William Labov : Quest-ce quun fait linguistique ?, Marges Linguistiques, Numero 1, mai 2001, http://www.marges-linguistiques.com, M.L.M.S. editeur, Saint-Chamas, 2568. Neiescu 1970 Petru Neiescu : Latlas linguistique roumain regional, Preliminaires de lAtlas linguistique du Banat, Actes du Xe Congres international des linguistiques II, Bucarest, 3134. Neiescu 1980 Petru Neiescu : Noul Atlas lingvistic roman pe regiuni. Banat I. Editura Academia R.S.R, Bucureti. Paillard 2004 Denis Paillard : A propos des verbes prefixes, Slovo 3031, INALCO, Paris. Petrovi}-Rignault 2005 Marijana Petrovi}-Rignault : A propos du futur et de la modalite : description du futur en valaque (dialecte daco-roumain de Serbie orientale), Balcanica XXXV, Annuaire de lInstitut des Etudes Balkaniques, Academie Serbe des Sciences et des Arts, 185198. Petrovi} a paraitre Marijana Petrovi} : Le passe en valaque, Federation Typologie, Axe : Contact de Langues, sous la direction de Claudine Chamoreau et Laurence Goury. Poghirc 1981 Cicerone Poghirc : Laspect verbal en roumain et dans les dialectes sud-danubiens, Cahiers balkaniques, n1, Laspect, INALCO, Paris, 5361. andru 1937, D. andru : Enquetes linguistiques du Laboratoire de phonetique experimentale de la Faculte de Lettres de Bucarest : Vallee de lAlmaj (Banat), Bulletin Linguistique V, Bucarest, 125189. Sarbu, Fraila 1998 Richard Sarbu, Vasile Fraila : Dialectul istroroman : texte i glosar, Editura Amarcord, Timioara. Sarbu 2006 Richard Sarbu : Tipuri de interferene in sistemele idiomurilor vorbite in Banat, Interferene Lingvistice in Zona Multietnica a Banatului, Maria Kiraly, Mihai Radan (eds.), Editura Universitaii de Vest, Timioara, 1328. Stevanovi} 1975 Mihailo Stevanovi} : Savremeni srpskohrvatski jezik, Vol. I et II, Nau~na Knjiga, Beograd. Thomas 1993 Paul-Louis Thomas : Bilan des recherches sur laspect en serbo-croate, Revue des etudes slaves, LXV/3, Paris, 537550.
Genitival constructions are often taken as good examples of contrastive linguistics, since there are so many ways of expressing this relation between a main word and its qualifiers or determinants. In Romanian the options are actually three: the case-marked genitive, the prepositional construction and the juxtaposition. Furthermore, there are several prepositional possibilities (de, din, de la) although the preposition de is the most frequently used. Other preposition are also used, but semantically it does not seem that they can really compete. IThus, I do not discuss examples
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like Torta cu crema de branza (Bucureti, May 2008) cake with cheese cream (=cheesecake). There is also the juxtaposition that is old but has become increasingly more frequent in Romance languages, cf Spanish Restaurante Partida (where the owners name is Partida)1 and French Rue Racine, Location ski (cf. Grevisse 1986: 258259; Palm 1989: 710; Togeby 1982: 155157). It seems fairly obvious that the second element represents the possessor or some kind of qualifier in this adnominal construction. The distribution of these three constructions has so far not been sufficiently focused on. In the case-marked versus prepositional-based system there seems to be obvious distributional differences according to the results of a contemporary newspaper-based corpus used for this study. It consists of the first page of four Romanian newspapers: Adevarul (A), Cotidianul (C), Evenimentul zilei (E), Independent (I) from June 16 2004, and they have given more than 500 examples. Furthermore, I have carried out a collection of around 100 examples found all around Bucharest in June 2004 and May 2008. These latter examples are taken from publicity and signs in public places like parks. The origin is given with the examples. Altogether, this study is based on some 600 examples, which means that it is limited, but the purpose is to identify the different genitival relations and constructions and to try to establish the syntactical usage of these constructions in modern Romanian, not to give any quantitative data or statistics. The obvious differentiation between possessive and objective genitive only applies partially to the usage of these concepts in modern Romanian, and it is important to identify the factors that cause the use of one option and not the others and if there is a clear-cut border or not. The intention of this paper is to shed some light on the problem and suggest some ways of differentiating the cognitive bond between the nucleus and its determinant/s/ and the degree of possessiveness or inclusiveness that these morphologically distinguishable expressions of a genitival relation manifest. Finally the Romanian system will be viewed in a wider Romance perspective.2 The very notion genitive is a problematic category. From a strictly formal point of view only the morphologically marked case should (and could) be called genitive, but from a functional standpoint both the
The name of a restaurant in Villanueva de la Canada, outside Madrid, June 2008. This is an updated and developed English version of an article that was written in French in 2005, Quest-ce que cest que le genitif ? Perspectives roumaines et romanes, http://www.ruc.dk/isok/skriftserier/XVI-SRK-Pub/RIL/RIL01-Soehrman 2005.
1 2
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prepositional construction and the juxtaposition serve the same purpose. In Latin there was never such a thing as a pure morphological genitive case. It always had other functions as well. In Romance languages the Latin Genitive had disappeared already in the oldest texts with two exceptions Romanian and Old French. However this case would rather be considered an oblique case since it does combine the functions of what was several cases in Latin (genitive, dative etc.). Strictly speaking Romanian is the only modern Romance language that has a morphologically marked genitive, but it also lacks the pure delimitations of the very idea of the concept genitive. In Latin there were verbal constructions that demanded the genitive without any pure syntactical genitival function like aliquem absolvere proditionis absolve somebody from the accusation (Rubenbauer & Hofmann 1995: 156). This seems to be a typologically general phenomenon. We find similar constructions both in Germanic and Slavic languages, cf. Germ. wahrend meines Aufenthalts during my stay and Russian [ol iz doma /S/he walked out of the house. In Romanian there are similar syntactic constructions where the use of genitive is rather conventional than functional, mulumi cuiva thank somebody for something. In this case the relation is attributive and has a dative function. It therefore seems to be a better idea to call all three constructions that are dealt with in this article genitival regardless of the existence of morphological markedness or not. From a functional view-point and also from a communicative (and didactic) perspective it seems useful to compare these different constructions that could thus cognitively be classified as genitival. It would seem that the two basic or rather prototypical values of the genitive are possession and belonging, of which it seems that the most prototypical is the belonging as will be shown further down. Belonging is wider concept and includes possession. The prototypical value is normally the notion that has the widest semantic extension and less semantic intention which means that belonging is the prototypical value. This would put belonging in the cognitive centre of the semantic field, being the prototypical value, while other values, as will be shown further down, represent more limited notions with a deeper semantic intention. They will thus not be regarded as the semantic nucleus, and from a cognitive (and functional) point of view the verbal constructions with the oblique case where there is no real sense of belonging but grammaticalized constructions must be regarded peripheral, and the relationship could therefore tentatively be illustrated this way:
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Figure 1
Verbal constructions
Qualitative genitive Periphery Belonging Nucleus Subj. + obj. gen. Prepositions + genitive
This rather simplified description should just serve as a basic idea of the functions that will be analyzed further down. Subjective genitive as well as objective genitive have for practical reasons been reduced to subj. + obj.gen. in figure 1. However, it might seem contradictory that semantic values are mixed with formal criteria. This has, of course, to do with the fact that the morphologically marked genitive case is used also in grammaticalized constructions that have lost most, if not all, of their syntactic genitival function. As has been pointed out above, this is also the result of the fusion of the dative and the genitive into one oblique case in Romanian. They are just left in this figure for entirely formal reasons (they use the Romanian oblique case), and will not be dealt with further on, since they do not belong to the main problem which is discussed here. In figure 2 the three formal constructions are presented as three syntactic ways of carrying out the semantic meaning of belonging/genitive relation in modern Romanian. The full interpretation of the figure will come further down.
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Figure 2
BELONGING
GENITIVE
PREPOSITION
JUXTAPOSITION
POSSESSIVE
QUALITATIVE
SUBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
[etc.]
specification
VERBAL CONSTRUCTIONS
PREPOSITIONS + GENITIVE
extension
The prototypical concept of belonging can be expressed in three different morpho-syntactic ways. These three constructions can also express other relations than belonging. These are seen as specifications in cognitive grammar (Kleiber 1995), and the non-belonging values of the oblique case are considered extensions that have left the prototypical values and become grammaticalized usages. We could thus establish a structural evolution of the genitive and genitival constructions from Latin to Romance languages developing from a morphological case to prepositional usage and juxtaposition in this way: Unique construction > Coexistence of several constructions > > Reduced coexistence This would mean that what has happened is the following: GC > Latin GC/PC/J > Old French Romanian PC/J All the Romance languages (+GC in Romanian)
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Thus, it is only in Old French and in Romanian that we have examples of the coexistence, and it is only in modern Romanian where this is still the case. The genitive has disappeared early, and this is not unique for the Romance languages. In Germanic languages we can see the very same tendency. In English the of-construction is being used more and more instead of the s-genitive (Allen 2002), and in German the preposition von is taking over the role of the genitive (Duden 2005: 849, 981). We can observe the same phenomenon in Celtic languages as well. In Breton, for instance, only the juxtaposition is possible, an ti Yannig Yannigs house (Ball 2002: 393), and this goes also for other Celtic languages (Ball 2002: 311312). As has been shown in the figure 2 we have to regard semantic specifications that only maintain a partial synonymy with the prototypical value and extensions, where the semantic value differs quite a bit from the prototypical one, i.e. belonging. Some linguists use the terms premodifier and postmodifier in English and other Germanic languages where there is a coexistence of the genitive case and the prepositional construction (Altenberg 1982: 7687) as can be seen in example (1), but the Romanian system is different, although it might seem similar at a first glance, cf. (2).
1) The neighbours house the conquest of the city 2) casa vecinului cucerirea de ora
The intention is not to carry on the discussion on what is truly genitive and what is not. For the purpose of this article the notion of genitival construction must be taken as an adequate concept (cf. Crystal 1997: 167168, and Hultman 2003: 70) that summarizes the different constructions. As we have already discussed in Romanian the genitive case is fused with the dative into an oblique case, as can be seen in example (3), and it seems rather inadequate to insist on a formal criterion that does not stand out as unshakable.
3) I-am dat doamnei cartea (I have given the book to the lady) cartea doamnei (the ladys book or, possibly the book of the lady)
What are the different usages that could be labelled genitive? In Latin grammar the following categories are usually identified (Rubenbauer & Hofmann 1995: 144154), and it seems that this holds for Romanian too: Possessive Genitive Templum Iovis Gallia populi Romani est. (Explicative Genitive lacus Averni cf. La ville de Paris) which is often seen as a subcategory of the possessive genitive. Subjective Genitive: the agent is doing something.
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Objective Genitive: the object of an action that is carried out by the subject (Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between Subjective and Objective genitive. Cf. Victoria romanorum, which is subjective if the Romans have won but objective if someone else has defeated them.) Qualitative Genitive which gives away someones or something quality or characteristics. Cf. puer decem annorum, eius modi proelium. Partitive Genitive that indicates that something is a part of a bigger unity.
The other Romance languages use only prepositions and juxtaposition. The most used prepositions are de/di, cf. Port. Um homem de negocios, Sp. un tronco de roble, Fr. cette fin dete, It. il cavallo di Giovanni. In Italian and Sursilvan (a Swiss Rheto-Romance variety) we also find a variation between two prepositions da di/de (cf. Carlsson 1966: 165172; Maiden & Robustelli 2000: 173187; Proudfoot & Cardo 1997; 9496, Spescha 1989: 172, 543545). It seems clear that di/de are the prototypical prepositions with a large semantic extension while da has a more limited use and more semantic intention.3 To sum up the previous discussion, a genitival construction is a nominal syntagm that consists of two nominal terms that are united by a morphologically marked trait, oblique case (casa vecinului), or by a preposition (de, de la et din), or just put together, juxtaposition, in order to create a syntagm (Universitatea Spiru Haret). In order to make the following discussion clearer I will use nucleus for the first term (reduceri, insula and hotel), cf. examples (4) (6) that also constitutes the nucleus of the syntagm, and determinant for the modifier, or second element (preuri, copiilor and Herastrau).
4) Reduceri de preuri (Bucureti, 8/5 08) 5) Insula copiilor (Herastrau Park, May 2008) 6) Hotel Herastrau (Herastrau Park, May 2008)
In the corpus the case-marked genitive seems limited to two semantic relations true belonging or possessive genitive (2) and to identify a verbal action, be it as an agent (7) who performs (subjective
3 Here I would like to thank my colleagues and friends, Florentin Lutz, Bern, Martin Maiden, Oxford, Magdalena Popescu-Marin, Bucharest, and Christopher Pountain, Cambridge/London, for valuable suggestions and improvements. We are all eagerly waiting for Lutz extensive study that is soon to be published and which he so kindly has given me the opportunity to read.
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genitive) or as a patient (9) on which/whom the action is performed (objective genitive). The only real difference between these last two categories is the direction or influence of the action, agent or patient.
7) Stapanii internetului (poster, Bucharest, 8/508) 8) laureatul premiului Nobel Orhan Pamuk (poster, Bucharest, 8/508)
The possessive genitive expresses that something (the determinant) belongs to the nucleus. This nucleus can be either fully included in the concept represented by the determinant total belonging (9) or the determinant has only a possessive/dominant relation with the nucleus incomplete belonging (10).
9) Senatul Romaniei A1 10) nunta fiicei fostului primar A1
As has been shown in the examples (7) and (8) the verbal action can either be carried out by an agent /11) (12) or be the patient of the action (13) (14).
11) Demisia lui4 Ioan din funcia de Ministru al Administraiei i Internelor C1 12) creterea preului la energie A1 13) privatizarea societailor Electrica Banat i Electrica Dobrogea A1 14) strategia de prezentare a candidailor C1
The only other examples with the oblique case that has been found in the corpus is the partitive genitive (15) (18), especially if there is a temporal reference like in (17) and (18) luni, anului.
15) 16) 17) 18) In prima zi de la inceperea inscrierilor la dealerii Dacia A1 acum parca se ferete i de restul partidului. A1 pana la finele acestei luni C1 la jumatatea anului in curs A1
The qualitative relation is rather some kind of specification or limitation in order to reduce the semantic content of the nucleus. This is where the preposition de is mainly used, as is shown in the examples (19) (20).
19) scenarii de comar E1 20) Toate cele trei proiecte de lege C1
However, there are examples that might seem contradictory since they express either the possessive genitive (21) or the objective (4) and (22) in spite of the use of the preposition de. Had this not been the case, the explanation given above would have turned out so neatly.
4 Especially with proper male names it can be difficult to put them in genitive, so this genitival particle is used (Irimia 1973: 73; Rosenstand Hansen 1952: 6169).
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In the case of expressing a possessive relationship with something/someone modern Romanian normally uses the oblique case (23), but the preposition de can also be used. There is, of course, a semantic difference. This difference is found in French for instance, and we need only to compare the following to syntagms le chien de berger and le chien du berger. The main difference is if we are dealing with a generic or concrete referent (Carlsson 1966: 2747). The definite article is used to identify the determinant as a specified person or persons (23) while the use of the preposition without any article is interpreted as generic and semantically closer to a qualitative genitive that only characterizes without necessarily concretizing (24), even if this can also be the case like in (21). Nevertheless, in this example the focus seems to be rather the function of the person, i.e. his title, than himself as a person.
23) liderii partidului de guvernamant C1 24) partidul de guvernamant C1
It is interesting to see that although the semantic difference between a generic and a specific referent in French is expressed by means of the definite article, Romanian separates the two categories using the preposition for the generic referent and the possessive genitive for specific one. In (23) we are talking about the specific people who are in charge of the party and what they may come up with, while we are merely singling out one party that has the function of ruling the country. This becomes even clearer as the word for government in Romanian is guvern. The word guvernamant means the governing and could never mean government, so it expresses a quality and is used as an attribute. The prepositions din and de la complicate the picture, but the examples of the corpus singles out the main characteristics of their syntactic usage. It seems that din identifies the provenance or location of something Universitatea din Bucureti, which means the University of Bucharest, while facultatea de la universitate marks a smaller unit within a bigger one, and, furthermore, if we want to identify a specific unit characterized by certain qualities and not as belonging to something the preposition de is used. Thus we find the de-construction Facultatea de limbi straine. Example (25) illustrates this very clearly. In (26) we can also see that de la is locating something although not so geographically as din would seem to do.
25) decan al Facultaii de Studii Est-europene de la Universitatea din Sapporo C23:4 26) Internetul de la ClickNet (Herastrau Park, May 2008)
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The juxtaposition with the determinant in an immediate adnominal postposition is by no means unheard of in Romance languages (Croft 1990: 2938). It existed already in Old French (Herslund 1980: 8293; Palm 1976: 2138), but it does not seem very likely that it would be a construction that has survived. It seems more probable that although it existed as a syntactic possibility it has become more popular in modern times due to the tendency of reducing the message, especially in publicity and informative signs as the case in French, Italian and Spanish where this deprepositionalization is relatively recent and now very frequent, cf. location ski, auto-ecole, servizio sportelli and pedidos numeros atrasados. Cervoni discusses this deprepositionalization and if this loss complicates or destroys the comprehension of the message. He gives the telegraphic message (that coincides well with modern SMS messages) Arrive Montpellier train minuit.
cest de la relation interpersonnelle de lexpediteur et du destinataire, de ce quils savent lun sur lautre et des lieux respectifs ou ils se trouvent que dependent les mots a restituer pour quun telegramme remplisse sa fonction ; (Cervoni 1991: 9)
It therefore seems probable that the juxtaposition is the consequence of an unexpressed intention to focus on the main points of a message leaving out what could be regarded unnecessary for the correct interpretation of it. In Romanian as in the other Romance languages this is often found in publicity and signs (27)-(31).
27) 28) 29) 30) 31) interprei toate limbile publ. telefon clieni publ. Pista alegare (Parcul Herastrau 7/5 2008) Atenie garaj sign cari vizita pe loc publ.
These examples have been written down on several places in Bucharest in June 2004 and May 2008. That the tendency is not new, even if it seems to have been increasing, show signs like clubul sportiv Dinamo, Secia kaiac-canoe that have been hanging in the Herastrau Park for decades as have signs like Reparaii incalaminte. In all these examples it is easy to add the qualitative de and these adnominal constructions can be seen with or without the preposition: Salon de coafura or Salon coafura do not differ semantically. In modern Romanian there also exists a new use of this adnominal construction, and that is where the determinant is an acronym (32) (37). Examples like (32) are also found with the oblique case-ending Problema PSD-ului. In these cases the genitive is (at least mostly) possessive and
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the juxtaposition is competing with the oblique case. The use of the genitival article al- a is also an indication that this is a variant of the oblique case. This article is used after a noun or adjective that does not have the definite article immediately before the determinant, and it is never used with the prepositions.
32) Problema PSD C1 33) Un interviu excluziv al senatorului Ioan Talpe, preedintele UPSC (Independent, 28/3 2008, p. 1) 34) Intalnirea ultimei anse pentru adoptarea Constituiei UE A 17 35) tirile PROTV publ. 36) Emil Boc, preedinte executiv al PD A1 37) Purtatoarea de cuvant a PSD A1
Although the corpus is fairly reduced it still gives reasonably clear results so that we can well establish the syntactic rules that have to be considered when we want to express belonging in modern Romanian. In most grammars these genitival constructions are described in separate chapters according to their morphological construction and grammatical category. From a communicative and cognitive perspective this is highly questionable. The pure possessive genitive is expressed by the use of the oblique case, but is mostly substituted by the juxtaposition when the determinant is an acronym. The oblique case is also used to express subjective or objective genitive, but we also find the de-construction, particularly with an objective meaning. The preposition de is also used in possessive constructions if the meaning is generic. Qualitative determinants are normally de-constructions, but if the provenance is emphasized de is substituted for din and referring to smaller units de la comes into the picture. Finally the juxtaposition is very frequent in publicity and on sign replacing de and, sometimes it seems, also the oblique case.
References
Altenberg 1982 B. Altenberg: The Genitive v. the of-Construction. A Study of Syntactic Vartiation in 17th Century English, Lund Studies in English. CWK Gleerup, Lund. Avram 2001 M. Avram: Gramatica pentru toi, Ediia a III-a. Humanitas, Bucureti. Beyrer, Bochmann & Bronsert 1987 A. Beyrer, K. Bochmann & S. Bronsert: Grammatik der rumanischen Sprache der Gegenwart, Verlag Enzyklopadie Leipzig, Leipzig.
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Carlsson 1966 L. Carlsson: Le degre de cohesion des groupes subst. + de + subst. en franais contemporain etudie dapres la place accordee a ladjectif epithete. Avec un examen comparatif des groupes correspondants de litalien et de lespagnol, Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Studia Romanica Upsaliensia 3. Almqvist & Wiksell, Uppsala. Cervoni 1991 J. Cervoni: La preposition. Etude semantique et pragmatique, Duculot, Louvain-la-Neuve. Croft 1990 W. Croft: Typology and Universals, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Crystal 1980 1997 D. Crystal: A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. 4th ed. Blackwells, Oxford. Herslund 1980 M. Herslund: Problemes de syntaxe de lancien franais. Complements datifs et genitifs, Etudes romanes de lUniversite de Copenhague. Akademisk Forlag, Kbenhavn. Hultman 2003 T. G. Hultman: Svenska Akademiens spraklara, Svenska Akademien, Stockholm. Irimia 1997 D. Irimia: Gramatica limbii romane, Polirom, Iai. Kleiber 1995 G. Kleiber: La semantica de los prototipos, Madrid, Visor Libros. Lombard 1974 A. Lombard: La langue roumaine : une presentation, Bibliotheque franaise et romane, Paris. Lutz (in press) F. Lutz: Die bundnerromanischen Subst.+Subst.-Syntagmen mit besonderer Berucksichtigung ihrer Junktoren als Fortsetzer von lat. DE bzw. DE AB (DE AD), Universitat Jena, Jena. Maiden & Robustelli 2000 M. Maiden, C. Robustelli: A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian, Arnold, London. Palm 1976 L. Palm: La construction li filz le rei et les constructions concurrentes avec a et de etudiees dans des uvres litteraires de la seconde moitie du XIIe siecle et du premier quart du XIIIe siecle, Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Studia Romanica Upsaliensia 17. Almqvist & Wiksell, Uppsala. Palm 1989 L. Palm: On va a la Mouff ? Etude sur la syntaxe des noms de rues en franais contemporain, Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Studia Romanica Upsaliensia 45. Almqvist & Wiksell, Uppsala. Proudfoot & Cardo 1997 A. Proudfoot, F. Cardo: Modern Italian Grammar, Routledge, London. Rosenstand Hansen 1952 A. Rosenstand Hansen: Artikelsystemet i rumnsk. Avec un resume en fraais, Munksgaard, Kbenhavn. Rubenbauer & Hofmann 1975 1995 H. Rubenbauer, J. B. Hofmann: Lateinische Grammatik. 12. Auflage. C. C. Buchners Verlag, J. Lindauer Verlag, R. Oldenbourg Verlag, Munchen. Sohrman 2005 I. Sohrman: Quest-ce que cest que le genitif ? Perspectives roumaines et romanes. In : http://www.ruc.dk/isok/skriftserier/XVI-SRK -Pub/RIL/RIL01-Soehrman 2005
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Spescha 1989 A. Spescha: Grammatica sursilvana, Casa editura per mieds dinstrucziun, Chur. Togeby 1982 K. Togeby: Grammaire franaise, vol. 1 : Le Nom, Publie par M. Berg, M. Ghani & E. Spang-Hanssen. Akademisk Forlag, Copenhague.
LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY AMONG THE SEPHARDIM IN THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Abstract: In this paper, the question of importance of Judeo-Spanish as the means for maintaining ethnic identity among the Sephardim in the territories of former Yugoslavia is investigated through an analysis of articles dedicated to the topic published in El amigo del puevlo (a Judeo-Spanish periodical which first was published in Serbia, and then in Bulgaria), fragments from the books by Angel Pulido, Los israelitas espanoles y el idioma castellano (Madrid 1904) and Espanoles sin patria y la raza sefardi (Madrid 1905), as well as unpublished documents from the Archive of Serbia and the Jewish Historical Museum in Belgrade. The present analysis suggests that a specific language ideology (negative attitudes towards the minority language in question) has played a crucial role in language shift in favor of the majority languages in the region (which has not jeopardized the concept of ethnic identity and membership), thus supporting findings by other authors (e.g., Myhill 2004, Weis 2000) that the maintenance of ethnic identity among Jews over the centuries has often been strengthened by cultural (religious, traditional, literary, etc.) rather than linguistic criteria. From the theoretical standpoint, this research clearly supports the view that the construction of ethnicity and ethnic identity should be viewed as a complex process in which different factors (language being only one of them) have different values and saliency at different points in time (e.g., see Fishman 1989; 1999). Key words: Sephardim, language ideology, ethnicity
1. Introduction Identity in this paper is investigated primarily from the standpoint of ethnic identity, i.e., as a more organized way (in psychological and social terms) of ethnicity: Ethnicity is rightly understood as an aspect of a
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collectivity's self-recognition as well as an aspect of its recognition in the eyes of outsiders (Fishman 1989: 24). Ethnic identity, in turn requires a heightened notion of ethnic consciousness (Fishman 1989: 33), and it has been interpreted in a myriad of ways in academic literature, in terms of definitions which emphasize different aspects of the concept: social, psychological, cultural, economic, political, etc. (see Fishman 1999: 3). More importantly, research has shown that various aspects of ethnicity and ethnic identity (such as paternity, patrimony, language, etc.) are changeable over time. In other terms, various dimensions of ethnicity and ethnic identity become more or less salient within a community, responding to both community-internal (attitudes and values associated with a given culture and its heritage) and community-external factors (social norms and values of a larger community, often underlined by political, economic and educational considerations). Language has often been identified as one of the most important symbols of ethnicity and ethnic identity:
The phenomenology of language and ethnicity may reveal how the language is characterized as well as why it has come to be the way it is (e.g., holy, rich, refined, musical, soft, exact, practical, pure, etc.); which of its current features are particularly significant (e.g., difficulty for others, dissimilarity from other languages, goodness of fit with respect to ethnic sanctity, etc.); what communication tactics are to be employed across boundaries (should we use their language or should they use ours?), what potential and latitude exist with respect to mutability of the language, what is its mission (its transcendental purpose) (Fishman 1989: 31).
In the continuation of this paper, the phenomenon of the variability of saliency of language as a factor in constructing ethnicity and ethnic identity will be illustrated through the analysis of the relationship between the language and the identity of an ethnic group, namely of the Sephardim of the former Yugoslavia. 2. Ethnic identity and ethnic group in Western civilization: from ethnic to minority groups The term ethnic group is very closely related to that of ethnic identity, and in the most general terms it is defined as a community joined by common ancestry, along with common cultural, linguistic and/or religious practices. In political terms, ethnic groups are often differentiated from nations by a fact that the first do not have territorial and political sovereignty, which are the decisive characteristics of the second one. This latter statement has shaped the history of the study of relationship between ethnic identity and language in sociolinguistics and other related fields.
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Namely, in the Western civilization of the last two and a half centuries, ethnic groups have typically been understood as minority groups speaking minority languages while living in territories where other politically, socially and economically dominant languages are spoken by the majority of the population within politically organized entities named states. Consequently, many researchers in this area have focused on (internal and external) factors of minority/ethnic language maintenance and language shift. As already pointed out, one of the most important external (non-structural, i.e., sociolinguistic), parameters under consideration in the study of ethnicity in the minority communities has surely been the relationship between language and ethnic identity: Although language has rarely been equated with the totality of ethnicity, it has, in certain historical, regional and disciplinary contexts, been accorded priority within that totality (Fishman 1999: 4). The concept of language ideology has also been introduced in an attempt to understand this complex relationship. Thus, Myhill (1999: 34) states, The fate of many minority languages is likely to be determined to a large extent by ideology1 the ideology of people associated with minority languages and the ideology of those associated with mainstream ones. It is important to point out that the concept of language ideology (namely, attitudes and beliefs about the language, its value and its functions at a community level at a certain point in time) will prove to be relevant in the analysis of the Sephardic communities in question. The analysis presented herein is in agreement with the most recent research in sociolinguistics (e.g., Myhill 1999, 2004, Weis 2000, etc.), and it strongly suggests that language may not be the key to maintaining ethnic identity, as other parameters, such as religion and ancestry, sometimes play crucial role in this process (often leading to language shift and language death in minority communities), despite the fact that language has traditionally been considered an important symbol of its speakers cultural and ethnic membership, that is, it has very often throughout human history been understood as one of the basic means to construct identity.2 European Jews in general have for the last two centuries been actively interested in their linguistic practices and the underlying ideologies which presumably have helped mark their group identities. Jewish relationship between language and identity has been further complicated by
1 Herein, ideology is understood as a systematic body of ideas about our reality, which often cannot be taken as parameters of objective evaluation of the same reality. 2 Thus, minority language maintenance has often been hypothesized to favor and nourish ethnic identity.
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the fact that there has been a number of linguistic varieties in use in different Jewish communities around the world, along with different speech registers: Yiddish, Judeo-Spanish, Judeo-Arabic, etc., which have all been used as varieties of spoken everyday communication, vs. Hebrew, along with its varieties, such as Ladino, with a Romance base and immense lexical and structural borrowings from Hebrew, used as languages of religion, traditional education, etc. In the continuation of this paper, an argument is constructed according to which negative language attitudes (i.e., a particular language ideology) have played a crucial role in language shift among the Sephardim in the territories of former Yugoslavia in favor of the majority languages in the region (which, incidentally, has not jeopardized the concept of their ethnic identity and membership), thus supporting findings by other authors (e.g., Myhill 2004; Weiss 2000) that the maintenance of ethnic identity among Jews over the centuries has often been strengthened by cultural (religious, traditional, literary, etc.) rather than linguistic criteria. Our findings also support Fishmans (1989, 1999) views regarding the complexity of relationship among the factors which shape and characterize ethnic identity, and the mutability of their saliency (in this case, the saliency of the symbolism of the Judeo-Spanish as the carrier of ethnic identity among the Sephardim). 3. Language and identity among the Sephardim in the territories of former Yugoslavia 3.1. Beliefs and attitudes towards Judeo-Spanish In order to better understand the role that language has played in the construction of the Sephardic identity in different periods of the Sephardic social history, it is necessary to analyze language ideologies, i.e., different linguistic attitudes and beliefs of the Judeo-Spanish speakers towards their language, in line with Fishmans (1989) views on the phenomenology of language and ethnicity cited at the beginning of this paper. As research indicates that these attitudes and beliefs have been rather uniform among the Levantine Sephardim, illustrative examples from other Sephardic communities (outside of the territory of former Yugoslavia) will be provided throughout this analysis. 3.1.1. Beliefs about the origin and the character of Judeo-Spanish Today the majority of the Sephardim are aware of the fact that their language is a historical descendent of (Classical) Spanish. Until the beginning of the 20th century, however, the Sephardim in the territories of
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Former Yugoslavia (as well as in the Balkans in general) maintained a strong belief that Judeo-Spanish is a Jewish language, rather than a Romance variety. Along the same vein, terms such as djudio/djidio and djudezmo/judezmo were often in use to designate the above variety (see, e.g., Harris 1994: 232). According to the Max Nordau, this belief was mostly present among most members of the lower and middle social classes, while the educated and the intellectuals had a clear notion about its origins. When Nordau approached a Sephardic woman in Belgrade and asked her if she spoke Spanish, she replied:
1 No, senor (). Hablo chudeo (judio). (Pulido: 1905, 47) No, Sir (). I speak Jewish.
Also, Rafael Cohen from Smirna wrote that one of his compatriots asked him:
3 Es verdad que lo que nosotros hablamos es una lengua Europea? No es en Judesmo lo que nosotros hablamos? (Pulido 1905: 52) Is it true that we speak a European language? Is it not Judesmo that we speak?
The frequency and diffusion of the terms djudio/ djidio (Jewish) and djudezmo/ judezmo (Judaism), which the Sephardim used for their language, testify about the belief in question. As Hassan noticed, these terms confirm that the Sephardim did not preserve their language for the love of their stepmother homeland Spain, as it was said and repeated many times, but for their own sake, or for the love for the language itself (por amor a la madrastra patria Espana, como se ha dicho y se repite, sino por fidelidad a si mismos o por amor propio) (Hassan 1995: 120).3
3 There are also studies about some more recent beliefs about the origin of Judeo-Spanish. Harris (1994: 231232) has pointed out in her investigations (1978, 1985) that
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In his letter to Angel Pulido, Benko Davi~o, a Sephardic lawyer from Belgrade, cites the linguistic data from the 1900 Census. He mentions that the Jewish inhabitants in Serbia use the term Spanish to name Judeo-Spanish as well as the Peninsular Spanish. Furthermore, Davi~o states that the Sephardim have given their language different names, one of which was also the Hebrew language:
5 Concernandolos en general esos datos son exactos, mas como hijo nacido y crecido aqui, puedo confirmarle que afuera de los judios que propios en las listas del censo notaron como sus lengua materna el espanol, todos los que como linguaje maternal notaron el servio, hablan sin excepcion, tambien el castellano, y se trovaran muchos entre los judios que hablando la jerga castellana en las listas mencionadas la bautizaron de otro nombre, por ejemplo: como hebrea. (Pulido 1905: 642) In general terms, these data are correct; however, as I was born and raised here, I can assure you that besides the Jews who wrote on the Census lists that their mother tongue was Spanish, all those who declared Serbian as their mother tongue, also speak Spanish without an exception. Also, there are many Jews who speak a Spanish jargon that in the Census was named in different ways, Hebrew, for example.
At the beginning of the 20 th century, when the Spaniards discovered the Sephardic communities on the Orient, another myth was created that Judeo-Spanish was the Spanish from the time of the exile spoiled by loanwords from other languages (que el judeoespanol fuera el espanol de los tiempos de la expulsion impurificado por prestamos de otras lenguas) (Hassan 1995: 123). This belief about Judeo-Spanish as inferior and degenerated was common not only among the Sephardim, but also among various investigators. Hassan comments that in those times among so many purists, there was no one who could tell them that if their language was in fact a bad Spanish, it was at the same time a good, or rather, an excellent Judeo-Spanish (entre tanto purista, falto alguien que les dijera que si su lengua era en efecto un mal espanol, era sin embargo un buen, un buenismo judeoespanol) (Hassan 1995: 123). In the debate about Judeo-Spanish, recorded in the newspaper El amigo del puevlo in 1894, a member of the younger generation of Sephardic intellectuals of Belgrade manifests that their ethnic language is, among other things, a bad Spanish; he believes that this particular Spanish dialect does not enable the Sephardim to communicate with their compatriots
among the Sephardim who live in United States and Israel, there are informants who classify this language as a mixed language. They consider their language to be the Classical Spanish combined with other languages: Old Spanish plus a blend or mixture of other languages, especially Turkish, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Italian (Harris 1994: 231232).
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from other parts of Serbia, Bulgaria or Germany, because it is full of errors and provincialisms. Later on, he asks himself whether this language is good for anything if a true Spaniard cannot understand it (R.P.: 01/03/1894, 200202; cit. from: [tuli} 2003). 3.2. Attitudes towards Judeo-Spanish During the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century, some vital changes occurred in the Orient. The disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the creation of different nation states in the Balkans and the modernization of life fostered changes in the life of Sephardic communities as well. The Sephardim tried to adapt to these new circumstances and to fit more comfortably into the majority community. For this purpose, they needed the knowledge of the official language of the country, which gained prestige among the Sephardim at the cost of their ethnic language. During that period, many Sephardim had negative attitudes towards Judeo-Spanish, which are closely related to the belief that Judeo-Spanish was a degenerated Spanish, and inferior to the dominant language: many of its speakers thought that it was not elegant enough, that it was incapable of expressing modern or complex ideas, that its lexicon was underdeveloped, etc. (Harris 1994: 231) Thus, Judeo-Spanish became a stigmatized language, whose use in public was considered to mark an unwillingness to incorporate into the dominant community. In other words, the use of Judeo-Spanish was viewed as frustrating to the attempts of the Sephardim to advance their economic and social status. In his book Espanoles sin patria y la raza sefardi (Spaniards without homeland and the Sephardic race), Angel Pulido writes about these attitudes:
6 Pero se dice por muchos y en sus cartas nos lo objetan bastantes: es que el judeo-espanol es un idioma degenerado, corrompido, sin bellezas, sin armonias, sin graciosos matices musicales, sin robustas y brillantes expresiones, sin esa armazon, solidez y grandeza arquitectonica que dan la gramatica y el esmerado alino de la cultura literaria secular; es que eso no es ya un idioma, sino la ruina, el desecho lamentable y feo de una lengua. Y los que dicen esto desconocen y desatienden muchas fundamentales consideraciones (Pulido 1905: 4950). Many people say and also many point out in their letters: Judeo-Spanish is a degenerated language, corrupt, without beauty, without harmony, without music and grace, without vigorous and brilliant expressions, without the foundation, solidity and architectonic greatness which are given by the grammar and the careful embellishment of the secular literary culture; that it is not a language anymore, but a ruin, a sad and ugly remainder of a language. However, those who say this ignore and overlook many fundamental considerations.
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In a letter sent to Pulido, Aaron Jose Hazan from Smirna points out that Judeo-Spanish is corrupted and it needs to be brought closer to Modern Spanish.
7 Los editores y diarions de Espana no podran contar sobre una clientela en el Oriente que si los escritos pueden ser bien intendidos aqui. Ya sabe Usted como nuestro lenguaje es corrompido. Es menester, poco a poco, assercarlo de la verdadera lengua de Cervantes. Espero poder ansi secundar los esfuerzos de Usted por perfectionar la lengua espanola hablada en el Oriente, y ser, de esta manera, un humilde obrador en la tarea patriotica que Usted entreprendio (Pulido 1905: 453). The editors and the newspapers from Spain could not count on a public from the Orient although their texts can be well understood here. You already now that our language is corrupted. It is necessary, step by step, to bring it closer to the true language of Cervantes. In this way, I would like to support your efforts to perfect the Spanish language spoken in the Orient, and to contribute in a modest manner to this patriotic task you have initiated.
And while ones saw the solution for the decadence of Judeo-Spanish in bringing it closer to the Modern Spanish, the others opted for the shift towards the majority language, especially in those domains of language use which meant more interethnic cooperation, and in which the knowledge of the official language facilitated social progress and achievement.4
4 A major obstacle to the integration of the Sephardim into the majority community during the 1860s was also the fact that, Jewish children in Serbia could not attend public schools and universities due to their lack of knowledge of the official language (despite the fact that there were no official impediments for their integration into the school system). (Archive of Serbia, Ministry of Education, XII r. 1774/ 1864, n 565) For that reason, the Jewish Community contacted the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs on various occasions with the request to reorganize Jewish schools in accordance with the public educational system, and with Serbian as the language of instruction. The Sephardic representatives emphasized: i samo ovim na~inom mo}i}e Jevrejska mlade` Srbski jezik izu~iti i pribaviti sebi znanja koja su nu`dna za prelazak u vi{a u~evna zavedanja this is the only way for the Jewish youth to learn the Serbian language and to acquire the knowledge for necessary higher studies (Archive of Serbia, Ministry of Education, XII r. 1774/ 1864, n 565).
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A writer Hajim Davi~o, one of the first Sephardic intellectuals with a strong Serbian orientation, considered inevitable the incorporation of the Sephardim in the majority society and the acceptance of Serbian (Vidakovi} 1986: 110). In his short story Naumi, Davi~o presents in a form of a dialogue between two secondary characters, two different attitudes towards the use of Serbian which existed in the Sephardic community in Belgrade at the end of the 19th century:
9 Ta da, da je do tebe ti bi ve} davno `eleo, da svi na{i molitvenici, pored starog jevrejskog teksta imaju i srpski prevod; znam, da je to tvoj davna{nji ideal, prihvati Hajim jetko i podsme{ljivo. Ne odri~em. Meni je samo `ao, {to uvi|am, da je to vreme u dalekoj budu}nosti. Na{i dr`avnici nisu dovoljno bespredrasudni i nacionalni, da bi mogli nu`nom ustala~no{}u privoleti na{ podmladak da usvoji dr`avni jezik, kao maternji jezik; a mi opet nemamo toliko patriotizma, da iz sopstvenih pobuda po~nemo uvoditi u ku}e i van ku}a srpski jezik, nego kuburimo sa mrvicama jezika najblagorodnijeg od sviju naroda. (Davi~o 2000: 32) Its clear, if it were up to you, you would have already introduced into our prayer books, the Serbian translation along with the old Jewish texts; I know that that is your old ideal, continued Hajim with an air of bitterness and mockery. I dont deny it. Im only sorry because I'm aware of the fact that this will not happen for a very long time. Our leaders have not yet liberated themselves from prejudices and do not understand our national interests; therefore, they cannot convince our youth with necessary enthusiasm to adopt the official language as their mother tongue; on the other hand, we are not patriotic enough to start using the Serbian language inside and outside of our homes, but we vegetate on the crumbs of the language of the most noble people of all.
By reforming the Jewish schools, the Sephardim tried to find a solution to the problem of education in their community and, at the same time, to avoid admitting their children into the public schools. In this way, they intended to assure the maintenance of their religion and traditions: ii Osim toga valja uzeti u prizrenje, da mi nismo radi napustiti svoj crkveni jezik, ni pravila verozakona koja ispovedamo i da bi predavanje takovo u smesi sa srbskom decom bilo tako|er sa nekom tegobom skop~ano. Furthermore, we would like to call your attention to the fact that we are not willing to abandon neither our religious language nor the rules of the religion we profess, and that a mixed instruction with the Serbian children would only bring inconvenience. (Archive of Serbia, Ministry of Education, XII r. 1774/ 1864, n 565). Nevertheless, in the same document, the Sephardim express their worry about the poor knowledge of Serbian among their children. The Sephardic fathers expect: iii Jevrejska mlade` za kratko vreme obljubiti srbski jezik i sa svim ga zameniti sa stranim, kojim se danas Jevreji u Srbiji slu`e that the Jewish youth will soon embrace the Serbian language and substitute with it this completely foreign language that the Jews use today in Serbia (Archive of Serbia, Ministry of Educatison, XII r. 1774/ 1864, n 565).
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To counterbalance the above attitude, another movement was also active among the Sephardim during the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, which insisted on creating a positive attitude towards Judeo-Spanish, even though the belief about the impure character of the language remained. In the debate which was published in the journal El amigo del puevlo cited above, a reader S. R. from Belgrade, points out that the Sephardim feel that Judeo-Spanish is the language which has enabled the Sephardic communities scattered all over the world to remain connected over a very long period of time. According to his words, this is the language:
10 lakuala la esko`imos ka{i komo muestra la kuala la mayorita de muestros konermanos la aprove~an i la kuala mos esta detenyendo i atando a mozotros kon los otros ermanos sefardim esparzidos sovre todas las partes del mundo. ~usto komo los eslabones de la kadena! (S.R.: 15/02/1894, 181183; cit. in: [tuli} 2003) Which we have chosen almost as ours, which the majority of our compatriots use and which is connecting us to the other Sefardim brothers scattered all around the world. Just like the individual rings on a chain!
Positive attitudes towards Judeo-Spanish were also enhanced by its frequent identification with the (Pre)Classical Spanish (from the period of the expulsion) or with Modern Spanish. To give more prestige to their ethnic language, they also gave it the name of the language of Cervantes, although Cervantes was born almost sixty years after the exile of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. Abraham A. Cappon, a writer and an editor of the Sephardic journal La Alborada (Sarajevo, 19001901), emphasizes this in his famous poem dedicated to Spain: In the name of the Sephardim devotees and guardians of the language of Cervantes (En nombre de los sefarditas amantes y conservadores de la lengua de Cervantes) (Cappon 1922: 1). In the prologue to his book Poesias (Poems), Cappon once again highlights his affection for Castilian:
11 Las cartas sobredichas de Angel Pulido y Ramon Menendez Pidal y las alentadas palabras de mi distinguido amigo Sr. Manuel Manrique de Lara. me hacen creer que el producto de mi pendola sera de buen agrado a mis correligionarios sefarditas, y que hasta en Espana sera bien acogido, ya que es el trabajo de un descendiente de los desterrados de aquel pais, donde sus aguelos dejaron las cenizas de muchos celebres que contribuyeron a la extension de la cultura en el mundo y que, aunque esparcidos por toda la tierra, conservan todavia la lengua de Cervantes. Por lo tanto me honro dedicando esta obra a los amantes de nuestro dulce y armonioso idioma castellano (Cappon 1922: VVI). The above mentioned
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letters from Angel Pulido and Ramon Menendez Pidal and the encouraging words of my distinguished friend Mr. Manuel Manrique de Lara. make me believe that my Sephardic compatriots will like the fruits of my pen, and that even in Spain they will be well accepted, as this is a work of a descendant of those who were exiled from that country, where their forefathers left the ashes of many celebrities which contributed to the diffusion of culture around the world, and who, although scattered all over the world, still preserve the language of Cervantes. That is why I dedicate with honor this work to the devotees of our sweet and harmonious Castilian language
3.2.1.Attitudes towards the shift of Judeo-Spanish Once again, attitudes of the Judeo-Spanish speakers towards the shift and/or maintenance of their ethnic language have proven to be of crucial importance in the processes of language shift, which occurred in all the Sephardic communities in the Former Yugoslavia and in the Balkans in general. To illustrate this fact, we will present the sociolinguistic situation in the Belgrade Sephardic community, where the language shift from Judeo-Spanish to Serbian occurred between the 1860s and 1940s. The debate about the mother tongue of the Sephardim, published in 1894 in the journal El amigo del puevlo,5 presenting the points of view of the two movements (outlined above) active among the Sephardim in Serbia and Bulgaria, is very illustrative of the passions which this issued provoked across the Sephardic communities in the Balkans. One attitude shared by the representatives of both movements was the recognition of the fact that the maintenance of Judeo-Spanish was in danger and that its future was not a promising one. Thus, in his response to Angel Pulidos question if the Judeo-Spanish was maintained among the Sephardim in Serbia, Benko Davi~o writes in 1905:
12 Se conserva bien el judeo-espanol? Se conserva, mas como un edificio el cual quinientos anos no podieron derrocar; pero ennegrecieron su blancura de marmol. (Pulido 1905: 642) Is Judeo-Spanish well preserved? It is preserved, but more as a building which five hundred years of history could not tear down; however, they have managed to tarnish its marble whiteness.
The debate in El amigo del puevlo was prompted by the foundation of a society of young Sephardic intellectuals whose intention was to abandon the Spanish language in their community. The position of a reader S.R., who initiated it, was that Jews should be loyal citizens, accept the
5 At that time, El amigo del puevlo already moved to Sofia, but the Sephardim from Belgrade and from other Serbian towns continued to read it.
