The 'Language Question' Column on 'Glavcom'
Olga Vasylieva, a philologist, continues to explore current issues in the Ukrainian language through her 'Language Question' column on the Glavcom website. The 55th installment focuses on the names for the memorial week following Easter and provides answers to ten reader queries about word usage. This regular feature offers valuable insights into the evolving nature of Ukrainian, a language with a rich cultural history.
According to the modern academic explanatory dictionary (SUM-20), the only official term for this post-Easter memorial week is 'provody'. This is one of three widely used vernacular terms for this period. The other common folk names are 'hrobky' and 'radonitsya'. However, it is important to note that 'radonitsya' and 'hrobky' are not currently listed in the SUM-20. The word 'radonitsya' is derived from the word for 'joy', and a text corpus records 125 instances of its use, all found in media sources.
Examples of the Term 'Provody' in Use
To illustrate its traditional usage, Olga Vasylieva provided literary examples of the word 'provody'.
“After the provody she [Oryshka] will give him towels, and after the Ascension, on the klichalna, there will be a wedding.” - H. Kvitka-Osnovianenko
“Last spring during provody, when he was returning with his mother from the graves, they passed by that school.” - U. Samchuk
These quotations confirm the established use of the term 'provody' in everyday language.
The column also addresses several other linguistic questions. For instance, the word 'palyvo' (fuel) is a hypernym, while 'palne' (combustible) is a hyponym. According to the DSTU 3437-96 standard, 'oliya' (oil) is defined as a mixture of high-molecular petroleum hydrocarbons. A codified feminine form for the word 'zhylets' (tenant) is 'zhilytsya'. The verb 'pidroblyaty' has two meanings: to fabricate a counterfeit and to earn extra money.
Etymologies of words are also discussed. For example, 'sekret' (secret) originates from Latin, while 'tayemnytsya' (mystery) comes from Proto-Slavic. 'Protsent' (percent) has German roots, whereas 'vidsotok' (percentage) is of Proto-Slavic origin. The Ukrainian language currently uses the word 'noskist' (wearability), and in the adjective 'noskyy' (wearable), the stress falls on the final syllable.
Readers can submit their own language questions to info@glavcom.ua with the subject line 'Language Question'. The 'Language Question' column is published weekly, providing an opportunity to deepen knowledge of the Ukrainian language and its peculiarities.
The discussions in the 'Language Question' column highlight the importance of studying and preserving the Ukrainian language, particularly in the context of traditional customs and terminology. The use of terms like 'provody', 'hrobky', and 'radonitsya' reflects cultural specificities that are important to remember and pass on to future generations. This column also serves as a platform for exploring various aspects of the language, promoting its popularization and development in contemporary society.
In addition to exploring the names for the memorial week after Easter, the latest installment of the Language Column also delves into other intriguing linguistic topics. For those interested in the nuances of Ukrainian language usage, the previous article discusses various aspects of spelling and unique word choices that enrich our understanding of this evolving language. Discover more about these fascinating subjects in the Language Column on Glavcom.