Studies in Greek Lexicography

Georgios K. Giannakis, Christoforos Charalambakis, Franco Montanari, Antonios Rengakos, Georgios K. Giannakis, Christoforos Charalambakis, Franco Montanari, Antonios Rengakos

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9783110621617
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Ancient & Classical Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

This volume presents nineteen studies by specialists in the field of Greek lexicography. A number of papers deal with historical aspects of Greek lexicography covering all phases of the language, i.e. ancient, medieval and modern, as well as the interrelations of Greek to neighboring languages. In addition, other papers address more formal issues, such as morphological, semantic and syntactic problems that are relevant to the study of Greek lexicography, as well as the study of individual words. Finally, in one study the problem of technical linguistic terminology is addressed along with the methodological, epistemological and other issues relating to the particular problem. The work is of special interest to scholars on the long standing problems of diachronic semantics, historical morphology and word formation, and to all those interested in etymology and the study of words of the Greek language.

Part I:History of Greek Lexicography

Christoforos Charalambakis

Kriaras’ Medieval Dictionary and its importance for the study of Modern Greek

I am grateful to Dr Nikolaos Lavidas, Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for invaluable comments. I am entirely responsible for the remaining errors.

Emmanouel Kriaras (1906–2014) was the last eminent demoticist of the twentieth century, and the most famous Greek lexicographer.1 He had the rare privilege of living a long, healthy life, reaching the age of 108 years, and was able to produce high quality scientific work. He has been admired for his stamina, social sensibilities, stable democratic principles, courage and insight. Kriaras was a pioneer in lexicography, an innovative demoticist, an eminent byzantinist, a famous specialist in Cretan literature and in Modern Greek language and literature. He introduced comparative literature to Greece, he was an eager correspondent and, in his earlier years, was a poet and prose writer. His outstanding qualitative and quantitative scientific work, which is posted on the portal for the Center for the Greek Language,2 will guide and inspire future generations. The opus magnum of his brilliant research is undoubtedly the Dictionary of Medieval Greek Demotic Literature, 1100–1669, the so-called “Kriaras’ Dictionary” [henceforth DictKr], which has been enthusiastically accepted by the international scientific community. I have presented the dictionary’s advantages in a few publications.3

For the compilation of the Academy of Athens’ Practical Dictionary of Modern Greek [APractDict], DictKr was a model for imitation used extensively to better present meanings and etymologies for many entries. Emmanuel Kriaras cheerfully encouraged the project from the beginning. His great lexicographical experience, insightful criticisms and valuable suggestions were offered with generosity.4

Αn entire monograph could be written on the importance of DictKr to Modern Greek lexicography. Thousands of medieval words that survive in Modern Greek and its dialects are interpreted with clarity and completeness. Their meanings are presented in detail with a number of characteristic examples and fully documented etymologies.

The newly published volumes 19 (ραβιόλι-σιργουλιστά), Thessaloniki 2014, and 20 (σιρόκος-σταματώ), Thessaloniki 2016 compiled by a group of collaborators under the direction of the brilliant lexicographer, distinguished classicist and active President of the Center for the Greek Language, John N. Kazazis, present the same methodological accuracy and virtues as the previous volumes. On the basis of the new data and information provided in these volumes, it is necessary to revise some entries in APractDict as well as in all recent dictionaries of Modern Greek, as shown by the following indicative cases.5

ραβιόλι ‘ravioli’: The word is medieval in origin, so the correct etymology is Medieval ραβιόλι < ιταλ. ravioli. The form ραφιόλια with the meaning ‘pasta stuffed with various ingredients (minced meat, cheese, vegetables, etc.)’ is to be found in the Cretan comedy Stathis (17th c.). The three consulted dictionaries refer directly to the Italian origin of the word. APractDict has a separate entry for the variant form ραφιόλια with two distinct meanings: 1. Confectionery. Scallops with Chian mastic. 2. Cookery. Fried pies with mizithra cheese [< Italian ravioli (dolci)]. Parian sweet ravioli are well known.

ρακάκι: diminutive form of raki ‘a strong alcoholic beverage’. The first known attestation is in the 17th c. DictKr describes the word as ‘caressing’, but the term ‘intimate’ is more appropriate. The same applies to a series of entries such as σεντουκάκι ‘small chest’. Further, 80% of the diminutives do not convey the smallness of an object, but denote a sense of intimacy or endearment. The original word ρακί has also been known since the 16th c. Therefore, the three dictionaries under comparison would be more consistent if they provided the exact etymology: Medieval ρακί < Turkish rakı.

ραντιστήρι ‘sprinkler’: the form is medieval (16th c.). DictBab and APractDict refer only to the Late Greek ραντιστήριον, while DictTr does not record the word.

ρέγκα ‘herring’: The word dates to the 14th c. but is ignored by all three dictionaries, as well as by EtymDictBab. DictDemKr and DictTr prefer the writing ρέγγα, which DictBab suggests is wrong. APractDict gives the alternative spelling as equivalent. DictKr lemmatizes ρέγκα. The spelling ρέγγα represents the purist tendency of the past in which the writing -γγ- “looks more Greek”. Modern Greek corpora show that the trend is for the spelling -γκ- to prevail.

ρεγουλάρω ‘regulate’: APractDict gives no etymology, DictTr connects the verb with the Medieval ρέγουλα6 and DictBab with the Italian regolare. The correct etymology is: Medieval ρεγολάρω < Italian regolare. In Erotokritos the form ρεουλάρω is attested.