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spirit of the nation and use the language of the country, but that, at the same time, they did not have any reason whatsoever to abandon their own language and religion. The author of the article points out: if their forefathers had lost Hebrew as a mother tongue, their sons should not repeat the same error with Judeo-Spanish, a language which the Sephardim had been using for more then 400 years. (S.R.: 15/02/1894, 181183; cited from [tuli} 2003) In the next issue, a representative of the younger generation claims that the old and sacred Hebrew language is in fact the true mother tongue of the Sephardim. In his opinion, this is the most unfortunate nation in the world, because even one word of this language could not be heard in their homes (R.P.: 01/03/1894, 200202; cited by: [tuli} 2003). According to the points of view of the young Sephardim of that time:
13 Ay mas grande verguensa ke el dezir ke un mansevo nasido en la serbia, bulgarya, nemya o franya no save serbesko, bulgaresko nemesko o franes? (R.P.: 01/03/1894, 200202; cited by: [tuli} 2003) Would there be a greater disgrace then to say that of a young man from Serbia, Bulgaria, Germany or France, that he does not know Serbian, Bulgarian, German or French?
The majority of the participants in the debate believed they needed to pay respect to the country which gave them shelter and all the civil rights by using its language, even if it caused an abandonment of their mother tongue.
14 () ke komo lengua materna prime tomar la lengua de la tyera ke mos resivyo kon manos avyertas en el tyenpo de muestra dezgrasya la kuala mos dyo i mos da los frutos de todas las dere~idades ke goza kada uno de muestros konermanos. la deviza de la manseveria inteligente muestra es de aresivir por lengua materna la lengua serba i puede tener komo rezultado de ale{ar la avla espanyola si no por entero alomenos komo lengua materna. para mozotros la lengua espanyola es una lengua a`ena i kon poko sensya se puede pensar ke kada uno emprimero kale ke sepa la lengua de su tyera i *enos en segundo lugar lenguas a`enas (R.P.: 01/03/1894, 200202; cited in: [tuli} 2003) () as a mother tongue we should take the language of the country that received us with arms wide open in time of our misery, and which has given us the fruits of all the rights enjoyed by each of ours compatriots. Our young intellectuals claim we should accept Serbian as our mother tongue even if this results in an abandonment of the Spanish variant (if not completely, than at least as the mother tongue). To us, Spanish is a foreign language and you dont have to be very smart to understand that everyone first has to learn the language of his country, and only then should he learn foreign languages.
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The language question immediately provoked great interest among the readers. The editors received numerous letters from the Sephardim from various towns across the Peninsula. They all wanted to express their opinions about the question of their mother tongue. In the following ten issues, in the column dedicated to the Spanish language the texts of the readers from Ni{, Belgrade, Vidin and Vienna were published (Mefano: 15/03/1894, 219220; S. R.: 01/04/1894, 234236; 15/04/1894, 246249; Hason: 01/05/1894, 264266; 15/05/1894, 276278; 01/06/ 1894, 297299; Un estudiante: 01/08/1894, 359361; 15/08/1894, 373375). All of them agreed with the author of the initial letter and defended the maintenance of Judeo-Spanish with additional arguments. Nevertheless, everyone emphasized the necessity for the Sephardim to dominate completely the languages of the countries in which they lived. One letter published in two issues, sent by a student from Vienna stands out from the rest as he offers a completely opposite point of view: the author claims that not all young Sephardim share the opinion on the necessity of replacing Judeo-Spanish with the majority language. This reader defends the maintenance of the ethnic language and calls upon the Sephardic intellectuals to renew the national literature in Judeo-Spanish (Un estudiante: 01/08/1894, 359361; 15/08/1894, 373375). At the moment when the language issue gained maturity and could have been considered and analyzed with absolute clarity, the Nazi occupation and the holocaust interrupted the process of the slow language shift, giving way to a complete loss, that is, to the death of Judeo-Spanish in the territories of former Yugoslavia. However, even though Judeo-Spanish has been lost as a vehicle of communication among the Sephardim who still live in the these lands, we believe that a sociological and sociolinguistic research of language attitudes and beliefs of the members of the community at the beginning of the 21st century would yield interesting and valuable insight into the understanding of the relationship between language and ethnic identity in both this and other ethnic/minority communities. 4. Theoretical considerations The analysis of the written corpus about the role and relevance of the Judeo-Spanish in the Sephardic communities in the former Yugoslavia and in the Balkans in general, presented in the previous sections, proves that the saliency of language in relationship with ethnicity and ethnic identity is a parameter whose values may shift from more to less positive ones over time, depending on a series of other factors relevant to the construction of these two complex concepts at individual and collective
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levels. Small ethnic communities, such as the Sephardic ones, according to Fishman (1989: 33), require constant alertness (mobilization) on behalf and via ethnicity. This alertness, i.e., the need to recognize and protect group ethnic heritage, is often measured by a position and a quality of a boundary between an ethnic and a majority community. However, as Fishman (1989: 34) lucidly points out, boundaries are tested not only from the outside, but also from the inside, within a minority/ethnic community. Challenging the boundaries from within is often related to the creation, preservation and/or alteration of a set of attitudes and beliefs which ultimately shape our view of the world, organizing our ideas and knowledge in ideologies, which mark a specific point in time in a given cultural/traditional/religious context within a community. The status of the Judeo-Spanish language among the Sephardim and its relevance for the preservation of the communities in question provides, in our opinion, an excellent example of this test from within, incited and accompanied by the changes in values of other social and cultural phenomena which have over time served as measures and symbols of ethnicity among the Sephardim. The general social context, historical circumstances, along with a set of positive and negative attitudes towards the ethnic language have opened doors to a process of language shift which affected all Sephardic communities in the Balkans during the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. All the above are simply illustrations of the variability of different aspects of ethnicity (and language is only one of them). In conclusion, ethnicity, in Fishmans (1989: 39) terms need(s) not be mutually exclusive vis-a-vis other identities which may, at times, be more salient without thereby totally and irrevocably replacing ethnicity. Mans (and particularly modern mans) peculiar capacity for multiple loyalties, multiple identities and multiple memberships, apparently permits ethnicity to exist and coexist with other identities featured within a larger/majority community. The argument proposed herein is that this was precisely the case of the Sephardim and their attitudes towards their ethnic language which was but one of many symbols of their ethnic culture.
References
Archive of Serbia, Ministry of Education, XII r. 1774/ 1864, n 565. Cappon 1922 A. A. Cappon: Poesias. Tomo segundo, Poemas compuestos a medida y cadencia por el desarrollo de los talentos y de las facultades intelectuales de la juventud, Sarajevo: Libreria Yehiel A. Cappon, Slav. Brod; Libreria Jacob A. Cappon, Sarajevo. Davi~o 2000 H. S. Davi~o: Pri~e sa Jalije, ed. Vasa Pavkovi}, Belgrade: Centar za stvarala{tvo mladih.
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Fishman 1999 J. A. Fishman (ed.): Handbook of language and ethnic identity, Oxford: Oxford UP. Fishman 1989 J. A. Fishman: Language and ethnicity in minority sociolinguistic persective, Clevedon-Philadelphia: Multilingual matters. Harris 1994 T. K. Harris: Death of a Language: The History of Judeo-Spanish, London, Newark (Del.): University of Delaware press. Hason, M. (01.05.1894, 15.05.1894, 01.06.1894) La lengua e{panyola, El amigo del puevlo 17, 18, 19, ano VI, Sofia, 264266, 276278, 297299. Hassan 1995 I. M. Hason: El espanol sefardi (judeoespanol, ladino), In: Seco, Manuel; Gregorio Salvador (eds.) La lengua espanola, hoy, Madrid: Fundacion Juan March, 117140. Mefano, Daniel Josef. (15.03.1894) La lengua materna, El amigo del puevlo 14, ano VI, Sofia: 219220. Myhill 1999 J. Myhill: Identity, territoriality and minority language survival, Journal of multilingual and multicultural development 20/1, 3450. Myhill 2004 J. Myhill: Language in Jewish Society: Towards a New Understanding, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Pulido Fernandez, Angel. (19921904), Los israelitas espanoles y el idioma castellano, Barcelona: Riopiedras Ediciones. Pulido Fernandez1905 A. Pulido Fernandez: Espanoles sin patria y la raza sefardi, Madrid: Establecimiento tipografico de E. Teodoro. R. P. (01.03.1894) La lengua materna, El amigo del puevlo 13, ano VI, Sofia, 200202. S. R. (15.02.1894) La lengua espanyola, El amigo del puevlo 12, ano VI, Sofia, 181183. S. R.(01.04.1894, 15.04.1894) Torna por la lengua e{panyola, El amigo del puevlo 15, 16, ano VI, Sofia, 234236, 246249. [tuli}, Ana 2003 Personal correspondence, Bordeux. Un estudiante (01.08.1894, 15.08.1894): A la okasyon de la lengua e{panyola, El amigo del puevlo 23, 24, ano VI, Sofia, 359361, 373375. Vidakovi} Petrov 1986 K. Vidakovi}: Kultura {panskih Jevreja na jugoslovenskom tlu, Sarajevo: Svjetlost. Vu~ina Simovi} 2006 I. Vu~ina Simovi}: Es judeoespanol la lengua de Cervantes?. In: Prenz, Ana Cecilia. (ed.) Da Sefarad a Sarajevo. Percorsi interculturali: le multiformi identita e lo spazio dellAltro, Napoli: Gruppo Editoriale Esselibri-Simone (Beth), 175182. Weis 2000 D. Weis: La agonia del judeoespanol y la identidad sefardita: un estudio sociolinguistico en Salonica, Mediterranean Language Review 12, 144198.
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Introduction If you are a student of Spanish language and linguistics in Serbia, probably the most frequent question you hear in relation to your profession of choice is Oh, so you like Spanish telenovelas? Not that it is necessarily true, or that telenovelas are the only representation of the Hispanic culture in Serbia. However, the frequency of this question is certainly indicative of the importance of the telenovela phenomenon in Serbia, and more broadly in the Balkans. Telenovelas are television soap operas in mini-series format with an origin in Spanish and Portuguese broadcasting. In spite of being derided and qualified as opiate of the masses (Slade and Beckenham 2005: 337), the impact and success of this genre is beyond any doubt, particularly since the late twentieth century. The extent of their popularity in Serbia may be measured by a number of different mini-series shown daily, approximately fifteen including reruns at the time this study was conducted (Politika TV Revija 2006). A probable reason for a wide acceptance of telenovelas is in the narrative structure of the genre which might be seen as a modern-day fairytale. Interwoven plots and subplots in all the variants go from day to day in a mimicry of real life that could generally not be more unrealistic. Despite their fictional characters, twists and melodramatic exaggerations, telenovelas represent a view of the world that is acceptable and in line with the audiences expectations and beliefs, a view that is not questioned but assumed to be the norm (Pearson 2005: 403). Thus, viewers are comforted with the predictable progression of the plot that allows them to enjoy variations to the main theme the love story with a happy ending. Besides the intrinsic enjoyment that comes from watching telenovelas, some telenovela viewers claim that an additional benefit derives from the acquisition of the Spanish language. The existing research has suggested that women tend to use arguments about the pedagogical value of fictional genres to legitimize the pleasures they obtain from consuming them (Radway 1991: 86118). In the same vein, Porto notes how in his study of different interpretations of the Brazilian soap opera Terra Nostra, eight out of thirty-nine participants defended its pedagogical role, given its accurate and important portrayal of the countrys history (2005: 348). Therefore, it might be hypothesized that in the case of foreign language viewers the pedagogical value of telenovelas is perceived as opportunities for language learning. Indeed, many Serbian viewers of telenovelas suggested that they were able to acquire the Spanish language only
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through watching these mini-series. The purpose of this study is, thus, to investigate if language acquisition does indeed occur and, if so, to what extent. 1. Theoretical Background Research in second language acquisition1 has shown that if learning is to be effective and permanent, it must be meaningful, involve active mental processes and relate to the previous knowledge of the learner (Hanley et al. 1995:57). Authentic television programming, then, seems to be a good tool for second language instruction since it provides language learners with an abundance of contextualized target language samples used by native speakers. There are many advantages of such materials: they offer natural, content rich samples of the target language (TL); there are plenty of extralinguistic cues that facilitate comprehension; and they present a combination of different sensory stimuli (acoustic and visual). These factors, in turn, influence the affective dispositions of the viewers who are consequently more inclined to pay attention to the language of video material. In addition, TVs entertaining qualities make it an easier medium to access than text, and it also minimizes the fear of failure in learning. It is suggested that, while watching a TV, learners can make predictions of new vocabulary and content so that viewing TV can actually be a cognitively active experience (Huang and Eskey 1999: 76). A review of the existing body of literature in relation to the effects of authentic video materials on language proficiency indicates a particular interest in captioned programming. Captioning can be either intralingual, where the source language production is also used for the subtitles, or it can be interlingual, where the language of the television program appears translated into the target language on the screen (Williams and Thorne 2000: 219). Both can be used for language learning and have implications for second language instruction. In fact, most instructors consider subtitles necessary for all second language learners at beginner and intermediate levels because otherwise the authentic material might be either unintelligible or too difficult for learning to happen.
1 A distinction is frequently made between second vs. foreign language learning/acquisition. Second language acquisition generally refers to the acquisition of a language in the target country, while foreign language acquisition is seen as referring to a language learned outside of the target culture. Although the issue at question principally targets the foreign language situation, for the purpose of simplicity, it will be subsumed under the broader concept of second language (L2).
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The effects of captioned video material are generally explored in relation to listening comprehension and incidental acquisition of vocabulary. Huang and Eskey (1999) explored vocabulary/phrase acquisition and comprehension in L2 learners who were exposed to the same video material twice. The participants of the study were exposed to a posttest which consisted of a listening test that used the same format as the Listening Comprehension subtest of The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The results showed an advantage of the experimental group when compared to the control group who watched traditional TV without captions. Koskinen, Knable, Markham, Jensema and Kane (1996) were interested in the effects of captioned television viewing on the incidental learning of word meanings by adult inmates who speak English as their second language. Participants who were assigned to two groups viewed nine science information segments over a period of nine weeks. The experimental group watched the segments with intralingual captions, while the control group viewed the same segments without subtitles. Three posttests which consisted of word recognition, sentence anomaly, and word meaning measures were administered after exposure to each of the science segments. The results revealed no significant difference on the word recognition and sentence anomaly posttests. Nevertheless, the word meaning test yielded significant differences favoring the captioned television condition. It is noteworthy that a statistic analysis showed a positive relationship between oral English language competency and vocabulary learning. Participants with a higher level of oral proficiency were able to make more progress than their less proficient peers. Consequently, the developmental level of a language learner might be an important precondition for acquisition to occur in this context. Very few studies to date explore the effects of authentic video material on production skills and rather focus on the listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition in the TL. However, Weyers (1999) investigates the applicability of authentic video to enhancement of oral production. It is suggested that an increase in quality and quantity of input would result in a corresponding increase in output. Here, quantity is defined as the sheer amount of input reaching learners via video programming which is said to surpass the capabilities of a sole instructor. On the other hand, quality refers to the contextualized, unstructured (not graded for foreign language learners) native speech provided by video (Weyers 1999: 340). In the experiment, Weyers compared two groups of Spanish students from second-semester classes. One class viewed two episodes of a Mexican telenovela every week during an eight-week course, while the control group did not watch any video material during class sessions.
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Since two class meetings were spent for telenovela viewing on a weekly basis, the experimental group had less time for oral in-class activities. At the end of the semester, both groups completed listening comprehension and oral production posttests. The data from the posttests were evaluated for listening and speaking proficiency (ACTFL 1999). Weyers suggests that the significant increase experienced by the experimental group in listening comprehension and in three areas of oral production (words per minute, confidence in speech, and scope and breadth of response) provided quantitative data to support pedagogical value of authentic video in improving some language acquisition skills. In order to identify the optimal technique for the use of video material in the L2 classroom, Stewart and Pertusa (2004) compared the effects of interlingual and intralingual captioning for vocabulary recognition in Spanish learners at the intermediate level. The posttest results from three vocabulary tests showed slight differences in the improvement in vocabulary recognition in favor of the intralingual group. In addition, the comments from the survey administered after the experimental treatment is revealing in that it reflects the learners positive perceptions of video material accompanied by subtitles in the target language. More than 75% of the group responded that they learned more vocabulary items because they were able to both hear the words and see them in their written form. Likewise, they believed that they would benefit more from viewing films with subtitles in the target language. On the other hand, the learners from the interlingual group claimed that their vocabulary acquisition was not optimal because they did not have an opportunity to see the words in their written form. Therefore, the authors concluded that viewing video material subtitled in the first language does not encourage learners to use their previous knowledge. On the contrary, it allows them to rely on reading in their first language instead of making the extra effort required to follow what they hear in the target language (Stewart and Pertusa 2004: 438). These conclusions are of interest for the present study since they seem to suggest that L2 acquisition would be hindered if the viewers watched telenovelas with interlingual captioning. In Serbia, all foreign language programs are dubbed in Serbian, which allows viewers to fall back on their first language in order to understand programming. However, constant exposure to foreign languages (in this case Spanish) familiarizes viewers to the TL accompanied by subtitles, so there is a possibility that they might absorb the information conveyed by written dialogues without conscious attention to the written text (Caimi 2006).
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This belief that closed-captioned television is an effective educational tool for L2 learners is partly based on the acquisition theory as proposed by Steven Krashen. The essential theoretical tenet of the theory is that adults can acquire language in a similar way as children do since they do not lose access to the language acquisition device. Thus, the purpose of language instruction is to create possibilities for language acquisition by providing sufficient comprehensible input (Krashen 1981, 1982). Only when the learner receives a sufficient amount of comprehensible input in the form of i+1 (just a little above the learners developmental level) can acquisition occur. It is further suggested that comprehensible input automatically contains all the grammatical structures the learner is ready to acquire, according to the appropriate natural order. In other words, listening comprehension is the basis on which the acquisition process unfolds (Terrell 1993: 18). The quantity and quality of output is directly related to the quantity and quality of input to which learners are exposed. Consequently, an increase in the quantity and quality of input should result in a similar increase in a learners output. The acquisition theory was widely critiqued on several points, among others for underestimating the importance of language production. In Krashens theory, output is seen as a way to practice existing knowledge or to elicit new input. It is not perceived as a way to gain new linguistic knowledge. However, insights from French immersion classroom suggest that in order for learners to become fully proficient in the TL, they need to have sufficient opportunities for language use (Swain 1995, Swain and Lapkin 1995). What is needed in L2 learning is for learners to be pushed toward the delivery of a message that is not only conveyed, but that is conveyed precisely, coherently, and appropriately. These observations led Swain to come up with the output hypothesis according to which output may stimulate learners to move from semantic, open-ended, nondeterministic, strategic processing prevalent in comprehension to the complete grammatical processing needed for accurate production. Output, thus, would seem to have a potentially significant role in the development of syntax and morphology (1995: 128). Language production moves learners from a primarily semantic use of language, as takes place in comprehension, to a syntactic use (Gass 2003: 227). In light of these considerations, it would seem that telenovela viewers would be able to increase their listening comprehension if the input offered through Hispanic mini-series is of an appropriate complexity; that is, if it is just above their current level of proficiency. Inversely, if they have not been exposed to the Spanish language prior to watching telenovelas, there is very little evidence to support that they
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would be able to take advantage of the foreign language programming, with or without captions. Furthermore, the output hypothesis suggests that even if telenovela viewers can produce TL utterances, they would show a high level of inaccuracy since average viewers of telenovelas in Serbia rarely have opportunities for Spanish language use. 2. The Study In spite of the existing interest in the effects of foreign language programming on L2 acquisition, there is no research that would compare the acquisition of the language in instructed context as opposed to naturalistic L2 acquisition through watching foreign language videos. Therefore, the focus of this exploratory study is to investigate and compare the nature of communicative competence in Spanish language learners at beginning and intermediate levels with that of the telenovela viewers who have been watching Hispanic soap-operas for at least a year. According to Canale and Swain (1980), communicative competence minimally includes grammatical, sociolinguistic, and strategic competence. Grammatical competence refers to the knowledge that enables production of accurate (grammatical) utterances. Sociolinguistic competence is concerned with the socio-cultural rules of use. It specifies the ways in which utterances are understood and produced appropriately with respect to the context of a specific speech act. Finally, strategic competence refers to the communicative strategies that are used to compensate for breakdowns in communication. Savignon (1997) further amplifies Canale and Swains model by differentiating between four components of communicative competence grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competences. The essential attribute of discourse competence is an ability to create cohesive and coherent utterances. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Council of Europe 2001) corresponds to a great extent to the original concept of the communicative competence. It is suggested that it is comprised of linguistic competences, sociolinguistic competences, and pragmatic competences (2001: 108130). Linguistic competences are defined as knowledge of and the ability to use the formal linguistic resources. It minimally consists of lexical, grammatical, semantic, phonological, orthographic, and orthoepic competences. Sociolinguistic competences refer to the knowledge and skills required to deal with the social dimension of language use, and they include knowledge of and the ability to use linguistic markers of social relations, politeness conventions, register differences, different dialects and sociolects. Finally, pragmatic
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competences are further broken down to discourse competence (ability to arrange sentences in sequence so as to produce coherent stretches of language); functional competence (use of language for completing particular functional purposes); and, design competence (sequencing according to interactional and transactional schemata). The purpose of this study is to explore the nature of communicative competences of learners exposed solely to Hispanic telenovela viewing when compared to Spanish language learners exposed only to classroom instruction. More precisely, we want to find out what is the nature of their linguistic competences in terms of lexical, grammatical, phonological, and orthographic competences, as well as their pragmatic competences with an emphasis on functional competence. An analysis of sociolinguistic competences, although interesting, is beyond the scope of this paper. It is expected that the results of this exploratory study will show an advantage of instructed learners over telenovela viewers in linguistic competences. However, the existing research offers ambiguous suggestions on the possible level of proficiency of the participants in the two groups. While the acquisition theory would strongly support that telenovela viewers would surpass the instructed learners in both their receptive and productive skills, other more recent theories put this under question. The fact that, to our knowledge, there is no research of this kind makes any predictions highly speculative. 2.1. Participants. A group of thirty adult native speakers of Serbian participated in this study. They were separated into two groups according to their experience with Spanish language acquisition: 1) telenovela viewers, fifteen native speakers of Serbian without formal instruction in Spanish or prior residency in a Spanish speaking country, and 2) instructed learners, fifteen speakers of Serbian attending Spanish courses at A1 and A2 levels (Council of Europe 2001). All participants have similar demographic characteristics in terms of age, gender, educational background, and prior experience with language learning. The so-called snowball technique was mainly used for the recruitment of participants. The researchers contacted some of the prospective participants who then asked their friends and relatives if they were willing to participate in the study. Three participants from the telenovela viewers were directly addressed in the street by one of the researchers. The purpose and procedures of the study were explained to the participants, as well as the voluntary nature of their participation.
