Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
Using linguistic tools we can reconstruct the ancient meanings of modern concepts and words and thereby learn something of the ancient worldview of our ancestors. This paper focuses on the terms meel `mind', hing `breath, soul', and vaim `pulsation, ghost, spirit', and on the history...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Estonian |
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Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum
2004-01-01
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| Series: | Mäetagused |
| Online Access: | http://www.folklore.ee/tagused/nr24/sutrop.pdf |
| Summary: | Using linguistic tools we can reconstruct the ancient meanings of modern concepts and words and thereby learn something of the ancient worldview of our ancestors. This paper focuses on the terms meel `mind', hing `breath, soul', and vaim `pulsation, ghost, spirit', and on the history of these terms in Estonian and in other languages. Some Greek, Semitic, and Germanic soul-concepts and their changes are analysed. We must expunge our terms from the meaning-elements borrowed from other languages. Only then can we reconstruct different layers of worldview. Without this, however, we might draw wrong conclusions from the synchronic language material. The Estonian system of soul concepts has changed due to language contacts. Firstly, German pastors introduced the Christian dualistic soul concept of spirit and soul. A special (feminine) pulsation-soul vaim was made a more general (masculine breath-soul) spirit. The concept of the original breath-soul hing was restricted. As a result, the use of the term vaim increased in frequency. In the 20th century the use of the term hing becomes more and more frequent under the Russian influence. As a result, the use of other soul-terms and special life forces, for example süda `heart' is dramatically decreasing in Estonian. At the same time, meel is one of the most productive words in Estonian. |
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| ISSN: | 1406-992X 1406-9938 |