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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Urmas Sutrop
Format: Article
Language:Estonian
Published: Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum 2004-01-01
Series:Mäetagused
Online Access:http://www.folklore.ee/tagused/nr24/sutrop.pdf
_version_ 1818645374112366592
author Urmas Sutrop
author_facet Urmas Sutrop
author_sort Urmas Sutrop
collection DOAJ
description 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.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T00:29:43Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3ba26d81604446fc80e560b5c4181959
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1406-992X
1406-9938
language Estonian
last_indexed 2024-12-17T00:29:43Z
publishDate 2004-01-01
publisher Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum
record_format Article
series Mäetagused
spelling doaj.art-3ba26d81604446fc80e560b5c41819592022-12-21T22:10:22ZestEesti KirjandusmuuseumMäetagused1406-992X1406-99382004-01-0124Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaimUrmas SutropUsing 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.http://www.folklore.ee/tagused/nr24/sutrop.pdf
spellingShingle Urmas Sutrop
Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
Mäetagused
title Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
title_full Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
title_fullStr Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
title_full_unstemmed Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
title_short Eesti keele maailmapildist: meel, hing ja vaim
title_sort eesti keele maailmapildist meel hing ja vaim
url http://www.folklore.ee/tagused/nr24/sutrop.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT urmassutrop eestikeelemaailmapildistmeelhingjavaim