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2.2. Procedure. Data-collection was realized during the summer of 2006. In order to address the relevant components of communicative competences, three types of tests were administered: multiple choice test, word and sentence translation from Spanish to Serbian and vice versa, and a semi-structured interview. After brief introductions, the participants were given the tests to complete. They were not time constrained, although the time was measured by the researcher for the purpose of the later analysis. Following the written tests, an interview was conducted. In order to ensure that the participants may complete the tasks, the language used for the evaluations was extracted from two sources: the telenovela scripts and the textbook Prisma. Five hours of the most popular telenovela of the time (La Tormenta) were video-recorded and then transcribed for the language samples. On the other hand, Prisma is the state-of-the-art Spanish language textbook used for formal instruction by different university departments, as well as private language courses. Importantly, most of our instructed learners were familiar with this textbook. The rational behind this decision was to ensure that the participants had been previously exposed to the language that would appear in the tests. Following a model of a Spanish placement exam, a multiple choice test was designed in order to evaluate the grammatical competence of the two groups of participants. Forty items of the test correspond to linguistic structures covered in beginner level Spanish courses (e.g., noun, adjective and verb agreement, use of pronouns, present, future and past tense, frequent verbal periphrases, basic meaning of some prepositions, etc.). The data from the two groups were analyzed through Students t-test to show a potential difference between the groups. In addition, the participants were asked to translate twenty words from Serbian to Spanish, as well as six sentences, three from Spanish to Serbian and three from Serbian to Spanish. The main interest behind the translations was to be able to evaluate orthographic competences. The sentences varied in difficulty and were designed in a way that would enable us to observe whether the participants had memorized formulaic expressions or were able to use the acquired structures creatively. For the sake of an example, a frequent expression heard in telenovelas is Dejame solo/a Leave me alone, which appeared three times in our transcripts of the telenovela episodes. It was postulated that the telenovela viewers might have difficulties in translating the sentence You are leaving me alone, since the original expression usually appears in command form. The instructed learners should not have problems in formulating the correct translation Tu me dejas solo/a You are leaving me alone. The data collected through this section of the research were submitted to a
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qualitative analysis with a purpose to find any observable patterns within the groups. Since the main interest of the study was to explore the nature of the communicative competences in telenovela viewers, it was important to use a test that will measure TL proficiency in a holistic manner. It was assumed that a semi-structured interview was a good candidate for this kind of measure since it might demonstrate the speakers ability to creatively use language in a contextualized manner, similar to a real life situation. The interviews addressed a variety of topics such as personal information, giving directions, and future plans. Unfortunately, because of some technical difficulties and, in some cases, participants unwillingness to do an interview, only seventeen interviews were collected. Thus, we were not able to complete a statistical analysis of the data. Nevertheless, the qualitative interpretation of the results showed some interesting findings that will be discussed in the next section. 3. Results and discussion 3.1. Multiple choice test. The results of the multiple choice test were analyzed for a difference between the telenovela viewers and instructed learners. A statistically significant difference was assumed at the P-value < 0.01. Students t-test of the entire test showed a significant difference in favor of the instructed learners (Table 1). This suggests that the instructed learners have better control of discrete linguistic structures in a context that allows conscious attention to a correct form. This is further supported by the fact that instructed learners needed less time on average to complete the test (23.5 minutes) in comparison to the telenovela viewers (33.3 minutes).
Group Telenovela viewers Instructed learners Sample size 15 15 Mean 8.47 11.3 Standard deviation 3.36 3.17 Statistics t = 3.87 df = 78 P-value < 0.01
A more careful inspection of the results revealed a clear pattern in the responses of the instructed learners. Namely, the first half of the test that is representative of the structures taught at the level A1 showed higher accuracy when compared to the later segment of the test (Table 2). Such a pattern was not observed for the telenovela viewers, where a comparison
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between the first and the last segment of the test did not show a statistically significant difference (Table 3).
Group Telenovela viewers Instructed learners Sample size 15 15 Mean 13.00 9.60 Standard deviation 2.15 3.15 Statistics t = 2.71 df = 38 P-value < 0.01
Table 2. Comparison between the first and last segments of the test for the instructed learners. Sample size First twenty items Last twenty items 15 15 Mean 9.70 7.25 Standard deviation 3.16 2.34 Statistics t = 2.28 df = 38 P-value: 0.02
Table 3. Comparison between the first and last segments of the test for the telenovela viewers.
Consequently, a comparison of the separate portions of the test was conducted and, indeed, it showed a significant difference between the two groups on the first part of the test, but not so in the later (Tables 4 and 5).
Group Telenovela viewers Instructed learners Sample size 15 15 Mean 9.7 13 Standard deviation 2.34 2.15 Statistics t = 4.64 df = 38 P-value < 0.01
Table 4. Results for the first 20 items of the language test. Group Telenovela viewers Instructed learners Sample size 15 15 Mean 7.25 9.6 Standard deviation 3.81 3.15 Statistics t = 2.13 df = 38 P-value: 0.04
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This is an interesting finding because it might be taken to suggest that the telenovela viewers group as a whole has a more equilibrated command of different linguistic structures when compared to the participants exposed solely to classroom instruction. Instructed learners show high accuracy for the language forms that were taught during the language course. A logical explanation for their low performance on the more advanced structures could be a simple lack of exposure to the complex linguistic forms. However, these results support that learners might be able to acquire even the complex structures if there were sufficient input in the form of authentic language material. 3.2. Translations. The translation part of the investigation was elaborated in order to assess orthographic competences of the participants. Since there are a limited number of items that the participants completed, the results and analysis should be approached with caution. A word translation from Serbian to Spanish did not show an important difference between the two groups in the number of correct translations: an average of correct answers was 9.9 for the telenovela viewers and 12.1 for the instructed learners. However, while the orthography of the instructed learners was almost impeccable (14 items out of the total 300 were misspelled), the telenovela viewers manifested high level of inaccuracy in this respect. In several cases, the participants would simply use Serbian spelling conventions to represent Spanish pronunciation, e.g., kalje for calle street, kasa for casa house. As it could be expected, most mistakes were related either to Spanish letters that do not have direct representations in pronunciation (e.g., the silent h in words like hermana sister), or with sounds that might correspond to different letters (e.g., j in hija daughter but not in gente people). It must be noted, nevertheless, that the telenovela viewers did show certain systematicity in their use of spelling conventions. Thus, most participants of this group wrote hentes for gente, compania for compania company, either cassa or kasa for casa home, house. Some participants were more creative, so we have rocho for rojo red, gatta for gato/a cat, etc. These results are hardly surprising given that the telenovela viewers were never exposed to the Spanish language in its written form. The mistakes would have probably been more numerous if Spanish had had a more complex writing system. On the other hand, it is probably true that with a brief explicit explanation the participants would be able to improve their orthographic competence. As far as the sentence translation is concerned, the telenovela viewers performed far beyond our expectations. Overall, they were able to
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translate all the sentences in both directions, used language creatively, and produced correct utterances, that is, if we ignore the spelling mistakes. The sentences to be translated contained either periphrastic expressions such as ellos siguen diciendo they keep on saying or complex morphosyntactic structures such as the third conditional like si hubiera sabido esto, yo habria hecho if I had known that, I would have done. Naturally, the instructed learners almost always failed to complete this translation since they had never been explained or required to use this structure. On the other hand, the telenovela viewers did not show major difficulties in understanding this structure and gave acceptable translations for the targeted form. Minor mistakes were mainly related to the inappropriate use of vocabulary. In addition, it seems that the telenovela users did not reproduce memorized segments of language but were able to come up with an acceptable and creative answer. The already mentioned example Tu me dejas sola You are leaving me alone is quite illustrative. Not only were the participants able to produce correct utterances Me dejas sola (or the corresponding misspelled Me dehas sola), but in some cases used the more complex structure estar + gerundio that corresponds to the English present continuous tense: Me estas dejando sola in the misspelled form Me estas dehando sola. The data from this section, thus, seems to prove our initial hypothesis that the telenovela viewers would show a lower level of orthographic competence in comparison with the instructed learners. However, they also show that the language acquired through the viewing of authentic video material may be organized in the learners mind in a way that would allow for the creative use of language in spite of the lack of opportunities for language use. 3.3. Interviews. The purpose of the semi-structured interview was to assess participants communicative competences in a holistic manner; that is, their capabilities of performing a series of communicative functions in a realistic-like situation. In order to see how well the participants can give personal information, give directions, narrate past experiences, and talk about future plans, a qualitative assessment of the voice-recordings was realized. The original idea was to evaluate the participants oral comprehension and production for linguistic competences (lexical competence, grammatical accuracy, and phonological control) and pragmatic competences (discourse and functional competence) for the later statistic and qualitative analysis of the data. Unfortunately, an insufficient number of interviews (10 for the telenovela viewers and 7 for the instructed learners) made such procedures inappropriate. Nevertheless, the existing interviews
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were interpreted for descriptive observations. The duration of the interviews varied between 10 to 20 minutes for different participants depending on various factors such as time constraints, high anxiety level of the participants, or their low levels of proficiency. Finally, the researchers ended up with approximately four hours of voice-recorded conversation in Spanish. A researcher listened to every interview two times in order to evaluate the participants performance. A measuring scale of 10 points was designed where points from 1 to 3 stand for beginner level, 4 to 6 for intermediate, 7 to 9 advanced, and 10 for native-like. The linguistic competences were assessed for vocabulary range, vocabulary control, grammatical accuracy, and phonological control, while pragmatic competences were evaluated for flexibility, cohesion and coherence, fluency, and propositional precision (Council of Europe 2001). The interviews were also assessed for the overall comprehension proficiency of the participants. The results of the assessment are presented in Table 6.
Telenovela viewers 6.5 2.1 2.5 3.1 2.8 2.6 1.7 1.6 2.3 Instructed learners 5.4 2.7 2.8 2.4 3.1 2.0 0.4 0.4 1.0
Comprehension Vocabulary range Vocabulary control Linguistic competences Grammatical accuracy Phonological control Flexibility Coherence and cohesion Pragmatic competences Fluency Propositional precision
The comprehension was higher than expected for both groups, with a slight advantage of the telenovela viewers over the instructed learners. This is not surprising given that they had an opportunity to listen to Spanish during a longer period of time, sometimes even several years. An overall comparison of the different aspects of linguistic competences shows a small advantage of the instructed learners over the telenovela viewers. The range of vocabulary used by the telenovela viewers was quite limited and lagged behind that of the instructed learners. There were very few occurrences of misunderstanding due to the erroneous use
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of lexical items. Interestingly, the telenovela viewers manifested a higher level of grammatical accuracy which seems to contradict the results from the multiple choice test. In fact, their production was quite accurate in terms of the linguistic structures that should be controlled by an A2 user of a foreign language. Indeed, they were able to use a wide array of verb forms such as present, present progressive, future, past tense, and imperfect. One participant even used the imperfect subjunctive, a structure that is usually introduced at B2 level of language instruction. Finally, the pronunciation in both groups was at the level of A2 language users with a slight advantage for the instructed learners. The participants did not show evidence of difficulties in pronouncing Spanish phonemes, probably due to the similarity between Spanish and Serbian. In contrast to the results of linguistic competences, the telenovela viewers had an advantage over the instructed learners in pragmatic competences. The difference is most evident in the case of coherence and cohesion, fluency, and propositional precision. The interviews demonstrated that the telenovela viewers were able to use mainly simple language structures to express much of what they wanted. They were able to link simple sentences into logical sequence by using simple connectors such as y and, o or, and entonces then. However, they were not able to produce longer passages of description or explanation so they required help of the sympathetic interlocutor, in this case the researcher. As far as the fluency and propositional precision are concerned, the telenovela viewers again surpassed the instructed learners. This was mostly obvious in two ways. The telenovela viewers did not make long pauses which were frequent in the speech of the instructed learners, probably due to conscious self-monitoring. Also, the telenovela viewers did not usually fall back on their first language if they failed to convey a message on the first attempt or when in need of a linguistic form. In fact, they used such strategic devices as repeating the question in order to get more time to think of a response, making clarification requests, and asking for a needed vocabulary item through the use of the expression Como se dice? How do you say?. The instructed learners tended much more to fall back on their first language. They either spoke in Serbian if a message they wanted to convey required more effort or inserted Serbian words as substitutions for an appropriate Spanish word. We might speculate that this is a learned behavior since instructed learners in the foreign language context are used to dealing with a teacher who knows the students first language. Thus, the first language is a lingua franca of the classroom, a real medium of communication that may be used as a first aid tool at the time needed. In the case of telenovela users there is no such attitude toward the foreign lan-
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guage simply because they are not exposed to the foreign language classroom. They acquire language in a naturalistic context and probably try to mimic real life situations. However, the performance of the telenovela viewers might be equally well explained by a higher motivational level, by the fact that this was their first time to communicate in Spanish so there was a sense of responsibility, or the like. Any interpretation is, of course, tentative and there is a clear need for more research on the subject. 4. Conclusion The fact that both researchers learned Spanish in an instructed context influenced our initial expectations of the research outcomes and our, we may say, skeptical attitude toward the possibility that a language can be learned through exposure to video material only. Such an affirmation remains an exaggeration, certainly. But some language can be acquired. The results from the multiple choice test showed that the telenovela viewers reached a level of linguistic competence that would qualify them as false beginners. Their performance was, as expected, lower than that of the instructed learners at A1 and A2 levels. In addition, their orthographic competence is also far from optimal given their unfamiliarity with the spelling conventions of the Spanish language. What is interesting, however, is that in the spontaneous speech the telenovela viewers were able to perform at an A2 level, sometimes even surpassing the proficiency level of the instructed learners. And this is in spite of the fact that the participation in this investigation was their first active engagement with Spanish which clearly influenced high anxiety in the participants. On the other hand, we compared the telenovela viewers who watched these soap operas for several years (two at least and seven the most) with the language learners who were exposed to Spanish for only one or two semesters. Since the instructed learners performed better or as well as the telenovela viewers on several measures of proficiency, there is little point in arguing that watching Hispanic telenovelas is a better approach for language acquisition. Anyway, this is not our argument. We support that the introduction of more authentic video material in the form of telenovelas, movies, science programming, and the like, might have beneficial effects on language acquisition. This is mostly true for the development of pragmatic competences, an important component of the overall communicative competences, which is, for some reason, neglected in the language classroom context. The findings from this study offer ambiguous conclusions in terms of the theory of second language acquisition. As proposed by the acqui-
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sition theory, the input received through telenovelas was processed by the viewers and was creatively used in language production. However, at the moment telenovela viewers start following their favorite soap operas, the input offered through this authentic material is far beyond their current proficiency level, assumed to be none. Consequently, we can hardly talk of comprehensible input at this point of exposure to the language. It may be postulated that the interlingual captions offer some initial support, but there surely needs to be certain attention consciously directed to the linguistic medium in order for the acquisition to occur (Schmidt 2001). Finally, we want to point out some of the limitations of this study of which we became aware as the investigation progressed. Firstly, interviews as the central part of the research design should be conducted with every participant of the study. A part of the interview could be done in the form of a picture narration task which would allow a more reliable assessment of pragmatic competences in terms of cohesion and coherence, as well as propositional precision and fluency. Also, a grammaticality judgment test might be completed instead, or in addition to, the translation task. Last but not least, an effort should be made that participants be exposed to the TL for an approximate length of time. In other words, communicative competences should be compared between telenovela viewers who have watched Hispanic series for the same period of time during which instructed learners have learned the language in the classroom context. More research on this subject could offer new insight in the ways language learners acquire TL in a naturalistic context. Not only is this important for theoretical considerations, but may also help us think of ways how to improve language learning methodologies. We certainly hope that this exploratory study serves as an invitation for more investigation of the kind. References
ACTFL 1999 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. Speaking. Retrieved from http://www.actfl.org/files/public/Guidelinesspeak.pdf Caimi 2006 Anamaria Caimi: Audiovisual Translation and Language Learning: The Promotion of Intralingual Subtitles. Retrieved from www.jostrans.org/index.php. Canale, Swain 1980 Michael Canale, Merrill Swain: Teoretical Bases of Communicative Approaches to Second Language Teaching and Testing, Applied Linguistics 1, 147.
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Council of Europe 2001 Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Gass 2003 Susan M. Gass: Input and Interaction, In The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition (ed. by Catherine J. Doughty and Michael H. Long), Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 224255. Hanley, Herron, Cole 1995 Julia E. B. Hanley, Carol A. Herron and Steven P. Cole: Using Video as an Advance Organizer to a Written Passage in the FLES Classroom, The Modern Language Journal 79, 5766. Huang, Eskey 1999 Hsin-Chuan Huang, David E. Eskey: The Effects of Closed-Captioned Television on the Listening Comprehension of Intermediate English as a Second Language (ESL) Students, Journal of Educational Technology Systems 28,7596. Koskinen, Knable, Markham, Jensema and Kane 1996 Patricia S. Koskinen, James E. Knable, Paul L. Markham, Carl J. Jensema and Kathryn W. Kane: Captioned Television and the Vocabulary Acquisition of Adult Second Language Correctional Facility Residents, Journal of Educational Technology Systems 24, 359373. Krashen 1981 Stephen Krashen: Second language acquisition and second language learning, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Krashen 1982 Stephen Krashen: Principles and practice in second language acquisition, New York: Pergamon Press. Pearson 2005 Rosalind C. Pearson: Fact or Fiction? Narrative and Reality in the Mexican Telenovela, Television & New Media 6, 400406. Politika TV Revija. July 29th, 2006. Ed. by Ljiljana Smajlovi}. Beograd: Novine i magazini d.o.o. Porto 2005 Mauro P. Porto: Political Controversies in Brazilian TV Fiction, Television & New Media 6, 342359. Radway 1991 Janice A. Radway: Reading the Romance: Women, Patriarchy, and Popular Literature, Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. Savignon 1997 Sandra Savignon: Communicative Competence: Theory and Classroom Practice, New York, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Schmidt 2001 Richard Schmidt: Attention. In Cognition and Second Language Instruction (ed. by W. Peter Robinson), New York, Cambridge University Press, 332. Slade, Beckenham 2005 Christina Slade, Annabel Beckenham: Introduction. Telenovelas and Soap Operas: Negotiating Reality, Television & New Media 6, 337341. Stewart, Pertusa 2004 Melissa A. Stewart, Inmaculada Pertusa: Gains to Language Learners from Viewing Target Language Closed-Captioned Films, Foreign Language Annals 37, 438447. Swain, Lapkin 1995 Merrill Swain, Sharon Lapkin: Problems in Output and the Cognitive Processes They Generate: A Step towards Second Language Learning, Applied Linguistics 16, 371391.
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Swain 1995 Merrill Swain: Three functions of output in second language learning, In Principle and Practice in Applied Linguistics (ed. by G. Cook and B. Seidlhofer), Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 125144. Terrell 1993 Tracy David Terrell: Comprehensible Input for Intermediate Foreign Language Students via Video, IALL Journal of Language Learning Technologies 26, 1723. Weyers 1999 Joseph R. Weyers: The Effect of Authentic Video on Communicative Competence, The Modern Language Journal 83, 339349. Williams, Thorne 2000 Helen Williams, David Thorne: The Value of Teletext Subtitling as a Medium for Language Learning, System 28, 217228.
En ce moment, ou la Serbie vient dacceder a la grande famille de la Francophonie comme membre observateur 1, jai lhonneur et le plaisir
1 La SERBIE accede a lOIF statut : Membre Observateur (Septembre 2006) (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie 63 etats 600 millions dhabitants 10 % de la population mondiale).
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dexprimer ma joie denseignant de franais a propos de distinction qui, en quelque sorte, recompense mon pays et recompense la longue tradition de lamitie franco-serbe. Que cela puisse donner une nouvelle impulsion a lapprentissage de cette langue qui resiste a la pression des autres langues quon apprend dans ces lieux. Par cet acte il contribue aussi au developpement du multilinguisme en Europe, au resserrement des liens avec dautres pays de differentes cultures qui ont en commun lusage du franais. Bien que cet usage dans ce pays ne recouvre pas lensemble des locuteurs, il englobe une vaste communaute orientee vers la langue et la culture franaise, une realite qui signifie, avant tout, un esprit francophile et une ouverture vers un dialogue interculturel.2 Parler de la francophonie en Serbie, serait un discours incomplet sil netait pas parallelement suivi dun autre, celui de la francophilie. Parmi les Serbes, ce sentiment est autant rationnel et fonde sur un heritage historique considerable, que, parfois inconscient et meme ambigu (on y reviendra plus tard). Quel quil en soit, il est incontestable que ce sentiment profond soutient la francophonie ici et plus quon le croit lui donne un support discret et permanent. Nul doute, pour nous les professeurs, que ce sentiment est lunique force motrice pour la plupart de nos apprenants qui, a la question pourquoi ils apprennent le franais, nous repondent avec enthousiasme: par amour de cette langue, par amour du pays et du peuple franais . Si lon cherche studieusement au fil du temps des raisons concretes dune telle attitude, il apparait clairement quelles seraient si nombreuses et si complexes quil vaudrait mieux esquisser une mosaique constituee de reponses a quelques questions fondamentales : un qui, portant sur les personnages grace auxquels ces contacts se sont etablis et qui les transmettaient de generation en generation; un quand, portant sur les moments historiques les plus marquants ou ces contacts se sont forges ; un ou, qui devrait signaler les foyers de la francophilie et de la francophonie ; un comment, revelateur de la faon dont les serbophones, malgre un recul du franais devant lhegemonie linguistique de langlais, le maintiennent par amour et pour lamour . Dans un bref rappel historique voyons quelques-uns parmi les nombreux fondateurs qui ont eu la plus grande importance pour ce mouvement culturel, linguistique, spirituel, emotionnel.
2 ASSOCIATION DE COOPERATION CULTURELLE SERBIE-FRANCE, ASSOCIATION DES AMIS DE LA FRANCE, ASSOCIATION DES JOURNALISTES FRANCOPHONES, ASSOCIATION DES PROFESSEURS DE FRANAIS, CLASSES BILINGUES (une ecole primaire, un lycee) LYCEES PHILOLOGIQUES.
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I. Les premiers contacts remontent au XI siecle, a lepoque des Croisades, lors du passage des Franais avec Godefroy de Bouillon a la tete, par une voie traversant la Serbie vers le Moyen-Orient. Non seulement les troupes passent par cette region sans conflit , comme notera un chroniqueur franais, mais le comte de Toulouse, Raymond IV, qui est a la tete du deuxieme regiment, fraternise avec le roi serbe Bodin (Ibrovac 1958 : 352). II. Au XII siecle dans les ecrits notes par un des membres de la suite du roi Louis VII le Jeune qui, lui aussi, a traverse ces regions, on trouve ses observations sur les faits geographiques, ethnographiques, economiques, politiques. Il dit que cest un pays peu habite mais riche et merveilleux avec des bois incroyables, sans fin (Ibrovac 1958 : 352) ; il est surtout impressionne par lesprit hospitalier de ce peuple. III. La fin du XIII siecle est decisif tout aussi bien pour la francophonie que pour la francophilie: le personnage de la reine serbe Helene dAnjou, cousine de Saint-Louis epouse du roi Uros I Nemanytch a laisse une forte empreinte sur la culture, la litterature, la peinture, larchitecture et en particulier, sur leducation dans la Serbie medievale. Cette Franaise, dun esprit exquis et dune bonte sans limite, pieuse et erudite, pleine de sagesse et entreprenante, est de fait, la premiere institutrice serbe qui a organise une ecole pour les jeunes filles pauvres au sein de sa cour royale. Elles y apprennent tout aussi bien a se comporter avec noblesse qua ecrire, a transcrire et a decorer denluminures et de gravures les livres deglise, a sculpter, a broder. Elle est aussi la premiere fondatrice dune bibliotheque riche en livres franais, et, la premiere femme fondatrice du monastere orthodoxe medieval de Gradac (zadu`bina = za du{u), une habitation pour son ame destinee a la vie eternelle. Cette catholique est canonisee en sainte orthodoxe pour avoir comble de bienfaits le peuple et leglise serbes. Elle a considerablement influence lart de la Serbie medievale, mettant au service de son nouveau pays toute la dimension de sa personnalite, de ses savoirs formes sur lheritage culturel franais. IV. Suivant toujours, au fil des siecles, les indices vers lesquels nous menent nos questions: qui, quand, ou, comment, lies a la francophonie, (en sautant, avec votre permission, quelques siecles) nous tenons a souligner le XVIIIe siecle, ou les effets des circonstances politico-historiques et culturelles coincident avec ceux dune large ouverture de lesprit des Serbes envers les courants occidentaux, qui avaient subi pendant presque 5 siecles le poids dun esclavage encombrant.
