Abstract
The research addresses the etymologies of 82 toponyms proposed by the Russian scholar V. Trediakovsky in the mid-1700s book Three Discourses on Three Most Important Russian Antiquities compared with 148 etymologies of the toponyms from The Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by M. Vasmer, where the etymologies had been identified under the modern etymological approach. The article argues that the alternative etymologies proposed by Trediakovsky and the toponymic etymologies having been established under linguistic principles possess similarities in terms of general semantic features. Identifying the semantic features of toponyms from the two selections required the classification based on etymological and semantic features, with the principal division into natural and cultural place-names. The research showed that 5 out of 7 semantic features: hydronym, choronym, people’s activity, ethnonym, and type of settlement, corresponded in both selections. The alternative etymologies from the discourses revealed more semantic features related to the climate and soil. The semantic features of flora and fauna, which are part of modern semantic classifications, were found in rare cases in both toponymicons. The research showed that although generally Trediakovsky’s etymologies seemed to contradict the existing linguistic principles, the semantic features remained comparable with those of the place-name etymologies that were compiled at the later stages of scientific thought.
Highlights
Trediakovsky (1703–1769), a poet and translator, is not generally known as an etymologist and historian
The significance of the dictionary for the research was a sufficient share of place names as well as various proper names collected in the edition, while many other etymological dictionaries did not include place-name etymologies
It shows the trends in the development of alternative etymology
Summary
Trediakovsky (1703–1769), a poet and translator, is not generally known as an etymologist and historian. The discourse On the Varangians as Slavic Russian People, their Title, Genesis and Language made a special focus on the Dnieper rapids, whose names have been frequently discussed in the context of the origin of the Rus’ people [Schoettgenius, 1730; Tatishchev, 1994; Lomonosov, 1952]: Ne supi, Gelandri, Ulvorsy, Nejasyti, Varufors, Viruchi, Naprjazi [Entwistle, Morison, 1949. Klubkov provided a profound general analysis of Trediakovsky’s etymological principles appreciating the early attempts to develop etymology, though without focusing on place-names [Klubkov, 2002] He compiled a list of the sound correlations in the etymologies and noted that Trediakovsky applied several etymological motivations for a name and preferred the etymologies based on general Slavic words to the origin arising from proper names. The current research refined the groupings for the current classification (see the section Methods)
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