ρετσέτα ‘recipe’: The three consulted dictionaries propose an etymology from the Venetian receta without mentioning that the word is attested in medieval texts.

ρετσίνι ‘resin’: DictTr and APractDict ignore the medieval origin of the word.

ρήτορας ‘orator’: The three consulted dictionaries refer to the Ancient Greek ῥήτωρ. However, the form ρήτορας can be found in Vlachos 1784.

ρίμα ‘rhyme’: All three dictionaries propose an etymology from the Italian rima and fail to mention the appearance of the word in medieval texts. The influence of the French rime in some uses cannot be excluded.

ριμάδα ‘rhymed couplets’: DictTr and APractDict propose the following etymology: from the Venetian *rimada. Nevertheless, the word has been known since the 16th c. DictBab quotes the forms ριμάτα and ριμάδα, suggesting the etymology from the Italian rimata. DictKr proposes the correct etymology from the New Latin rimada.

ροκανίζω ‘plane, nibble’: All three dictionaries mention the Medieval ρουκανίζω, yet the form ροκανίζω, according to Trapp, dates between the 12th c. and 14th c.

ρομπόλα ‘white wine made from Ribolla grape’: All three dictionaries fail to etymologize the word. DictKr gives the date of its first appearance (16th c.) and the correct etymology from the Italian ribolla. The white wine from the island of Kefalonia with the same name has the indication “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO). On Wikipedia we find a typical folk etymology “It is probably derived from the Greek word ρόμβος ‘rhombus’ (Italian rombo), a figure in which ceremonial properties were also given. The word possibly implies the wine’s power to charm us, to bring us to a state of musing or light drunkenness”.7

ρότα ‘route, course’: DictBab relates the word to the Italian rotta, as does DictKr, while DictTr and APractDict prefer the Venetian rota, which is the most likely etymology since the word is of Venetian origin and dated to the 17th c.

ρουμπίνι ‘ruby’: DictTr connects the word to the Italian rubin(ο), through a similar morphological process as in the case of μαργαριτάρι ‘pearl’, and DictBab, from the French rubin.8 The word has been known since the 17th c. DictKr correctly notes: “from the plural form rubini of the Italian rubino.”

ρουσφέτι ‘bribe’: All three dictionaries, as well as EtymDictBab, propose the following etymology: from the Turkish rüşvet. The word exists since the 17th c. with the meaning ‘bribery’ or ‘bribe’. In a letter written by Eugene Giannoulis (1595–1682), an eminent teacher of the nation and a strong fighter of Orthodoxy, we read: (for a kadis ‘judge’): Δεν παίρνει ρουσφέτια ‘He takes no bribes.’

ρουφιάνα ‘a wicked woman’: DictBab and DictTr have a single entry for both the masculine and the feminine form. APractDict prefers separate entries, since the meanings are different, but no etymology is offered. Medieval ρουφιάνα comes from Italian ruffiana.

ρουφιάνος ‘pimp’, ‘snitch’: All three dictionaries etymologize it from the Italian ruffiano, without mentioning that the word is already Medieval.

ρουφιανίτσα: The three dictionaries do not mention this diminutive form which is still in use today. Έπαινος των γυναικών (Women’s praise, 15th c.) attests the form ροφιανίτσα.

ρουχάκι, ρουχαλάκι ‘small clothes’: Both diminutives are attested in medieval texts. In Neofytos Rodinos (17th c.) we read: Οι πτωχοί, οι πεινασμένοι ευχαριστούνται με ολιγάκι ψωμί, με ολίγα ρουχάκια ‘The poor, the hungry are pleased with a little bread, with a few rugs.’

ρούχο ‘clothing’: It dates back to the 13th c. The plural ρούχα ‘clothes’ dates back to the 6th c. All three dictionaries relate its etymology to the form ρούχον. DictTr and DictBab propose the established etymology, from the Slavic ruho. DictKr correctly prefers the etymology of the Late Latin roccus, rucus, as Stylianos Alexiou has shown with convincing arguments.9

ροφός ‘grouper, the fish Epinephelus marginatus’: All three dictionaries etymologize the word from the Late Greek ορφός. The form ροφός is attested in the work of Zane Ventramo Ιστορία των γυναικών, των καλών και των κακών (History of women, good and bad, 16th c.).

ρώγα: All three dictionaries refer to the Ancient Greek ῥώξ, accusative ῥῶγα. Nevertheless, the three meanings of the word (1. berry of the grape. 2. nipple. 3. inner fingertip) are medieval.

ρωμαίικος: DictTr proposes the etymology Medieval Ρωμαί(ος) ‘citizen of the eastern Roman state’ < Hellenistic Ῥωμαῖος ‘citizen of Rome’ plus the suffix -ικος (see also ρωμιός). DictBab accepts more or less the same etymology and APractDict does not provide any etymological information. The aforementioned dictionaries do not acknowledge the medieval origin of the word.

Σάββατο ‘Saturday’: The forms Σάββατο and Σαββάτο appear in the Chronicle of Morea (14th c....

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Preface
• Contents
• J.N. Kazazis, Classicist and Lexicographer
• Part I: History of Greek Lexicography
• Part II: Etymology
• Part III: Formal and Practical Issues on the Lexicon of Greek: Morphology, Syntax and Semantics
• List of Contributors
• Index