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Les guerres et les temps chaotiques ont quelquefois meme de bonnes consequences: comme par exemple lintroduction de certaines bonnes coutumes et dexpressions etrangeres au sein dun milieu. Ce fut le cas avec les Franais et les Serbes au debut du 18 siecle. Nous rappelons les activites militaires en 1716 et 1717 du prince Eugene de Savoie qui a lutte avec son armee contre les Turcs, pour la liberation du nord de la Serbie (les villes de Petrovaradin et de Belgrade). Ces mouvements militaires ont retenti comme un grand exploit dans toute lEurope, et ont inspire par la suite les peintres, les graveurs, (Huchtenburg, gravure en cuivre) les auteurs de poemes et de chants de glorifier dans leurs oeuvres ce triomphe. En outre, cela a donne lidee a un grand nombre de Franais: officiers, soldats, medecins, artistes, marchands, artisans (bouchers, boulangers, tanneurs, horloger etc.), a sinstaller dans ces lieux et de lier leur destin et au peuple serbe. Cest ainsi que les elements de la civilisation franaise urbaine se sont implantes dans la vie des belgradois. Leur faon de shabiller, certaines habitudes gastronomiques, le comportement a la franaise deviennent une mode a cette epoque-la. Dans la seconde moitie du 18 siecle, apres la Guerre de Sept ans, un mouvement d immigration de Lorrains et d Alsaciens au Banat en Voivodine, a sans doute laisse une empreinte considerable sur lemancipation des autochtones: 209 familles sy sont etablies, dont 90% parlent franais. Dapres les temoignages des lexicologues, ce sera la periode ou le serbe assimile la plupart des mots franais qui avec certaines adaptations phonologiques ou semantiques y restent en definitive: p.ex: kanabe canape; karuce carrosse (m), kastrole casserole, servizi service dans le sens de lassortiment dobjets utilises pour servir a table, pa{tete pate, torte tarte, be{kot biscuit, konfektur confiture, {afran safran, konfet confetti, ~okolat chocolat, etc. (Ibrovac 1958 : 360) Des lors, pendant tout un siecle la francophilie devient, une sorte de gallo-manie. Dans les salons de Belgrade et en province, savoir le franais est un imperatif mondain de sorte que le plus grand auteur serbe de comedie du 19e siecle, Jovan Sterija Popovitch, leternise en faisant une caricature reussie dans son heroine Fema, qui fait penser aux Precieuses ridicules de Moliere. Sa replique en faux franais: mikofo au lieu de comme il faut , est devenu, depuis, un syntagme-repere national pour le snobisme et la betise des nouveaux riches. V. La renaissance de lesprit des Serbes au 19e siecle est symbolisee par le personnage du grand ecrivain serbe Dositej Obradovitch (17421811), ce Voltaire et ce Rousseau serbe, dont les idees se nourrissent du rationalisme franais et europeen. A linstar des grands Encyclopedistes fran-
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ais au nom du progres et de la raison il lutte en faveur des reformes sociales, du principe de la tolerance entre les hommes, pour legalite des classes, pour leducation de toutes les couches sociales, pour la creation decole (cest lui qui en 1808 fonde lEcole superieure en Serbie, origine de lUniversite). Ses idees reformatrices ouvrent de nouvelles voies d echanges de biens culturels europeens. Apres lui tout un groupe de jeunes intellectuels formes a son exemple et a son ecole etablissent les liens directs avec lOccident, et un certain nombre se rend en France pour sy former. A leur retour une nouvelle impulsion est donnee a ladoption de la langue et de la culture franaises: ils se servent dun franais courant, ils diffusent leurs connaissances par leurs metiers et les livres de leurs bibliotheques privees se lisent ou se traduisent. Le 19e siecle sera decisif pour un epanouissement general de la francophonie: lapprentissage devient systematique puisque cette langue est introduite dans les ecoles secondaires. Si nous essayons de suivre le fil conducteur trace par nos questions qui, ou, comment pour comprendre les rapports multiples qui nouent ces deux peuples, il nous faudrait ouvrir un grand dossier dhistoire tumultueuse portant sur les jeux et les motifs politiques, sur les gouts divers qui regissent les evenements et les changements sociaux dans les Balkans au cours des deux derniers siecles. Ce nest ni notre propos ni notre intention en ce moment. Nous mettrons, tout au moins, quelques-unes des figures historiques, auxquelles est du le rapprochement franco-serbe. Napoleon avec ses interets geo-politiques y a, sans doute, mis du sien par la creation des Provinces illyriennes au debut du 19e siecle a la proximite des regions habitees par les Serbes. Un grand merite est du aux gouts aventuriers des romantiques franais qui les portent vers nos terres: on en trouvera des traces dans la litterature de Lamartine, de Victor Hugo et des autres. Les interets diplomatiques bilateraux y ont aussi joue un role important dont la preuve est letablissement du premier Consulat franais en 1838, ce qui augmente la presence des Franais et le nombre de publications en franais. Finalement, le developpement brusque de la societe, des sciences, de la technique a dicte un besoin urgent demprunts linguistiques ou lusage du franais a bien servi a la creation dune terminologie inexistante mais indispensable dans toutes les disciplines qui prennent un grand essor a cette epoque-la: sciences exactes, droit, medecine, technique, economie, philosophie, art, musique, administration etc. Les statistiques disent quun pour cent du corpus lexical du serbe contemporain (1% de 140.000 unites) a a lorigine des mots franais comme par exemple : havera affaire, anketa enquete, bajonet baionnette, bilten bulletin, ekspertiza expertise, ekspoze expose, feljton feuilleton, pirouette pirouette,
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portret portrait, sert o cercle etc.3 Soulignons egalement quun apprentissage au niveau le plus eleve existe depuis que la Chaire de franais est fondee a Belgrade en 1897. VI. Les deux dynasties serbes sont francophones : en 1893, le jeune prince Alexandre Obrenovitch a comme gouverneur lhistorien franais renomme, Albert Malet, professeur a la Grande Ecole de Belgrade. Le changement de la famille dynastique au trone en 1903, et lavenement de Pierre Ier Karadjordjevitch, renforcent les relations politiques et amicales entre les deux pays (celui-ci ayant vecu et acquis son education militaire en France est tourne vers elle pendant tout son regne). Cette cooperation franco-serbe evolue en alliance pendant la Grande guerre (19141918). Dans lhistoire du peuple serbe elle represente le point culminant de lamitie entre les deux pays. Y a-t-il des liens plus solides, plus durables que ceux qui se forment par les calvaires et les succes des luttes menees cote a cote contre les memes ennemis. Y a-t-il un acte damitie plus touchant que celui dun accueil genereux au seuil de leur foyer, dont les Franais ont donne la preuve a larrivee des jeunes guerriers serbes martyrises pendant la guerre. Laccueil est au debut spontane, evolue tres vite en un acte organise par le gouvernement franais, en 1917/1918. Apres une epreuve apocalyptique du retrait de tout un etat avec son peuple par la Serbie et lAlbanie vers le Corfou, une petite armee denfants, decoliers, detudiants, de soldats, au nombre de 4.000, est transporte sur les bateaux franais, hebergee, nourrie, integree dans des ecoles et universites franaises. Au retour, ils sauront, en signe de reconnaissance, repandre la francophilie et la francophonie dans leurs pays et transmettre a leur posterite les emotions les plus profondes envers les amis. Il arrive quon trouve meme aujourdhui, au fin fond de la province serbe, dans le rayon dune maison paysanne des volumes rares en franais que la famille garde comme une relique en souvenir a leur ancetre et son rattachement a la France. Entre les deux guerres a peu pres 30.000 etudiants sont beneficies de bourses franaises pour faire leurs etudes universitaires en France. Cest lepoque ou, les sentiments damitie, les objectifs et les interets communs seront a lorigine dune multitude dactivites qui deboucheront sur une diffusion encore plus large du franais langue de culture dans les milieux serbophones. La francophilie nourrie par ce souvenir aux annees dor de lamitie, deviendra dans la psychologie nationale un archetype
3 Exemples pris et la statistique citee dans le livre de M. Popovi} (2005), Re~i francuskog porekla u srpskom jeziku.
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grace auquel les Serbes sauront sauvegarder le franais comme langue etrangere maintiendront les contacts amicaux et culturels meme pendant les periodes moins favorables, par exemple, celle autour des annees 50 du siecle dernier, ou bien pendant la decennie tragique de lembargo (de 1990 ou la France a ete la premiere a retirer ses lecteurs de lUniversite de Belgrade, mais aussi la premiere a les faire revenir en 2000) et surtout pendant le bombardement de lOTAN. (Pour revenir a notre terme des emotions ambigues, rappelons egalement que le veto de la France empecha le bombardement des ponts de Belgrade). Parmi les activites et leurs realisations qui resteront un fondement solide pour lavenir du rapport amical, mentionnons-en quelques-unes: a) Le premier cercle franais , est fonde a Belgrade en 1904, est reactive en 1920 sous le nom de la Societe des Amis de la France. Des associations pareilles naissent a Leskovac, a Nis, a Novi Sad et ailleurs, equipees dexcellentes bibliotheques, chargees de promouvoir la connaissance et lamour de la culture franaise . En 2004 l Association de cooperation culturelle Serbie-France a fete son centenaire. b) Une materialisation monumentale de la reconnaissance serbe aux Franais est erigee en 1930. La statue au centre du parc de Kalemegdan, ce Pantheon national, suggere une forte emotion, soit par sa forme qui evoque eternellement Marianne, soit par la simplicite des mots tailles sur le socle A la France Nous laimons comme elle nous a aimes soit par une toile noire qui lavait recouverte les premiers jours du bombardement, par laquelle les francophiles serbes ont exprime leur chagrin comme la note un journal franais.4 c) Il ne faut pas oublier non plus, un endroit fort dont les tresors sauvegardent les temoignages les plus durables de la francophonie : cest la bibliotheque nationale de Serbie. Parmi ses editions les plus anciennes se trouve le livre de Demosthene en traduction franaise Les oraisons et harangues, publie a Paris en 1579.5 Pendant plus dun siecle, de 1832 ou elle est fondee jusquen 1941 ou elle a pratiquement toute brulee sous les bombes ennemies, elle senrichissait en livres domestiques et etrangers. A en conclure dapres le nombre de prets entre les deux guerres, parmi les auteurs les plus demandes, se trouvent les auteurs franais. Pour les bibliophiles et les francophiles aussi, cetait une chance quen 1944 a 1960 le directeur de la bibliotheque devienne Du{an Mila~i}, titulaire dun double
4 Cite par le professeur M. Pavlovi}, dans larticle Historique des relations franco-serbes , in Faits et Projets, fevrier 2006, p. 58. 5 Injac, OD JELENE AN@UJESKE DO INTERNETA, Fond fancuske knjige u Narodnoj biblioteci Srbije.
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doctorat dEtat a la Sorbonne, grand connaisseur de la litterature franaise et grand traducteur de loeuvre de Balzac, decore de la Legion dhonneur pour ses merites de lutter par et pour le livre. La bibliotheque nationale de Serbie met aujourdhui a la disposition des lecteurs la plupart des ecrivains franais connus et moins connus en original et possede la bibliotheque de la Pleiade, Encyclopedie de la Pleiade, collection Armand Collin, collection Que sais-je , les publications critiques Les classiques franais du Moyen Age , les periodiques et exerce une activite permanente dechange de livres inter-bibliothecaires. Si lon parle litterature franaise rappelons que tous les courants dominants ont eu un echo enorme parmi les litteraires et les artistes en Serbie: a partir du surrealisme qui se fraie un chemin parallele en France et en Serbie, sous lenseigne de lamitie de plume et personnelle entre Andre Breton et Marko Risti}, par le cubisme, jusqua lexistentialisme, lart abstrait, le theatre de labsurde et ainsi de suite. VII. Finalement, un foyer incontournable da la francophonie et de la francophilie cest le Centre culturel franais a Belgrade et ses antennes a Nis et a Novi Sad. Ce nest pas seulement un endroit mais cest un sujet actif de la diffusion francophone avec une mission culturelle et educative organisee de faon systematique et diversifiee. Depuis son ouverture en 1951, il a pour vocation de montrer tous les aspects de la creation franaise litteraire theatrale, musicale, choregraphique, pictural, ou bien les manifestations liees a la mode, aux spectacles ou animations de rue, aux sports etc. Pendant certaines periodes il arrivait que le tempo des evenements culturels a Belgrade soit dicte par les initiatives du Centre culturel franais. Ses visiteurs representent un public tres varie et nombreux: etudiants, enseignants, chercheurs, intellectuels des different milieux, artistes, journalistes, amateurs de tous les profils. Ils ont la possibilite demprunter des livres, des CD, des DVD, de consulter les quotidiens et des revues, de se servir dun poste dInternet, de suivre les chaines de la television franaise et aussi bien que dy rencontrer des ecrivains, des musiciens, des peintres, des artistes franais celebres et de discuter avec eux. Pour terminer revenons encore une fois a notre idee de lambiguite des sentiments dans les temps confus. Nous tenons a rappeler un episode lie au Centre culturel de Belgrade. On nignore pas quen mars 1999, au cours des premiers jours des bombardements de lOTAN le Centre culturel a ete saccage et partiellement pille par certains groupes de Belgradois revoltes. Un autre groupe de Belgradois, les etudiants de la Chaire de franais de la Faculte de Philologie de Belgrade, a linitiative de leur professeur courageux, notre collegue M. Radivoje Konstantinovi}, avaient
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forme une chaine vivante du Centre jusquaux locaux de la faculte pour transporter la plus grande partie du fond de la bibliotheque en se passant de main en mains des livres et des meubles sauves. Ils sont tous rendus au Centre avant sa reouverture en 2001 par le President Chirac. Nous regrettons de ne pas avoir parle plus longuement de lAssociation des professeurs de franais et de leurs membres, nos collegues enseignant dans des ecoles primaires et secondaires a travers la Serbie, qui investissent toute leur energie et leur vie professionnelle a transmettre avec beaucoup damour la langue et la culture dun pays quils vivent comme sil etait le leur et que la plupart na jamais visite. Il nest pas rare a Kladovo, Leskovac, Lebane, Smederevo ou Vr{ac dentendre des chansons franaises reprises en chur par des groupes de jeunes. Esperons que la position Observateur dans la famille des pays francophones permettra de remedier aux divergences nees dinterets divers. Et notre passe nous le confirme : rien ne pourra fletrir les relations amicales entre la France et la Serbie. Cette nouvelle position donnera une energie moderne, un nouveau souffle qui favorisera la francophonie et motivera les francophiles a chercher de nouvelles realites et a trouver des lendemains plus heureux. * * *
En guise dintroduction a notre colloque, nous tenons a ouvrir ici une parenthese dont les observations portent sur un comment, important pour les enseignants et les apprenants du franais: le comment faire parler les serbophones dans un franais correct. Il sagit dun sujet qui a represente pendant des annees notre premier projet detudes dont la plupart des analyses concerne linterlangue franais-serbe. A partir de la definition6 la plus simplifiee de ce concept, cest le croisement qui seffectue dans la tete de lapprenant entre le systeme le plus fort (celui du serbe, la langue maternelle) et le systeme instable (celui du franais comme langue cible). Donc, ce serait le produit de la production individuelle des deux systemes linguistiques soudes. Comme linterlangue a ses parametres, a savoir : instabilites, permeabilites, fossilisations, simplifications, complexifications, apres avoir fait une recherche empirique, nous avons essaye de les analyser par etapes et de decrire les erreurs qui se manifestent dans la production orale des etudiants serbophones. Nos remarques sur les trans6 K. Fogel (K. Vogel 1995 : 25), Lernersprache la langue de leleve: le concept dinterlangue apparait nettement plus evident du point de vue empirique et ceci souligne // la portee et la puissance explicative des recherches effectuees dans ce cadre, puisquil permet de decrire lacquisition de la L2 comme un processus variable.
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ferts typiques aux niveaux phonematique, phonologique, morphosyntaxique, semantique aussi bien que les techniques didactiques dinterventions sont decrites et systematisees dans le cadre de notre travail ([otra 2006). En considerant la mise en uvre de la prononciation franaise des serbophones, des parametres interlinguaux se manifestent a partir de la qualite de la production qui est due a la nature meme des deux types darticulation : celle du serbe caracterisee par un effort musculaire 1. moins tendu, 2. moins labialise, 3. par une position plus posterieure et 4. un timbre polytonal des voyelles vs celle du franais qui differe par une articulation plus tendue, fortement labialisee, par la position des phonemes anterieures, en nasalisation et en aperture. En ce qui concerne les differences quantitatives (en serbe : 5 consonnes + 25 voyelles vs en franais : 16 voyelles + 17 consonnes + 3 semi voyelles) il est evident quau niveau phonematique deja maintes instabilites interlinguales surgissent comme, par exemple, celles qui se produisent sous forme de denalisation, de substitution de la voyelle franaise (y) par les voyelles serbes (u) et (i), du (oe) franais par (o) (e) et (u) serbe, de par la realisation vocale du e muet , aussi bien que par le transfert des voyelles (e), (a), (o) de la langue maternelle etc. La permeabilite interlinguale, reperable visuellemement sur les spectrogrammes, se montre forte surtout sur le plan prosodique dans la realisation des mots : les quatre accents serbes sont polytoniques et ils se realisent sur les voyelles memes, au niveau des mots ils sont ambulants et ne sont jamais places sur la derniere syllabe, a lexception des mots monosyllabiques, alors que les mots franais (oxytons) les portent. Dans la realisation des phrases (le rythme de la phrase serbe est successif alors que la phrase franaise est connue pour son rythme combine qui depend lui-meme de la longueur du groupe rythmique, bref ou long, dont l'accent tombe, contrairement au serbe, sur la derniere syllabe. Le sujet serbophone deplace spontanement laccent franais vers le milieu du groupe rythmique et reproduit ainsi un calque intonatif dapres le modele de la langue maternelle. Les instabilites interlanguales apparaissent sur le plan morpho-syntaxique etant donne la difference principale entre les deux langues: le serbe est une langue synthetique le systeme de desinences, prefixes, suffixes, infixes, structures grammaticales libres alors que le franais est analytique l'ordre des mots est predefini et fixe avec un systeme de prepositions developpe et un systeme de temps verbaux diversifie. Les fossilisations interlinguales, dans la production des serbophones se trouvent fixees a tous le niveaux : phonematique (articulation, prononciation), phonologique (accent, rythme, intonation), morpho-synaxique
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(conjugaisons, structures sintagmatiques, synaxiques), semantique (sens, significations). Cest a elles que sont dus les decalages parfois enormes entre cette langue quasi-franaise et la langue cible surtout quand elles se produisent sur le plan semantique ou la perception et la reproduction du sens sont mises en question. Il en est ainsi a chaque fois que les images mentales sont transmises litteralement de la langue maternelle vers la langue etrangere. Dans ces cas-la, lexpression orale improvisee spontanement abonde en significations aberrantes, en faux sens, en non-sens, en tournures caricaturales. Comme les didacticiens se sont mis daccord sur lutilite et la pertinence de la description et des analyses des interlangues respectives, nous avons essaye de developper certaines de nos hypotheses dans les deux sens : 1. les unes ont ete soumises aux verifications electroniques a savoir acoustiques pour que les enseignants et les apprenants en visionnant les sonogrammes et les spectrogrammes, puissent mieux sen servir lors des corrections phonematique ou phonologiques ; 2. les autres nous ont servi a en dresser les tableaux des difficultes hierarchisees pour quils puissent intervenir aux endroits problematiques lors de lapprentissage de cette belle langue difficile tout en disposant des instruments dautocorrection et dune defossilisation autonome des erreurs.
Litterature
Ibrovac 1958 M. Ibrovac: Francusko-jugoslovenski odnosi, Enciklopedija Jugoslavije, 3. Injac, V. OD JELENE AN@UJESKE DO INTERNETA, Fond fancuske knjige u Narodnoj biblioteci Srbije, Beograd: Narodna biblioteka Srbije, UDK 025.2:027.54(497.11) Ivi} 1994 P. Ivi} et al.: Istorija srpske kulture, Gornji Milanovac: De~je novine Beograd: Udru`enje izdava~a i knji`ara. Janji} 2006 D. Janji}: Francuski klub u Leskovcu, Leskovac: Narodni muzej. Maugey 1993 A. Maugey: Le Romans de la Francophonie, Paris: Jean-Michel Place. Maugey 2002 A. Maugey: Lavenir du franais dans le monde, Quebec: Humanitas. Pavlovi} 1996 M. Pavlovi}: U dvostrukom ogledalu, Beograd: Prosveta. Popovi} 2005 M. Popovi}: Re~i francuskog porekla u srpskom jeziku, Beograd: Zavod za ud`benike i nastavna sredstva. Beograd 2005 Me|unarodni nau~ni skup Srpsko-francuski odnosi 19042004, Dru{tvo za kulturnu saradnju Srbija-Francuska, Arhiv Srbije. Faits et Projets, Magazine, (fevrier 2006) Serbie-et-Montenegro 2006, une annee decisive, Paris: Perspectives Internationales Editions. [otra 2006 T. [otra: Kako progovoriti na stranom jeziku, Beograd: Zavod za ud`benike i nastavna sredstva.
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Vogel 1995 K. Vogel: LInterlangue, la langue de lapprenant, trad. de lallemend: J. M. Brohee et J. P. Confais, Presse Universitaire du Mirail, Toulouse. LE CENTRE CULTUREL FRANAIS a BELGRADE, www.ccf.org.yu
Tijana A{i}, Veran Stanojevi}, LEMPLOI DES TEMPS VERBAUX CHEZ LES LOCUTEURS
LEMPLOI DES TEMPS VERBAUX CHEZ LES LOCUTEURS NON-NATIFS DU FRANAIS LE CAS DES GASTARBEITERS SERBES, VALAQUES ET TZIGANES
Abstract: This paper treats a problem of non-guided and informal acquisition of second language. The study examines the usage of verbal tenses in French in the discourse of Serbian, Valach and Gypsy gastarbeiters. The findings show that the process of natural acquisition generally results in two types of linguistic competence: a) The system of verbal tenses in French is mastered to a larger extent. b) The system of verbal tenses is absent in the informants discourse the temporal reference is either given by adverbs or has to be contextually inferred. Key words: second language acquisition, verbal tenses, gastarbeiters, pragmatic inferences, language ideology
1. Introduction
Dans cet article nous allons presenter et analyser les resultats de nos recherches sur le terrain concernant lemploi des temps verbaux en franais parle chez les gastarbeiters (un type dimmigres economiques) serbes, valaques et tziganes de la premiere generation. Il sagit des personnes qui ont appris le franais non pas dans le cadre dune methode didactique mais exclusivement de maniere spontanee grace a linteraction quotidienne avec leur nouvel environnement linguistique. Donc, on ne peut pas parler ici de lapprentissage guide mais de lacquisition spontanee de la deuxieme langue. Il est important de noter que cette acquisition seffectue dans un contexte caracterise par des problemes dadaptation socioculturelle dans un milieu etranger (Heinz 2001 : 90). Par consequent les enonces et les discours qui ont ete lobjet de nos analyses sont tellement impregnes de symboles et de marqueurs dattitudes, de visions person-
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nelles et dideologie linguistique qu'ils nous ont pousse aussi a des analyses sociolinguistiques (Chambers 1995) et socio-psychologiques (Bugarski 1996) que nous presenterons dans la derniere section de ce travail. Cependant lobjet principal de ce travail concerne les processus et les resultats de lacquisition des temps verbaux chez les gastaribeiters. Plus precisement, nous allons nous demander si celle-ci aboutit a un ensemble de formes rudimentaires des temps verbaux ou peut-etre a un vrai systeme1 indiquant une assez bonne maitrise des temps verbaux, leurs formes, fonctions et valeurs. Si la deuxieme hypothese est valable il faut trouver une bonne explication pour cela. En effet, le probleme theorique que nous abordons ici sans pretendre le resoudre est celui du role de la grammaire universelle2 au sens chomskien du terme (Chomsky 1975 : 1987) dans lacquisition de la deuxieme langue chez les adultes. Rappelons que les enfants apprennent facilement et de maniere naturelle le lexique et la grammaire de leur langue maternelle parce que leur jeune cerveau est programme pour cela. Cependant, comme le suggerent certaines recherches,3 la grammaire universelle devient inaccessible apres un certain age a partir duquel lacquisition de la grammaire chez les adultes depend dans une tres grande mesure de lenseignement explicite de la grammaire. Autrement dit, on suppose que les adultes etant exclusivement exposes a ce que lon appelle linput positif , cest-a-dire une langue etrangere dans un nouveau milieu linguistique (et non a enseignement explicite de la grammaire), peuvent difficilement avoir acces aux regles sous-jacentes de cette langue. Dans la suite de cet article nous allons voir que cette these est difficilement soutenable.
