The usage of the colour name зялёны (green) in the texts of Belarusian healing spells

Abstract

Сolour names in any language create certain lexico-semantic fields of colour, which can be analyzed in different aspects: formal, functional, semantic etc. The defined words in the language are constantly in development and change. The result of their semantic development is the combination of direct, indirect and symbolic meanings of the revealed words, it was actively used and it is used in different kinds of linguistic and literary works.In the texts of Belarusian spells the vocabulary of colour name is represented by a range of colour names, which are grouped in certain colour codes according to their specific features. The article deals with the functioning peculiarities of the colour name green in the texts of Belarusian healing spells. The colour name зялёны (green) is quite rarely used, it stands out as the essential element of nature or an open space, inhabited by evil spirit.The authour defines that the semantics if this colour name is not singled-valued. In Belarus the зялёны (green) colour is an ambivalent symbol: on the one hand it symbolizes the vital force of nature, on the other hand it can symbolize the illnesses and the place of their reference.This colour is neutral, soft, calming, making an impression of some marked space. This colour name has a very restricted word-combinability in the analyzed texts. These peculiarities are closely connected with the national and cultural traditions of Belarusians and underline the features of their mentality.