NAMES OF METAL-PROCESSING CRAFTSMEN IN GERMAN DIALECTS

Abstract

The article studies the Silesian, Low Prussian, and East Pomeranian names of metal-processing craftsmen of the 14th–16th centuries. The article substantiates the topicality of studying the German dialects that disappeared due to the World War II, analyses specialized literature, characterizes the history of studying the German names of craftsmen in the former East-German dialects, determines the level of their coverage, formulates the objective and task of the publication and outlines the perspectives of further academic research. Besides, the article provides the insight into the word-formative peculiarities of the names of craftsmen, the form of their fixation within the Silesian, Low Prussian, and East Pomeranian dialects. Each form is accompanied by the data concerning the time and place of the fixation. The research established, 63 names of metal-processing craftsmen. They include: а) names of manufacturers of small items for household and clerical use; b) makers of arms and armor; c) moulders; d) jewelers and coiners; e) common names to designate smith; f) other names of craftsmen. The formative bases of metal-processing craftsmen were established: а) names of handicrafts; b) names of materials of which they were produced; c) names of craftsmen’s actions; d) names of the color of the processed material; e) according to the general characteristic of the items; f) according to the general characteristic of the materials. Besides, 1/3 of the names of craftsmen are formed with suffixes: -er, -ler, -ner, -ir, -orre, and 2/3 bi-root. The other word-formative bases in the names of the craftsmen with the different roots are as follows: -schmied, -gießer, -macher, -hauer, -feger, -böter, -gräber, -schläger, -schneider, -schlosser, -zieher. 16 synonymic rows can be identified within the established names of metal-processing craftsmen.