2. Sur le systeme des temps verbaux en franais
Le but que nous nous sommes fixe avant dentamer notre recherche peut etre presente comme une alliance des trois taches differentes, mais interdependantes que nous presentons comme suit :
1 Par systeme nous entendons un ensemble homogene delements dont chacun est determine differentiellement par lensemble des rapports quil entretient avec les autres elements. 2 Dans la theorie des Principes et parametres (Chomsky 1987) la grammaire est organisee autour des principes universels, communs a toutes les langues et faisant partie du dispositif biologique propre a lespece humaine, definissant la grammaire universelle. Cest grace a la grammaire universelle que lenfant, sans etre initie a la grammaire et a ses regles, arrive a produire des phrases grammaticales dans sa langue maternelle. 3 Il sagit notamment de lhypothese de la periode critique (voir Robertson 2002).
Tijana A{i}, Veran Stanojevi}, LEMPLOI DES TEMPS VERBAUX CHEZ LES LOCUTEURS
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1) Identifier les fautes typiques et les problemes principaux de lexpression du temps dans les differents types de discours des gastarbeiters. 2) Determiner le nombre minimal des temps verbaux pour pouvoir exprimer la reference temporelle et les relations temporelles entre evenements. 3) Decouvrir sil y a peut-etre des informateurs qui ont une maitrise excellente des temps verbaux du franais.
Mais pour comprendre et evaluer les resultas de nos analyses il est indispensable davoir une image claire de ce que nous entendons par systeme temporel du franais et, plus particulierement, les elements de ce systeme, a savoir les temps verbaux du franais.4 En tant quexpressions procedurales5 les temps verbaux donnent des instructions sur la maniere de localiser leventualite decrite par la phrase relativement a un point de perspective temporelle. Ce point de perspective temporelle peut etre le moment de la parole, mais aussi un moment situe avant ou apres ce moment. En franais parle, il y a deux sous-systemes temporels: le premier qui prend le moment de la parole comme point de perspective temporelle et qui comprend : le present, le passe compose et les futurs (le futur proche, le futur simple et le futur anterieur) et le deuxieme, organise autour dun moment situe avant le moment de la parole et comprenant limparfait, le plus-que-parfait et les conditionnels (present et passe). Leventualite peut donc etre vue comme etant valable au moment qui fonctionne comme point de perspective temporelle (le present et limparfait) ou comme lui precedant (le passe compose et le plus-que-parfait) ou bien comme lui etant posterieure (les futurs et les conditionnels). Un fait remarquable qui caracterise ces deux sous-systemes temporels du franais est quon ne peut trouver aucun temps verbal exprimant la posteriorite par rapport a un moment t qui serait soit posterieur, soit anterieur au point de perspective temporelle. Il ny a donc
4 Voir Stanojevi} / A{i} 2006, Moeschler et al. 1998, pour une analyse detaillee du systeme des temps verbaux en franais. 5 Nous renvoyons ici a la distinction entre information conceptuelle et information procedurale (Blakemore 1987). En effet au niveau du lexique on peut faire la distinction entre deux types dexpressions : 1. Expressions conceptuelles : classes des mots qui encodent des concepts. Ce sont les noms, les verbes, les adjectifs et certains types dadverbes. Il sagit des classes ouvertes. 2. Expressions procedurales : classes des mots qui encodent des procedures. Ce sont, entre autres, les prepositions, les connecteurs, les pronoms anaphoriques, les quantificateurs et les temps verbaux. Il sagit des classes fermees. Au niveau linguistique, les expressions procedurales sont representees par les mots ou morphemes qui servent a connecter ou modifier les expressions conceptuelles.
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pas de forme verbale particuliere pour exprimer la posteriorite dans le futur ni la posteriorite dans le passe.6 Pour exprimer ces deux relations temporelles le franais utilise les futurs et les conditionnels. Cependant, le franais connait les formes particulieres pour lexpression de lanteriorite relativement a un moment t situe avant le point de perspective temporelle, dans les deux sous-systemes. Ce sont les temps surcomposes. En dehors de linstruction temporelle concernant la localisation de leventualite decrite par la phrase relativement au point de perspective temporelle, les temps verbaux du franais expriment aussi des informations aspectuelles concernant la maniere denvisager leventualite. Ainsi limparfait presente leventualite comme etant non bornee dans le passe, alors que les autres temps du passe la presentent comme etant terminee. Par exemple, la difference entre Paul a ete malade et Paul etait malade nest pas temporelle mais aspectuelle. Alors que la phrase au passe compose implique que Paul nest plus malade au moment de la parole, on ne peut pas tirer la meme conclusion de la phrase a limparfait, ce qui veut dire que limparfait decrit bien un etat ou un evenement valable a un moment du passe, mais nexclue pas que leventualite se prolonge au point datteindre meme le moment de la parole.7 Cet effet de limparfait decoule de sa valeur aspectuelle. Certains temps verbaux donnent aussi des instructions sur lordre des eventualites introduites par une suite de phrases. Par exemple deux ou plusieurs phrases au passe simple expriment la progression temporelle8 qui implique un parallelisme entre lordre des evenement et lordre des phrases qui les decrivent. Le plus-que-parfait inverse lordre temporel, ce qui veut dire que leventualite quintroduit le plus-que-parfait doit etre situee avant leventualite precedemment introduite.9 En somme on peut dire que le systeme des temps verbaux en franais est assez complexe parce quun temps verbal en franais exprime non seulement linformation temporelle, mais aussi linformation aspectuelle et discursive (concernant lordre temporel).
6 Voir Co Vet 1980, pour une analyse detaillee de ce fait remarquable qui concerne non seulement le franais mais, semble-t-il, les langues naturelles en general. 7 Par exemple, la reponse a la question Ou est Abi ? peut etre : Tout a lheure elle etait dans son bureau et elle lisait. Elle est peut-etre toujours la. 8 Le discours suivant illustre la progression temporelle declenchee par une suite de phrases au passe simple : Paul rentra chez lui. Il prit une douche et dina. 9 Par exemple : Marie rentra chez elle. Elle avait vu Paul a lecole et elle etait tres emue.
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Il est bien connu en didactique du franais langue etrangere quenseigner les usages standard et non standard des temps verbaux en franais est un des plus grands defis pour les professeurs de cette langue. Meme les etudiants tres avances font des fautes et se mefient demployer certains temps verbaux. Il sensuit que dans lacquisition spontanee on ne pourrait pas du tout sattendre a une bonne maitrise du systeme des temps verbaux du franais.
3. Sur le terrain, les informateurs et la methode
Notre travail sur le terrain a ete effectue dans la Serbie de lest : a Boljevac, a Valakonje, un visage tout pres de Boljevac et dans les villages Urovica et Vidrovac situes aux alentours de Negotin. Nos informateurs sont tous des gastarbeiters de la premiere generation.10 Ils ont entre 45 et 70 ans. Ils sont de nationalite serbe, valaque ou tzigane mais ils ont tous une tres bonne maitrise du serbe.11 La majorite dentre eux vivent et travaillent en France depuis plus de vingt ans. Nous les avons rencontres dans leurs villages natals ou ils etaient venus pour passer leurs vacances. Mais nous avons egalement travaille avec ceux qui sont retournes en Serbie soit parce quils ont pris leur retraite, soit pour des raisons personnelles. Provenant des milieux tres defavorises, nos informateurs sont tous tres peu eduques, non- qualifies et travaillent / ont travaille en France comme simples ouvriers : maons, gardiens dimmeuble, techniciens de surface, auxiliaires de cuisine. Aucun dentre eux na ete scolarise en France et na jamais suivi un cours de franais ni en Serbie, ni en France. Voici la liste de nos informateurs, avec leurs initiales, leur sexe, age et nationalite : BP Valakonje homme 55 ans Valaque BoP Valakonje femme 50 ans Valaque MP Boljevac homme 70 ans Serbe MiP Boljevac femme 68 ans Serbe BM Boljevac femme 43 ans Serbe DjM Boljevac homme 46 ans Serbe DD Urovica homme 55 ans Tzigane DjP Urovica femme 58 ans Tzigane RD Urovica femme 50 ans Tzigane GJ Urovica femme 52 ans Tzigane
10 11
Sur la sociolinguistique des immigres voir Chambers 2003. Donc on peut dire que nos informateurs valaques et tziganes sont trilingues.
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RT JT SR MR RM
60 62 45 48 60
Quant aux methodes de recueillir les donnees pertinentes pour nos analyses, nous avons eu recours aux dialogue, narratifs mais aussi a un questionnaire cible sur lemploi des temps verbaux en franais. Il convient ici de donner quelques details sur ces trois manieres de recueillir des donnees et de constituer le corpus pour nos analyses. Ce que nous entendons par dialogue cest une conversation plus au moins spontanee menee avec nos informateurs ou nous les incitons a parler sur leur vie actuelle et leurs projets personnels pour lavenir. Il sagit de ce quon appelle en anglais participant observation method ou le chercheur prend part dans la conversation (voir Petrovi} 2006 : 152). Cette methode est bien appropriee pour tester lemploi du present, du passe compose resultatif,12 des temps du futur et du conditionnel. Durant les entretiens avec nos informateurs on leur a demande de nous raconter leur vie a letranger . Ils acceptaient tous avec enthousiasme de nous en parler ce qui montrait quils avaient un besoin psychologique enorme de nous parler non seulement des moments difficiles de leurs premieres annees a letranger, mais aussi de leur succes socio-economique ulterieur. On reviendra sur ce point dans la derniere section de cet article. Les narratifs sont (outre leur valeur socio et ethnolinguistique) une excellente source de donnees grammaticales dans le domaine de la temporalite: ils montrent comment nos gastarbeiters expriment les relations temporelles (lanteriorite, la simultaneite et la posteriorite) entre evenements dans le passe. Enfin, pour tester leur capacite a traduire les phrases du serbe nous avons fait un questionnaire13 contenant quinze phrases en serbe quil fallait traduire en franais. Bien evidemment, le questionnaire a ete formule de sorte quon y trouve differents temps verbaux avec leurs emplois differents. Ce qui est interessant cest quils ont tous accepte de traduire ces phrases bien que pour certains dentre eux cetait un exercice trop difficile. Et cela non seulement a cause de leur incompetence (ils narrivaient pas a traduire les phrases ou ils les ont mal traduites) mais aussi a cause de la specificite de lexercice. En effet, ils narrivaient pas a
12 Il sagit du passe compose qui sert a designer leventualite dont le resultat est pertinent au moment de la parole (p. ex. Je nai plus faim. Jai bien mange). 13 Voir lappendice 1 a la fin de ce travail.
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se distancier de leur propre vie pour se concentrer tout juste sur la traduction des phrases. Ils ne comprenaient pas que ce que lon voulait examiner netait pas leur experience personnelle mais leur competence linguistique. La demarche typique de nos gastarbeiters lors de laccomplissement de cette tache cetait de modifier le sens de loriginal en marquant la traduction de sa propre vision du monde. Nous presentons ci-dessous un exemple avec la traduction correcte en italique suivie de la traduction donnee par linformatrice SR de Urovica :
1) Svakog dana sam odlazila na posao. (Tous les jours jallais au travail.) Jy travaillais comme une esclave.
Notons aussi que linformateur peut refuser de traduire une phrase parce que, de par son experience personnelle, il considere la phrase a traduire comme fausse. Ainsi BP, un informateur de Valakonje na pas accepte de traduire la phrase suivante en expliquant quil ne pouvait pas mentir.
2) Moj gazda je bio bogat ~ovek. (Mon patron etait un homme riche.) Non, pas etait riche : cetait un voleur
De meme une phrase peut devenir une source de malentendus. Ainsi BP a demande des informations supplementaires avant de traduire la phrase en 3) ce qui a declenche toute une conversation sur le contenu de la phrase :
3) ]erka joj se udala pre godinu dana. (Sa fille sest mariee il y a un an.) DP : La fille de qui ? Nous : Dune femme, nimporte quelle femme. DP : Comment ? Je compris pas. NOUS : Par exemple de Milena. DP : Je connais pas Milena. Nous : Alors de Jelena. DP : Non, non Jelena pas de filles. Elle a deux fils.
Malgre ces problemes occasionnels, les questionnaires nous ont ete tres utiles et, en general, ils nous ont fait decouvrir deux choses: a) la competence linguistique de nos informateurs est plus grande quon ne sy sattendait; b) en depit de leurs problemes dexpression orale, ils ont accepte de traduire les phrases du questionnaire14 meme sils ont du improviser ou
14
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changer le contenu de la phrase, faute de connaissances suffisantes de la grammaire et du lexique franais. Voici, en 4) et en 5), deux traductions dont la premiere est de linformateur MP de Boljevac et la seconde de BP de Valakonje:
4) Stalno mu govorim da je kreten. (Je lui dis tous le temps quil est un cretin.) Le toujours de vulgaire et mechant.15 5) On bi `eleo da kupi skupa kola. (Il voudrait acheter une voiture chere) Une grande voulait acheter. 4. Les resultats de nos analyses
4.1 Remarques generales Dapres les analyses de notre corpus constitue par les dialogues, les narratifs et les reponses au questionnaire, on peut, grosso modo parler de deux types de resultats : A) Ceux qui montrent que le systeme des temps verbaux est dans une large mesure maitrise. Naturellement, on y trouve un certain nombre dirregularites qui ne destabilisent cependant pas le systeme. B) Ceux ou le systeme des temps verbaux est absent : les informateurs utilisent les formes verbales tres reduites en fait ces formes donnent presque uniquement linformation conceptuelle (ce que le verbe signifie lexicalement) et non procedurale (instruction temporelle et aspectuelle). Il est important de souligner ici que lon na pas trouve de cas intermediaires, a savoir une personne ayant une bonne competence dans un sous-domaine du systeme des temps verbaux et une mauvaise competence dans un autre. Rappelons que cette situation intermediaire caracterise typiquement lapprentissage institutionnalise des temps verbaux, cest-a-dire un apprentissage qui seffectue non pas dans une situation naturelle mais au moyen des regles de grammaire si bien que lapprenant peut bien maitriser par exemple les emplois du futur mais ignorer certains emplois de limparfait etc. 4.2 Sur le type A de nos resultats Les locuteurs dont les reponses sont classees comme etant du type A font dans leurs discours une distinction tres claire entre le present, le passe
15
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et futur. On peut y bel et bien parler dun systeme de temps verbaux qui se differencient par leur formes et valeurs. En effet, pour exprimer ce qui se passe au moment de la parole ou dans une actualite plus large ils emploient le present ; pour designer les evenements et les etats qui ont eu lieu dans le passe ils se servent du passe compose et de limparfait; finalement, pour referer a ce qui va se produire dans le futur ils utilisent soit le present (avec des adverbes designant des moments ou intervalles du futur) soit le futur proche. Le futur simple est rarement employe. En fait, nous avons remarque chez une seule informatrice (BoP) lemploi correct du futur simple et lopposition entre ce temps verbal et le futur proche :
6) L annee prochaine il nous quittera probablement. 7) Il va reussir. Jai pas de doute.
De plus, ce qui en franais standard s'exprime par le conditionnel (la possibilite, le desir, l'attenuation) dans cette variete du franais est exprime presque toujours par l'imparfait. Nous en donnons deux exemples (de BM, Boljevac et DjP de Urovica) :
8) Mon mari voulait cette annee acheter une voiture tres chere. 9) Je voulais aller au bord de la mer cet ete.
Il nest pas etonnant, etant donne la proximite semantique entre le futur simple et le conditionnel present, que BoP (la seule qui utilise le futur simple) utilise parfois le premier a la place du deuxieme :
10) Il voudra bien davoir une belle maison.
Notons que nous avons aussi trouve quelques cas ou le sens exprime par le conditionnel en franais standard est exprime par le futur proche. En voici un exemple de linformatrice DjP de lUrovica.
11) Il va aimer acheter une voiture
Quant aux temps du passe, il est a noter que certains effets aspectuels ne sont pas exprimes de maniere correcte : ainsi pour literation non-specifiee dans le passe cest le passe compose (au lieu de limparfait) qui est employe. A titre dexemple (DjP) :
12) Tous les jours jai fait menage dans cette ecole.
Cependant, quand ils veulent decrire les caracteristiques ou letat dun individu dans le passe, tous les informateurs du type A emploient limparfait. Citons un exemple du discours de linformateur DP, dUrovica :
13) Cette annee mon enfant etait tres malade.
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Le plus-que-parfait nest jamais utilise pour designer lanteriorite par rapport a un moment situe avant le moment de la parole et letat resultatif actuel a ce moment. Autrement dit, dans les phrases ou le plus-que-parfait doit etre employe on trouve habituellement le passe compose (voir lexemple 14 de MR, Urovica et lexemple 15 de BoP, Valakonje :
14) Alors il ma raconte quil a vecu en Allemagne et que 15) Quand je lai appele elle a deja termine son travail.
Il faut mentionner que lorsque le plus-que-parfait est employe (ce qui est tres rare) ce nest jamais un emploi correct (BM, Boljevac) :
16) Tous les jours jetais alle au travail.
Etant donne ce que lon vient de dire sur le plus-que-parfait, il nest pas etonnant que la concordance des temps ne fonctionne pas du tout quand il sagit de designer un evenement posterieur a un moment du passe. Donc au lieu du futur du passe (le conditionnel present) on emploie soit limparfait (DP, Urovica), soit le futur proche (MR, Urovica) :
17) En 1996 il a dit quil va retourner en Serbie lannee prochaine. 18) Elle a explique quelle ne venait plus nous voir. Elle etait tres fachee.
Le gerondif est rarement et mal employe. En effet ce nest jamais pour designer la simultaneite (comme par exemple dans la phrase : Il marchait en chantant) mais pour designer, incorrectement, la posteriorite (BoP, Valakonje) :
19) Il est entre la voiture en frappant la porte apres.
Finalement, il convient de mentionner que, nos informateurs ont eu beaucoup de mal a produire des phrases hypothetiques. En fait, ils ne les emploient quasiment pas dans leur discours (le dialogue et les narratifs) et lorsquils devaient traduire une phrase hypothetique en franais ils ny arrivaient pas du tout ou produisaient des phrases incorrectes. Par exemple, les phrases suivantes sont des exemples de lexpression incorrecte de lirreel dans le present (en 20) et dans le passe (en 21) :
20) Jaimerai bien encore en France si je serai un peu plus jeune.16 21) Cest un homme mechant. Sil veut vraiment te donner un coup de main alors, il a pu te telephoner.17
Comment explique le fait que meme ceux qui manient assez bien les temps verbaux du franais ont beaucoup de mal a produire des phrases
La traduction attendue etait : Je resterais encore en France si jetais plus jeune. La traduction attendue etait : Sil avait voulu vraiment te donner un coup de main, il taurait appele.
16 17
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hypothetiques correctes. Cest probablement du au fait que lexpression de lhypothese dans les langues naturelles est liee a des raisonnements modaux qui sont plus abstraits que les raisonnements temporels stricto sensu. Lexpression de lhypothese sous-entend lexpression des eventualites qui ne sont pas vraies dans notre monde mais dans ce quon appelle des mondes possibles. Cet eloignement de notre propre monde est beaucoup plus difficile a maitriser linguistiquement que la production des enonces referant a notre actualite, y compris notre actualite passee et future. Enfin disons que la modalite epistemique (exprimee par la phrase ]erka mu se izgleda udala18 qui figure dans notre questionnaire) n'a pas ete correctement traduite en franais par la plupart de nos informateurs. Cependant la traduction suivante (de SR, Urovica) a particulierement attire notre attention :
22) Sa fille presque sest mariee.
Dans cette phrase lemploi de presque donne plutot linformation aspectuelle Sa fille a failli se marier cest-a-dire elle indique ce quon appelle limminence contrecarree de laction .19 Cela montre que linformateur est conscient que la phrase en serbe contient une idee autre que la realisation effective de laction, mais il nest pas capable de lexprimer correctement en franais tout comme lexpression d'autres idees modales tels que le potentiel et lirreel. 4.3 Sur le type B de nos resultats Certains informateurs nont manifestement pas du tout acquis le systeme des temps verbaux. Ils utilisent soit linfinitif, soit le present, soit le participe passe (parfois meme limparfait) et cela de maniere aleatoire. Il convient de preciser cela : sils utilisent des formes verbales cest uniquement pour nommer laction, cest-a-dire pour renvoyer a des concepts (comme vivre, aller, travailler). Dans leurs varietes du franais les desinences verbales ne servent pas a situer les evenements dans le temps. Ce sont des formes figees qui nont pas de valeurs procedurales et qui nentrent pas en opposition lune avec lautre. Ainsi, on trouve dans une seule phrase des combinaisons tout a fait impossibles (les trois exemples ci-dessous sont de BP de Valakonje) :20
Il semble (il parait) que sa fille sest mariee. La realisation de laction a ete imminente dans le passe, mais ne s'est pas produite pour des raisons que la phrase ne communique pas. 20 Il faut preciser une chose ici: dans ce travail nous analysons uniquement les fautes liees a lexpressions des temps verbaux. Nous ne nous arretrons pas sur les autres
19 18
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22) Moi pas trouve un travail ici, je retourne en France en 1980, je faire beaucoup de choses. 23) Comme travaille 3 mois sans payer, dis partir demain. 24) Le vieil patron sappelait Jean; Il disait a moi signe contrat pour six mois.21
Dans lexemple 22) qui devrait designer une suite devenements dans le passe, on a le participe passe, suivi du present, suivi de linfinitif. Dans 23), on a le participe passe dans la subordonnee causale et le present dans la principale. Enfin dans lexemple 24) nous avons la forme figee (et correcte) que lon trouve chez tous les informateurs (X sappelait),22 suivi de limparfait du verbe dire pour nommer un evenement dans le passe et du complement de ce verbe qui, au lieu detre a linfinitif, a ete mis au present.23 En voici un autre exemple (tire du discours de MP, Boljevac) qui atteste lemploi tout a fait aleatoire des temps verbaux. Il sagit une fois de plus dune suite devenements dans le passe :
25) Venir en France. Travaillais/ travaille beaucoup. Puis retourne ici.
Pour exprimer la simultaneite dune activite et dun etat dans le passe,24 MP se sert dune forme qui peut etre comprise comme limparfait ou le participe passe qui est suivi du present :
26) Le25 travaillais toute la journee. Mais le vis bien.
Il nest pas etonnant que ce locuteur utilise les meme formes verbales pour referer a ce qui se passe dans lactualite :
27) Maintenant le travaille tres peu. Mais le vis bien a Boljevac avec sa femme.
Parfois on ne peut pas savoir si le locuteur (cest le cas de BP, MP, MiP, GJ ou JT) a employe linfinitif, limparfait ou le participe passe (comme dans cette phrase tiree du discours de JT) :
28) Li parlE arrivE a la Yougoslavie lannee prochaine.
types de fautes, concernant lemploi des pronoms, des articles, des prepositions, lordre des mots, les accords etc. 21 Pour que nos lecteurs aient une idee plus claire des narratifs de ce type (ou il ny a quasiment pas dinstruction concernant la reference temporelle) nous donnons dans lappendice 2 le transcript dune partie du narratif de BP. 22 Bien evidemment il sagit dune forme verbale (limparfait du verbe sappeller) que lon entend tres souvant et quil est tres vite apprise. 23 La phrase correcte serait: Il ma dit de signer le contrat pour six mois. 24 Nous renvoyons ici a lontologie de Vendler (1957). 25 Rappelons que pour MP le / lo signifie je.
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Tous cela montre que chez les locuteurs du type B le systeme des temps verbaux du franais nexiste pas. Naturellement on y trouve aussi des phrases averbales, comme celle prononcee par MiP de Boljevac :
29) Deja Madame fatiguee ? (Voudrez une Orangina ?)
Il sagit en fait dune question posee par MiP a T. A{i}, un des auteurs de cet article. Ajoutons que pour renvoyer a un etat (p. ex. etre malade) qui a dure un certain temps dans le passe MiP emploie le present du verbe avoir et non pas limparfait ou le passe compose du verbe etre.
30) En 1995 il a femme malade.
Cela suggere que pour MiP le morpheme a a une valeur temporelle indeterminee et fonctionne non seulement comme marquer du present, mais aussi comme marqueur du passe et du futur. Lexemple 31), prononce par MiP, illustre cet emploi du morpheme a pour le futur :
31) Ma petite fille a bientot mariee. Le mois prochain.
Disons que bien quici il sagisse dun mauvais emploi (dun point de vue morphologique et semantique), qui est une consequence de lincompetence linguistique de linformatrice, il nest pas rare dentendre en franais les enonces ou le passe compose est utilise pour referer a des evenements futurs (p. ex. Jai termine dans dix secondes). Cependant de tels emplois sont marques epistemiquement en ce sens que laction future est vue comme certaine ou du moins comme intentionnelle au moment de la parole (voir Stanojevi} / A{i} 2006 : 63). Cest donc la certitude epistemique qui legitime un tel emploi du passe compose en franais standard. Venons-en maintenant a une chose qui nous semble cruciale dans lanalyse des discours du type B. Elle ne concerne pas leur forme, a savoir la presence de fautes syntaxiques graves. Elle concerne le fait indeniable que la communication avec ces informateurs fonctionne dans une certaine mesure. Cela signifie que malgre labsence dinstructions temporelles dans les phrases considerees il est quand meme (dans la plupart des cas) possible de situer les evenements dans le temps et meme de reconstruire lordre temporel des evenements. La question logique qui se pose est la suivante : Comment est-ce possible ? On va essayer maintenant de repondre a cette question. Dans ce travail nous sommes partis de lidee que la communication netait pas seulement une affaire de code mais aussi dinference : grace aux facteurs contextuelles il est possible dinferer le sens dun enonce meme sil est incomplet / non-sature semantiquement. Essayons declaircir cela. Selon Sperber / Wilson 1986: 20 les enonces sont sous-determinees lin-
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guistiquement. Cela signifie que, dans le processus de linterpretation des enonces, participent aussi des informations contextuelles26 et non seulement ce qui est dit dans lenonce (voir Moeschler / Reboul 2004: 50). Essayons dexpliquer cela : le sens dun enonce est construit non seulement a partir de son contenu semantique mais aussi grace au traitement pragmatique. Ainsi, linterpretation des enonces se fait-elle en deux etapes : le module linguistique de notre esprit27 fournit une interpretation linguistique (la forme logique) qui sert dinput au systeme central, lequel fournira une interpretation complete. Disons que la forme logique se definit comme une suite structuree de concepts et nest quune representation semantique partielle du sens de lenonce. Or, linterpretation de lenonce ne sarrete pas a la forme logique. Le traitement pragmatique doit attribuer un referent aux variables. Soit, par exemple, lenonce : Mon fils est ici. On doit comprendre qui est mon fils, cest-a-dire qui est la personne qui est le fils du locuteur de la phrase et ou se trouve le locuteur. Cependant, comme ces informations sont de nature deictique elles varient obligatoirement en fonction de la situation de communication. Autrement dit, linterpretation finale de lenonce (a savoir la forme propositionnelle) est obtenue seulement lorsque la forme logique est enrichie par des informations contextuelles. Sans cela lenonce est trop vague et par consequent tres peu informatif. Dans le cas particulier de linterpretation des temps verbaux cela signifie que la reference temporelle dun enonce nest pas donnee une fois pour toutes par le temps verbal, mais elle est aussi bien calculee a partir des informations contextuelles. A titre dexemple, dans lenonce Je vais a lecole, le present peut referer au moment de la parole mais aussi, si lenonce est la reponse a une question du type Que fais-tu demain ? a un moment dans lavenir. Mais que se passe-t-il lorsque, comme dans le cas des enonces du type B, linformation temporelle nest pas du tout encodee par les temps verbaux.28 Dans ce cas specifique la reference temporelle des evenements et les relations temporelles entre evenements doivent etre cherchees ailleurs :
26 Le contexte, dans son sens pragmatique, est lensemble des propositions que le destinataire considere comme vraies ou probablement vraies et qui, conjointement a la forme logique de lenonce, constituent les premisses utilisees dans le processus inferentiel de linterpretation. Elles proviennent de sources differentes : linterpretation des enonces precedents (les informations qui se trouvent dans la memoire a moyen terme), la situation de communication (il sagit des donnees perceptives tirees de celle-ci) et le savoir encyclopedique auquel on a acces a travers les concepts. 27 Nous renvoyons ici a lapproche modulaire de Fodor 1986. 28 Repetons encore une fois que dans les discours du type B les temps verbaux ne servent pas a encoder linformation proceduerale temporelle.
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a) soit dans le sens des adverbes/locutions adverbiales employes dans la phrase (p. ex. demain, hier, en 1987, dans un mois, il y a deux ans etc.) qui indiquent clairement ou il faut situer les evenement; b) soit elles doivent etre inferees a partir des informations contextuelles (y compris nos connaissances du monde et nos capacites inferentielles). En somme, le processus dinterpretation des discours temporels du type B depend non seulement de nos connaissance linguistiques mais aussi (voire plus) de nos capacite cognitives. Tout cela souligne le role crucial de la pragmatique dans la communication et notamment dans les cas ou lexpression est deformee et tres reduite .29 4.4 Comment expliquer les differences entre le type A et le type B ? Il nest pas facile de repondre a cette question. En effet, il sagit dune problematique assez complexe mettant en jeu un grand nombre de facteurs. Car, comme Perdue (1993: 7) le signale a juste titre, le degre tres different de maitrise de la deuxieme langue est une des caracteristiques les plus saillantes des personnes qui ne lont pas apprise de maniere systematique. Il y en a qui sarretent a un niveau tres elementaire et il y en a dautres qui parviennent a une competence linguistique proche de celle des locuteurs natifs. Perdu (idem) explique quon peut se demander sil sagit la des processus dacquisition qualitativement differents (dun cote ceux qui donnent dexcellents resultats et, de lautre cote, ceux dont les effets sont tres deficients), ou bien dun seul type de processus dacquisition qui, dans certains cas sarrete tres vite et dans dautre continue et atteint de tres hauts niveaux de competence linguistique. Un des plus grands defis pour la sociolinguistique et la pragmatique est de trouver les causes de ces differences. Quant a nos informateurs du type A et du type B, il faut souligner quentre eux il ny a pas de differences importantes en ce qui concerne leur education, le type de travail quil font et leur niveau economique. A notre avis lexplication des differences devrait se baser sur trois groupes de facteurs :30
29 Voici un autre example de ce que Perdue (1993: 9) appelle la reconstruction du sens : une personne qui apprenait lallemand de maniere spontanee a voulu dire mets le cendrier dans la boite mais fautes de connaissances linguistiques elle a construit lenonce suivant: Aschenbecher Tasche . Bien que la phrase produite est incomplete (averbale) son interlocuteur, grace aux informations contextuelles a ete capable de reconstruire le sens de lenonce et de linterpreter comme designant un ordre. 30 Pour une analyse detaillee des facteurs qui jouent un role dans lacquisition et lapprentissages des langues (voir Dornyei 2001 et Bhatia 2006).
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I) La disposition linguistique innee (ce que lon appelle dans la langue ordinaire le talent pour les langues ). Il est clair que certains individus, grace a des capacites de leur memoire et/ou le niveau de leur intelligence verbale (a savoir les differences dans leur module linguistique au sens fodorien) et/ou les caracteristique psychologique (comme le fait detre extroverti et eloquent) ou grace a dautre facteurs mentaux, apprennent les langes etrangeres plus facilement que les autres. II) La propension, le facteur qui englobe plusieurs choses : le besoin de communiquer dans un pays etranger, le besoin de parler bien, lattitude positive ou negative envers la culture et la langue etrangeres, la motivation psychologique, lesprit competitif, labsence ou la presence de la peur de communiquer dans une langue etrangere etc. III) Lexposition a la deuxieme langue et cela non seulement dun point de vue quantitatif (nombre dheures par jour ou la personne ecoute et/ou parle une langue etrangere) mais aussi dun point de vue qualitatif, ce qui veut dire que dun cote limmigre peut etre expose au franais standard ou a des varietes non standard du franais et, de lautre cote, les personnes avec lesquels il est le plus souvent en contact utilisent soit une forme simplifiee et reduite de la langue ( foreigner talk ) soit le haut registre du franais. A la fin de cette section nous allons presenter brievement le cas de la famille M de Boljevac. Il sagit dune famille tres interessante du point de vue de la maniere quasi impeccable de sexprimer en franais meme sils nont vecu en France que six annees (de 1973 a 1979). DjM nous a impressionne par sa facilite incroyable de sexprimer en franais en faisant tres peu de fautes. Non seulement il parle bien mais il est capable de donner son opinion sur quasiment tous les aspects de la vie quotidienne des Franais. La France, disait-t-il, est sa deuxieme patrie. Cest de la que viendrait sa principale motivation a apprendre une langue qui lui etait dabord tout a fait etrangere (il ne lavait jamais appris a lecole) et cela a lage adulte (a lepoque ou il etait parti pour la premiere fois en France il avait dans les 20 ans). Son epouse BM parle aussi tres bien franais et ne montre pas moins denthousiasme vis-a-vis la culture et la civilisation franaises. Tous les deux essaient a tout prix de conserver leurs liens avec la France: ils y vont regulierement (avec leurs enfants) pour voir leurs amis mais aussi pour admirer, comme nous la dit DjM, lart de vivre a la franaise . Dans leurs enonces on a trouve des elements de ce que lon
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appelle le discours nostalgique : pour eux la France est un Eldorado et les annees passees en France sont les plus belles annees de leur vie. 4.5 Perspectives Il faudrait faire, a partir dun corpus beaucoup plus grand, une analyse comparative des resultats obtenus sur trois echantillons de gastarbeiters selon la langue maternelle (le valaque, le serbe et le tzigane) et examiner a quel point la structure du systeme temporel de leur langue maternelle influence leur maitrise du systeme des temps verbaux en franais et particulierement lemergence des emplois fautifs de certains temps verbaux. Pour le moment, dans notre corpus, nous navons pas remarque de differences significatives dans la maitrise des temps verbaux par nos informateurs en fonction de leur langue maternelle. Autrement dit, chez les Serbes, tout comme chez les Valaques ou les Tziganes on trouve des informateurs du type A et type B. Une autre chose semble assez interessante: on pourrait etudier chez les immigres de la deuxieme generation (les enfants de nos gastarbeiters, qui sont scolarises en France et qui ont une maitrise excellente de cette langue) lemploi des temps verbaux dans leur langue maternelle le serbe, le valaque et le tzigane. Il est a noter quils ne sexpriment pas toujours facilement dans leur langue maternelle31 et que certains dentre eux preferent parler franais meme avec leurs parents. Il faudrait comparer ces resultats avec les resultas de cette recherche et en tirer des conclusions.
5. Quelques observations sociolinguistiques liees a cette recherche
La langue est sans aucun doute un des elements fondamentaux de lidentite individuelle et collective. Il nest pas surprenant que dans les discours analyses nous avons trouve un assez grand nombre de marqueurs d'ideologie linguistique, a savoir des marqueurs de points de vue d'une communaute ethnolinguistique sur les differents codes qu'elle emploie (voir Jaffe 1999: 15). De plus, en ecoutant leurs narratifs on se fait une image de leur identites sociale et culturelle dans leur nouveau pays et des problemes quils rencontrent en France mais aussi en Serbie, lorsquils y
31 Ce phenomene sociolinguistique est connu sous le nom de perte de langue maternelle en situation demigration . En effet, il sagit dun processus comprenant trois etapes (Filipovi} 1985: 90): la premiere phase dite monolinguistique est celle ou les immigres se servent uniquement de leur langue maternelle. La deuxieme phase est caracterisee par le bilinguisme des immigres et la troisieme par le monolinguisme les immigres oublient completement leur langue maternelle et se servent exclusivement de la langue de leur nouveau pays. Les trois phases correspondent plus au moins aux trois generations dimmigres.
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reviennent.32 Dans tous les narratifs que nous avons enregistres on ressent un besoin psychologique enorme de parler de soi et de son passe dur et interessant cela semble plus pertinent pour nos informateurs que leurs projets pour lavenir. On peut dire quil y a un parallelisme entre ladaptation socio-psychologique et linguistique: A leur premiere venue en France les gastarbeiters rencontrent trois problemes majeurs: 1) le travail trop dur et exigeant ; 2) accepter une culture differente et un nouveau mode de vie ; 3) apprendre une nouvelle langue. Avec le temps, ces trois defis deviennent moins difficiles a gerer. Nos informateurs ont quasiment tous une certaine conscience metalinguistique : ils font des commentaires sur les types de situations ou ils parlent franais et les types de situations ou ils communiquent en Serbe. Ils comprennent le besoin et limportance de bien parler la langue du pays ou ils vivent et travaillent, quoique pour certains ce nest pas une question existentielle. Toutefois, ils insistent tous sur le fait que la maitrise complete du franais est pour eux un ideal trop difficile et intellectuellement trop demandant qui ne sera jamais atteint. Une chose est claire : le degre dappreciation de la culture et la societe franaise influence leffort personnel pour ameliorer le franais. En revanche, le sentiment detre isole a letranger aboutit a une sorte dindifference envers la maitrise du franais. Malgre leur difficultes dexpression, parler franais (dapres notre propre experience avec nos informateurs) est pour eux une chose agreable. Ils montrent un plaisir quand ils le font et se sentent fiers de leur competence linguistique, notamment en Serbie. Cest parce que la vie en France leur a apporte beaucoup de bien et ce succes est reflete dans leur attitude envers la langue franaise. Meme ceux qui ne font aucun effort pour ameliorer leur franais sont fiers du fait que cet ideal est realise par leurs enfants (la deuxieme generation dimmigres scolarisee en France). Il est tres important de souligner que les gastarbeitrs ninsistent pas a tout prix de preserver chez leurs enfants la langue maternelle. Cela est juge important mais moins important que les benefices et les avantages de lassimilation dans la societe franaise. Comme dans tous les cas du bilinguisme (voir Petrovi} 2006: 61 ; Auer 1998: 85) la variete linguistique utilisee par nos informateurs est caracterisee par les phenomenes dalternance des codes (code switching) et par le melange des codes (code mixing). Le premier phenomene peut etre defini comme la succession rapide de plusieurs langues ou dialectes dans un seul evenement communicatif (Muysken 2000: 1). Lalternance
32 Sur les divers problemes dadaptation linguistique et culturelle des immigres voir Heinz 2001.
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des codes est surtout presente dans la communication avec les enfants entre eux-memes les gens ages parlent dans leur langue maternelle, sauf dans les cas ou ils veulent montrer le prestige (par exemple en presence de leurs voisins qui nont jamais travaille a letranger). Pour eux parler franais cest comme conduire une voiture chere une faon de se faire valoir. Le melange de codes existe en serbe quand les gastarbeiters emploient les mots franais lies a leur travail en France, ladministration ou les soins medicaux. Les deux enonces suivants sont tire du discours de RM, de Vidrovac :
32) On je na {omazu. Il est au chomage. 33) Izvadila sam apendis u Parizu. Je me suis fait enlever lappendice a Paris.
Le melange de codes existe aussi en franais lorsque les gastarbeiters parlent des coutumes du pays dorigine ou des choses liees a leur vie en Serbie avant daller en France (voir lenonce 34 de MR, dUrovica et 35 de BP, de Valakonje) :
34) Ils vont organiser une grande svadba (fete de mariage). 35) Je parti avec cinq razreda decole. (razred = annee decole)
Parfois le code mixing apparait de maniere aleatoire comme dans le cas de cette enonce produit par SR, dUrovica :
36) Entrer a kola et fermer la porte. (kola = voiture)
Ce qui est interessant cest que nous avons aussi trouve dans notre corpus plusieurs cas du melange de code grammatical. Il sagit des enonces ou le locuteur, faute de connaissances en grammaire franaise, utilise les structures de sa langue maternelle. Nous en citons deux exemples (le premier est de RM et le deuxieme de MP) :
37) Sil voulait vous aider, on bi vous le dira. Sil voulait vous aider il vous le dirait. 38) Mon patron la tres riche, i bio i bi}e riche. (il lest et il le sera) Mon patron etait tres riche. Il lest encore et il le sera.
Dans lexemple 37 le locuteur ne savait pas exprimer lidee de nonactualisation dans le present si bien quau lieu dutiliser le conditionnel du verbe dire en franais il a utilise laoriste de lauxiliaire etre (on bi) qui, en serbe, sert a former le conditionnel.33 Dans lexemple 38, le locuteur
33 Par exemple On bi hteo jagoda. Il voudrait des fraises. (hteo est le participe passe du verbe hteti voulour).
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voulait insister sur le fait que son patron avait ete riche dans le passe et le serait aussi dans lavenir ; cependant il na pas utilise le passe compose et le futur de lauxiliaire etre en franais mais en serbe. Les discours de nos informateurs ne sont pas seulement caracterises par la presence du code-switching et code-mixing, qui sont les moyens typiques de realisation de la metapragmatique implicite (voir Lucy 1993: 17, Petrovi} 2006: 93), mais aussi ce quon appelle le disours metapragmatique , qui est la realisation explicite de la fonction metalinguistique. Le locuteur y refere directement aux evenements communicatifs et meme fait ses propres analyses linguistiques. Ainsi, nous avons entendu plusieurs observations sur la structure et les soi-disant regles grammaticales du franais, dont nous citions la plus interessante (MP, Boljevac) :
39) Le franais a trois verbes: MON, TON, SON.
Outre ces analyses pseudo-linguistiques on trouve dans leurs discours beaucoup dexpressions dattitudes sur la beaute du franais et la fonction expressive de cette langue Pour eux cest une langue de courtoisie, damour, delegance, dhedonisme, de culture, de politesse. Voici ce que dit DjM a propos du franais :
40) Quand je parle franais je me sens differemment, comme quelquun qui a une grande culture et beaucoup de manieres.
Les hommes insistent sur le fait que le franais est la langue ideale quand on veut faire la cour a une femme ou bien montrer sa politesse et ses bonnes manieres. Nous citons encore une fois MP qui se prononce a ce sujet :
41) Ma femme fachee lo parler franais a elle.34 Lo dis : Mon tresor !
A la fin de cette section nous tenons a mentionner un phenomene assez amusant. Pour la majorite de nos informateurs le fait de parler franais couramment, sans accent etranger et sans faire de fautes correspondait au fait detre franais . Ceci dit, nous etions pour eux Franais et malgre nos clarifications ils ne voulaient pas accepter le fait que nous sommes Serbes et que nous vivons et travaillons en Serbie. Par consequent, ils nous expliquaient des choses liees a la culture et lhistoire serbe et insistaient a tout prix que lon goute de leau de vie de prune. De meme certains dentre eux nous consideraient comme arbitres linguistiques et sefforaient de parler bien avec nous. Nous avons entendu un nombre de cas dauto correction ou de corrections des autres participants dans la
34 MP voulait dire que lorsque sa femme est fachee il sadresse a elle en franais pour lamadouer.
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communication (meme si les corrections netaient pas toujours bonnes comme dans la phrase suivante, prononcee par MP) :
42) Non, Milka pas dire enter a Serbie ; lo dire arriver dans Serbie .
6. Conclusion Le discours des gastarbeiters est une source precieuse dinformations linguistiques, sociolinguistiques et socio- psychologiques. En ce qui concerne son importance pour les recherches semantiques portant sur la temporalite le discours des gastarbeiters nous permet didentifier non seulement les parametres pertinents pour une approche minimaliste de la temporalite mais aussi les temps verbaux quon peut considerer comme semantiquement fondamentaux. On peut constater aussi que le discours des gasterbeiters est precieux pour la pragmatique en ce quil montre sa puissance explicative. En effet il savere que ce qui est encode linguistiquement de maniere procedurale peut etre reconstruit pragmatiquement meme dans des enonces tres reduits et malformes. Finalement, il serait utile denvisager lapplication de certains de nos resultats dans la didactique du FLE (franais langue etrangere). Il sagit notamment des decisions pedagogiques que lenseignant aurait a prendre en ce qui concerne le primat a accorder a certains temps verbaux sans lesquelles une communication minimale serait impossible. Il est a souligner que certains de nos resultats, comme cest le cas de la competence linguistique quasi parfaite de la famille Milo{evi} de Boljevac, ebranlent la these selon laquelle la grammaire, en loccurrence les regles demploi des temps verbaux en franais, ne peut pas etre apprise spontanement, mais seulement a laide des methodes didactiques. Enfin, cette recherche temoigne du role crucial de la motivation dans le processus de lacquisition et de lapprentissage des langues etrangeres.
References
Auer 1998 P. Auer: Code-Switching in Conversation, London: Routledge. Bhatia 2006 T. K. Bhatia: Bilingualism and Second Language Learning, Encyclopedia of Linguistics, Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. 1622. Blakemore1987 D. Blakemore: Semantic Constraints on Relevance, Oxford: Blackwell. Bugarski 1996 R. Bugarski: Jezik u dru{tvu, Beograd: ^igoja {tampa XX vek. Chambers 2003 J. K. Chambers: Sociolinguistics of immigration, in Social Dialectology, ed. David Britain and Jenny Cheshire, Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 97114. Chambers 1995 J. K. Chambers: Sociolinguistic Theory: Linguistic Variation and its Social Significance, Oxford Cambridge: Blackwell Publishing.
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Chomsky 1975 N. Chomsky: Reflections of Language, New York: Pantheon Books. Chomsky 1987 N. Chomsky: La nouvelle syntaxe, Paris: Seuil. Dornyei 2001 Z. Dornyei: Teaching and Researching Motivation, England: Pearson Education Limited. Filipovi} 1985 R. Filipovi}: Sociolingvisti~ki uvjeti o~uvanja konavaoskog dijalekta u Watsonvilleu (SAD), Hrvatski dijalektolo{ki zbornik 7/1, Zagreb, 8997. Fodor 1986 J. Fodor: La modularite de lesprit, Paris: Minuit. Heinz 2001 B. Heinz: Fish in the river: Experiences of bicultural bilingual speakers, Multilingua 20, 85108. Jaffe 1999 A. Jaffe: Ideologies in Action: Language Politics on Corsica, Berlin New York: Mouton de Gruyter. Lucy 1993 J. A. Lucy (ed.): Reflexive Language: Reported Speech and Metapragmatics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Moeschler et al. 1998 J. Moeschler et al.: Le temps des evenements, Paris: Kime. Moeschler / Reboul 1994 J. Moeschler, A. Reboul: Dictionnaire Encyclopedique de Pragmatique, Paris: Seuil. Muysken 2000 P. Muysken: Bilingual Speech. A Typology of Code-Mixing, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Perdue 1993 C. Perdue (ed.): Adult Language Acquisition: Cross-Linguistic Perspectives, Cambridge: CUP. Petrovi} 2006 T. Petrovi}: Srbi u Beloj Krajini: jezi~ka ideologija i proces zamene jezika, doktorska disertacija Univerzitet u Ljubljani. Riegel / Pellat / Rioul 1994 M. Riegel J-C. Pellat, R. Rioul: Grammaire methodique du franais, Paris: Presses. Universitaires de France. Pp. xxiii, 646. 298 FF. Robertson 2002 P. Robertson: The critical age hypothesis. A critique of research methodology, The Asian EFL Journal 4/1. http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/ marcharticles_pr.php Sperber / Wilson 1986 D. Sperber, D. Wilson: Relevance. Communication and Cognition, Oxford: Blackwell. Stanojevi} / A{i} 2006 V. Stanojevi}, T. A{i}: Semantika i pragmatika glagolskih vremena u francuskom jeziku, Kragujevac: FILUM. Vendler 1957 Z. Vendler: Verbs and times, Philosophical Review 56, 143160. Vet 1980 C. Vet: Temps, aspects et adverbes de temps en franais contemporain. Essai de semantique formelle, Geneve: Droz.
Appendice 1
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2) Svakog dana sam odlazio na posao. Chaque jour/tous les jours jallais au travail/boulot. 3) Moj gazda je bio bogat covek. Mon patron etait un homme riche. 4) Rekao je da je u Francusku do{ao 1980. Il a dit quil etait venu en France en 1980. 5) Rekao je da }e se u Srbiju vratiti slede}e godine. Il a dit quil rentrerait/reviendrait/retournerait en Serbie lannee prochaine. 6) Pro{le godine je rekao da mu je `ena bolesna. Lannee derniere, il a dit que sa femme etait malade. 7) Radio je ceo dan. Il a travaille toute la journee. 8) ]erka mu se izgleda udaje. Il semble (il parait) que sa fille se marie. / Sa fille se marie, semble-t-il (parait-il)/ Sa fille se marierait. 9) Tada mu ja ka`em da je kreten. Alors/a ce moment-la je lui dit quil est cretin (que lui, il est cretin/ que lui, cest un cretin). 10) Stalno mu govorim da je kreten. Je lui dit sans cesse/tout le temps quil est cretin. / Je lui repete tout le temps quil est . On udje u kola i zatvori vrata. Il est entre dans la voiture et il a ferme la porte. Tada se ve} bila udala. Alors elle setait deja mariee. On bi `eleo da kupi skupa kola. Il voudrait/aimerait acheter une voiture chere. Ostao bih jo{ u Francuskoj da sam mladji. Je resterais encore en F si jetais plus jeune. Da je hteo da ti pomogne, javio bi se. Sil avait voulu taider, il taurait telephone/appele/contacte.
Appendice 2
Une partie du narratif de BP, Valakonje Arrive en France soixante douze vingt quatre avril par Biro Rada Kru{evac. France travaillE trente ans jusqua deux mille deux. Donc il
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travaille non je parti comme maon dici pas decole je suis pris par ecole de Kru{evac avec quatre razred ecole. Comme a je fais contact ici pour travailler six mois a la France pour cinq francs par lheure. Cille je touche ici, je travaillE la brique je fais a peu pres cent mille briques par annee pour construire la maison : je comptais pouvoir il y a ici qui construit la maison cent briques par metres carres. Non la bas je parti je travaille comme photographe comme je travaille photographe ici passe parti professionnel qui fait le touche negative. Je passe pour gagner permis pour photographie. Essaye la bas a Kru{evac mais pouvais pas et comme maon parti a la France. Mon oncle travaillE en Allemagne donc en Allemagne par lettre de garantie je sais pas comment pas meme envoye la lettre je tirais beaucoup de gars qui arrivent la bas meme gratuite partir dici. Non ce est mon probleme que je parti dici. Comme cest marie la maison de femme; bagarre avec mon pere et comme sest divorce avec la premiere femme pour je sauve je parti. Il y a un gosse avec ma premiere femme et a cest la deuxieme femme. Et comme a je dis je pas trouve ici ; pas restE a la maison de mon pere; jecoute par la poste Radio Kru{evac on dit : nous on cherche le gars pour specialiser pour maon pour la France .
FOREIGN LANGUAGE POLICY: THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO TODAY
Abstract: The policy of teaching foreign languages has always been dominated by certain political and economic factors. In Serbia and Montenegro, language policy has been rarely based on clear decisions and strategies. On the other hand, such policies could be deducted from the decisions of supervised institutions, as well as from the demands and responses of the social environment to its necessities. In Serbia, French and German were studied until 1945, then, one decade after the Second World War, Russian was predominant, henceforth English. In addition, in Montenegro Italian was studied because of historical and cultural links between Montenegro and Italy, as well as because of the Italian occupation of Montenegro. As for learning Italian within the modern educational framework in Serbia, it has been connected to the specifics of the language itself in the field of music (in music schools), while the Italian language at the university level has been mainly related to philology and humanities at the Department of the Italian Language and Literature, which was established in Belgrade 75 years ago. The role of Italian in Serbia along with the motivation in studying this language has been changing for 20 years. Besides traditional reasons in studying the language, such as cultural reasons, some other motives have been noticed. They are related to the constant political and cultural links including economic ones partially preserved during the recent political crisis. In addition, these reasons include modern events and motivations, such as emigration to Italy (Po`arevac) and demands for employees (Vr{ac, Kragujevac). Italian is the fifth language on the scale consisting of six languages taught in schools in Montenegro (since the school year 19921993, the total number of enrolled students has been estimated to 12,000). In Serbia, Italian has been studied since the school year 20012002.
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Key words: Language policy in Serbia and Montenegro, teaching foreign languages, Italian as a foreign language
Describing the European linguistic diversity as the diversity of the linguistically poorest continent, Tove Skutnabb-Kangas (2002) explains:
The latest count of both living and many known but extinct languages of Europe (Price, 2000) gives some 275 languages (and more than half of these are in the former USSR). If we discount recent immigrants and count only the autochthonous languages, we have only some 3% of the world spoken languages.
The top ten languages in the world in terms of number of speakers (Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Bengali, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, German, Wu Chinese) account for approximately half of the worlds population but they represent only 0.100.15% of the worlds spoken languages. Five of them are spoken in Europe (Spanish, English, Portuguese, Russian and German), even if the bulk of the speakers of Spanish, English and Portuguese are in other parts of the world. The Italian language occupies the 19th place according to the number of speakers, with approximately 70 million speakers (Baker & Eversley 2000). Although the number of speakers is not big, there is an interesting correspondence between the two forms of migrations, the traditional economic ones, and the modern tourist ones, motivated by the increase in financial resources of individuals. The concept of social usefulness of one language is based on different dimensions: social interaction, intercultural exchanges but also the teaching of the language. Why is Italian, after English, the most popular language in this area (Vu~o 2003)? The attractiveness of a language depends on its usefulness: instrumental usefulness guided by everyday communicative interaction and cultural usefulness makes a language become an evolutional instrument of an individual. The presence of one language on a certain territory is hardly connected with the historical, social, political, cultural and other contacts and influences. The policy of learning foreign languages has always been dominated by certain political and economic factors. In Serbia and in Montenegro, language policy has been rarely based on clear decisions and strategies. On the other hand, such policies could be deducted from the decisions of supervised institutions, as well as from demands and responses of the social environment to its necessities.
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Foreign language education policies have been for decades systematically defined completely independent from general language education policies. Their presence in the Serbian educational system is guaranteed by the laws on education of the Ministry of Education and Sport of the Republic of Serbia. Foreign languages in Serbia Foreign language education in Serbia (in terms of languages which are favored at specific points in time and attitudes toward early foreign language learning) has always been a direct reflection of the socio-political and economic factors of a given era. Visibly (and often explicitly) defined strategic objectives have led to the creation of specific language education policies in this area. A brief history of institutionalized foreign language education in this country outlined in the following section clearly illustrates the above statement. Institutionalized foreign language teaching in Serbia began during the fourth decade of the 19th century (coinciding with the founding of the first public schools in the country). Since then, the selection of languages depended on many factors, the most important ones being the political and cultural influence of the country whose language was chosen. ITALIAN LANGUAGE IN SERBIA Tradition of teaching Italian Teaching and studying foreign languages are permanent processes and are being developed in school, but also out of school. One of the main purposes of education is a guarantee for that permanency. In some cases, thanks to an open-minded approach of governmental institutions in charge, these variations imply the consequences verified in introduction of the Italian language in primary schools in Montenegro 19921993 and in Serbia 20012002. Teaching Italian in schools in Serbia has started recently. It has been related mainly to music schools and conservatories and also to courses that have taken place in informal institutions and to very small groups of people that have been working at the university level during the last 75 years. The Italian language is present and fundamental as language taught in schools, first of all for economic reasons. Italy was rated second in international export and import economy for years and it has been competing with Russia and Germany. The surveys carried out at the beginning
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of the 90s amongst school population on motivation for studying foreign languages rated the Italian language second (right after English). In Serbia, there is a huge interest in learning Italian. The Italian language at university level in Serbia For years, almost from the beginning of the 20th century, the Italian language has been studied at Belgrade University. The date that represents the official beginning of organized teaching of the Italian language in Serbia at the university level coincides with the date of the first Italian language lesson held in October 1930 by Professor Stanko [kerlj at Belgrade University. One can find even more antique traces of the interest for the Italian language and culture in intellectual circles in Serbia, even if they often go back to French and German sources. The Archive of the Historical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts contains testimonies of cycles of lessons in Italian held by Professor Matija Ban. There are also translations and comments of events that took place in Italy at the beginning of last century. The first Italian teacher that we can find information about is lector Bruno Guyon who taught at Belgrade University before 1913, when he returned to Italy, probably because of the war in the Balkans. There is also one Serbian grammar published in Milan in 1919, as a testimony of the linguistic interests. Then, various successful experiments of teaching in Italian came one after another and took the form of cycles of literature courses related to one single issue, for example, the work of Alessandro Manzoni. In 1928, optional lessons of Italian linguistics held by Professor Ilija Mari~i} were introduced at Belgrade University. In the beginning, it was a course of Italian for beginners, then for advanced learners and afterwards and it contained conversation, reading and translation of text. As I have already mentioned, the first arrangements at university levels at the Serbian Faculty of Philology in Belgrade were made by Professor Stanko [kerlj, a Slovenian from Ljubljana, who studied Italian in Florence, Vienna and Paris. [kerlj stayed in contact with the most famous Italian linguists of his time and he imposed to teaching Italian in Belgrade an international dimension that can be noticed even today. The current interest for the Italian language in general and for Italian culture in Belgrade and in Serbia has already exceeded all the forecasts that had been made in the past. Today, the Department for Italian Studies at the Serbian Faculty of Philology in Belgrade represents a safe and trustworthy support for all those who want to come closer to the Italian culture. In the past 10 years, this section has registered a constant growth
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in the number of enrolled students: currently, the total number amounts at about 1,000 students, almost the same as the Department for English Studies, the most numerous at the Faculty. Besides the basic language course which lasts for four years, the Faculty of Philology has two years courses (four semesters) for students from other departments from the Faculty and also a two years course for PhD/Master students. There is also a three years course for Comparative Literature students. In its long life, the Department of Italian Studies has given birth to numerous experts. In the last 30 years, more than 1,000 students have graduated Italian language and literature. Today, this Department gathers 15 professors and assistants. Besides teachers scientific publications dedicated to Italian literature, to linguistic and methodology problems, the Department for Italian Studies in Belgrade has also been publishing a periodical review, Italica Belgradensia, since 1975. This review contains contributions from different language experts in Italian literature and history and, above all, contrastive Italian-Serbian studies. By now, six issues have been published, the last one in 2005. The Department for Italian Studies in Belgrade contributes actively to the diffusion of the Italian language in Serbia. At the same time, the Department is the only official institution delegated by the Serbian Ministry of Public Education in order to preserve and program teaching of the Italian language. Since the academic year 20012002, the Italian language has become one of the curricular languages in Serbia, amongst English, French, German, Spanish and Russian. The teachers from the Department created the curricular programs for primary and secondary education and wrote books and workbooks for all levels of Italian, from intermediate to university level. In 2002, the Association of Italian teachers in Serbia, with its chair at The Department for Italian Studies, was founded. The Italian language taught at other faculties and universities The Italian language is also taught at other faculties, for example the Faculty of Philosophy, and it is a compulsory semester subject. The courses consist of basic and advanced studies of Italian and also include teaching Italian of different sectors, which is necessary for understanding specialized texts. More than 100 students attend this course. Italian is compulsory for students at the Faculty of Musical Arts and at the Belgrade Conservatory and it is studied for four semesters. The same course has been organized at the Faculty of Musical Arts in Novi Sad.
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The Italian language is compulsory for students who learn Romance languages at Novi Sad University. Students from other Departments can study it as an optional language. The course lasts for four semesters and is attended by approximately 300 students. This course is due to be transformed in a four year one as soon as the circumstances allow it. In the last decade, private universities have been founded in Serbia. In these private schools, which mainly offer management and economy courses, the Italian language was considered indispensable. Beginning with the academic year 19992000, the Italian language has become a curricular foreign language at the private university Bra}a Kari}, with the headquarters in Belgrade and Novi Sad, at the faculties of economy and management, where English is a compulsory language and it is studied for three years. The second compulsory language is studied for 3 years as well, and students can choose between German, Russian and Italian. Once finished basic and advanced levels, students study sector languages. The Italian language is compulsory at the university Megatrend, at the Faculty of Management for Small and Big Businesses (150 students), in the Hotel School (150), at the European University (200) and in many other smaller faculties in Belgrade. The policy of teaching foreign languages in Serbia The policy of teaching foreign languages depends on many different factors. Diffusion and distribution of languages in the school systems of a country is influenced by economic, social, traditional, political, cultural and, in the end, technical and organizational factors. The strategy of teaching foreign languages varies from country to country all over the world, but it depends mainly on the above mentioned factors. But, in recent years, the linguistic policy promoted in Europe has caused certain changes in the diffusion of Italian and teaching the Italian language. Here are some partial data regarding the distribution of teaching foreign languages in Serbia in the academic year 20012002, on the eve of the reform of educational system. The statistics are related to teaching the first foreign language: English 69.7%, French 11.9%, Russian 11.6% and German 6.74% (\uri} 2002). The increase of interest for teaching English consequently caused the decrease of interest for teaching other foreign languages. The preservation of the diversity of languages that are taught in one country and that belong to the educational and intellectual heritage of that country is very important for its future. The fundamental principle of the European linguistic policy, plurilingualism, suggests alternative methods of teaching in order to maintain and promote
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teaching of other foreign languages as well: optional courses, intensive courses, bilingual classes that do not include English. The Italian language in compulsory education The position of Italian language in primary and secondary education has changed significantly. Thus, according to the first surveys that were carried out, 30.39% of pupils learn English as a second language, 30.12% Russian, 21.66% French, 17.79% German and 0.04% Italian (\uri} 2002). In some schools in Belgrade, attempts were made at introducing the third foreign language, as an optional object (the elementary school Bra}a Ribnikar). As a compulsory language, Italian is taught in the music schools in Belgrade, Pan~evo, U`ice, Aleksinac, Kragujevac, Ni{, Para}in, Po`arevac and in some other towns in Serbia. As well, the Italian language is present in the highschools in Vr{ac, Sremski Karlovci, Ni{, Kragujevac. After a long preparation, with the support from Italy, in September 2004 the first Italian Serbian section was launched in the third highschool in Belgrade (Tre}a beogradska gimnazija), which brought high expectations for other schools in Serbia, as well. Language schools and non-formal teaching There are lots of private language schools in Serbia nowadays. According to some statistics, the number of institutions that in some way offer courses in various languages and at various levels counts up to 3,000. These institutions still have to unify their levels of teaching, however the Italian language is the most studied after English. According to the statistics, there are 240 students enrolled in language courses organized by the Italian Institute of Culture (the number has grown by 40% since 2004), 30 students attending Italian language courses at the Diplomatic Academy and 200 students attending Italian language courses at the Military Academy. ITALIAN LANGUAGE IN MONTENEGRO The presence of the Italian language in Montenegro is a testimony of the intense traditional contacts between these two neighboring countries, which have always had tight maritime, commercial contacts and, in last couple of years, have extended their cooperation even in tourism. These relationships can be confirmed by the numerous traces of the Italian language in Montenegro, conserved in the archives and museums in Italy (Marcian Library in Venice, lots of others libraries in Venice, in Rome, in Trieste, in Southern Italy, in Montenegrin archives of Kotor and Cetinje).
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The tradition of teaching Italian is deeply related to the political, economic and commercial contacts between the two countries. The tradition of teaching and studying Italian has been cultivated in the area since the period of Venetian domination. Once this domination came to an end, local administration continued to use Italian under the Austrians. The works of Mirka Zogovi} (2002, 2004) testify to the plurilingualism of that area during the Renaissance, Baroque and in the 19th century. She says that the Italian language in Dalmatia, if we apply the modern linguistic criteria, in the period between the 16th and 18th century, was a great language (in contrast to the local, the little one) (Zogovi} 2002, 2004). The Italian language was the language of the dominant class, and in one part of the territory it was the official language and the language of the culture. With some differences in its use, Italian was a great language where and when Venice was in power and as long as the power of Venice lasted. During its dynamic history, the city of Kotor and its bay have been under the administration of Venice from 1420 (with the cities on the south of the bay named the Albania of Venice) to 1725. After the fall of the Republic of Venice, in 1797, these territories passed under the Austrian domination. It is presumed that the great poet and bishop Petar Petrovi} Njego{ knew Italian, as he spent the last nine months of his life in Naples. The famous families Savoia and Petrovi} contributed to the increase of interest in the Italian language. In 1896, Jelena, Princess of Montenegro, daughter of the King of Montenegro, Nikola Petrovi}, married Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia. From 1941 to 1943, in the regions of Montenegro which were under the Italian government, Italian was taught in schools as a foreign language. In Nik{i}, the memories about a person called Olindo Secondino, professor of Italian language in the high school of Nik{i}, are still alive. There was also a great number of useful publications related to the Italian language, for example the pocket dictionary Dizionario tascabile serbo-croato-italiano, made by Predrag N. Ili} and published in the printing firm Progres of Milovan Radoi~i}, in Nik{i} in 1941, and Srpsko-italijanski razgovori sa jezgrom italijanske gramatike i sa izgovorom italijanskih re~i, Serbian-Italian conversations with an essential Italian grammar and pronunciation of Italian words, made by Anastasije Veljovi}, a retired teacher, and published in the same printing firm in 1942. In Montenegro, especially in its southern parts, the Italian language has always been very familiar to the local people. As a consequence, there are many Italian words and expressions in Montenegrian dialects.
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The media have always had a significant influence on the diffusion of Italian language: Italian state and private TV channels are easily received, especially on the Adriatic coast. The Italian language in compulsory education In 1992, the Ministry of Public Education of Montenegro carried out a survey amongst parents of schoolchildren on the future of the Italian language. The results revealed that more than 85% of schoolchildren chose the Italian language as the most prospective. The first foreign language taught in schools is English, but in the north of country the Russian language comes before English. Teaching Italian is mainly concentrated in the region near the Adriatic Sea and in big centers like Podgorica, Bar, Cetinje, Nik{i}, etc. Even if the Italian language has always been a part of everyday social life in Montenegro, Italian has been taught only in a few towns or in specialized schools in Kotor. Before 1992, it has traditionally been taught in the gymnasium in Bar and in the music schools in Kotor and Podgorica. In 19941995, Italian was introduced in the schools in Herceg Novi, Kotor and other schools all around the country. The number of students and the interest in studying Italian are in constant increase. Today, 13 years after the Government initiative, there are approximately 50 teachers who teach Italian and 12,000 students. The teaching is carried out without major problems. The Italian language is taught as a foreign language in secondary schools in Montenegro and in professional institutes (such as commercial, hotel, music and naval institutes). The Italian language at university level The first department of Italian language founded in Montenegro exists even today at the Superior Institute of Tourist Operators at the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor. At the Faculty of Philosophy in Nik{i}, the Italian language has been taught as an optional object amongst other foreign languages (French, German, Russian) since the academic year 19911992. The first courses lasted for four semesters and included basic and advanced levels of Italian. Introduction of the Italian language in primary schools in Montenegro caused the demand for graduates in Italian who could teach the Italian language. In order to meet this demand, in 19931994 a section of Italian studies was launched within the Department of English Studies, Italian being taught as a second language. The course has six semesters, which means 16 lessons per week (10 language lessons and six Italian literature and culture lessons). This program included a course of Italian
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civilization and literature and teaching methodology course. After three years studies, the graduates were capable of teaching Italian in primary schools. The diffusion of the Italian language in secondary schools caused the demand for new graduates in Italian who studied it as their first language. The cultural, political, commercial and touristic links between Montenegro and Italy had as a consequence the demand for university graduates in Italian studies. This demand caused the transformation of three years studies in four years studies. In May 1999, the Department of Italian Studies, which offered four year long Italian language and literature courses, was founded at the Faculty of Philosophy in Nik{i}, Montenegro. The Department received its first students, 120 of them, in the academic year 19992000. The first students graduated in 20022003. The Department of Italian studies in Montenegro has excellent relations with Bari University, in particular with its Faculty of Languages. Different kinds of student exchange are organized: the best students from Nik{i} participate in various programs for language students organized and financially supported by Bari University and by the Montenegrin Ministry of Public Education with the help of the Regional Institute of Research and Experimentation in the Educational Area (IRRSAE) from Puglia. The other results of this collaboration are the monographic publications, conferences, exchange of teachers and experts, seminars, congresses in Montenegro and in Italy. The Italian language is also taught at other faculties in Montenegro: the Faculty of Economy in Podgorica, the Music Academy in Cetinje, the above mentioned Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor, the private Hotel and Tourism University in Bar, the private University Mediteran, etc. Non-formal teaching There are many non-formal courses of Italian language taught at many private schools and peoples universities almost in all towns in Montenegro. In Kotor, Dante Alighieri Association organizes courses of the Italian language at all levels. Studies and researches dedicated to the Italian language and civilization carried out in primary and secondary schools, at universities and in non-formal institutions will help further contacts between the three countries and will give a strong impulse to future initiatives and activities in the Balkans, already rich with various cultures and nations.
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