Alliteration in (Balto-) Finnic Languages

Stepanova, Frog; Stepanova, Eila

doi:10.1057/9780230305878_13

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…4; the number of words in a verse is so few that inter-linear syntax is particularly significant, but these topics are beyond the scope of the present discussion. structures (Frog, Stepanova 2011;Stepanova, E. 2012;. 16 As a genre of practice, Finnic lament likely has an unbroken (if continuously evolving) continuity from Proto-Uralic (Stepanova, E. 2012;; see also Stepanova, E. 2011).…”

Section: Alliteration As a Poetic Organizing Principle In Proto-finnicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prosodic changes in the transition to Late Proto-Finnic reduced the contrast between lexically stressed and unstressed syllables allowing the meter to assimilate the Scandinavian conventions while also retaining a syllabic rhythm with the placement of short stressed syllables in metrically unstressed positions. Alliteration was quite probably already familiar as a device, yet its systematic use was assimilated as a valorized feature for forming verses or corresponding units of poetic utterance, making it a feature that also structured 22 On laments' poetic form, see Frog, Stepanova 2011;Stepanova, E. 2014; on differences in mythology between these systems in North Finnic traditions, see Stepanova, E. 2012;; note that differences in mythology and symbolism across these systems in North Finnic traditions is at least partly connected to changes in religion at a later period that appear not to have impacted traditions in Estonia and Setomaa (Ahola et al 2017: 926-927). word choice.…”

Section: A Perspective On the Emergence Of The Finnic Tetrametermentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Finnic Tetrameter – A Creolization of Poetic Form?

Frog

2019

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This article presents a new theory on the origins of the common Finnic tetrameter as a poetic form (also called the Kalevala-meter, regilaul meter, etc.). It argues that this verse form emerged as a creolization of the North Germanic alliterative verse form during a period of intensive language contacts, and that the Finnic ethnopoetic ecology made it isosyllabic. Previous theories have focused on the trochaic, tetrametric structure and viewed other features of poetic form as secondary or incidental. This is the first theory to offer a metrically driven explanation for the distinctive features of the poetic form: the systematic placement of lexically stressed short syllables in metrically unstressed positions and systematic yet unmetricalized use of verse-internal alliteration. The emergence of the poetic form may be viewed simply in terms of hybridization, but its formation as a central mode for epic and ritual poetry demands consideration of social factors. Creolization is considered a social process of hybridization at the level of sign systems that is characterized by a salient asymmetrical relation of power, authority or other value in the cultural sign systems being reconfigured from the perspective of the society or groups involved. An argument is presented that North Germanic contacts also produced systematic verse-internal alliteration in Finnic languages. Discussion then turns to the distinction between the origin and spread of the poetic form. The poetic form's uniformity across Finnic language areas in spite of its 'foreign' metrical features along with the range of genres with which it was used are considered indicators of the poetic form's spread with language, forming an argument that the tetrameter emerged within an environment that also produced Late Proto-Finnic, and then spread with Late Proto-Finnic language and culture through areas where other Finnic language forms were spoken. This paper introduces a new theory concerning the history of the common Finnic tetrameter (Kalevala-meter, regilaul meter). Unlike earlier discussions of the meter, my aim is to offer a metrically-driven account of the most

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Section: Alliteration As a Poetic Organizing Principle In Proto-finnicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Perspective On the Emergence Of The Finnic Tetrametermentioning

confidence: 99%

The Finnic Tetrameter – A Creolization of Poetic Form?

Frog

2019

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Mythological Names and dróttkvætt Formulae II: Base-Word-Determinant Indexing

Frog

2014

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This article explores patterns of language use in oral poetry within a variety of semantic formula. Such a formula may vary its surface texture in relation to phonic demands of the metrical environment in which it is realised. This is the second part of a four-part series based on metrically entangled kennings in Old Norse dróttkvaett poetry as primary material. Old Norse kennings present a semantic formula of a particular type which is valuable as an example owing to the extremes of textural variation that it enables. The first part in this series introduced the approach to kennings as semantic formulae and included an illustrative case study on kennings meaning 'battle' realising the last three metrical positions of a dróttkvaett line. This demonstrated that lexical variation in realising these formulae varied according to functional equivalence across semantic categories. The present case study advances this discussion through the examination of the metrical entanglement of the lexicon in realising the semantic formula. On the one hand, it presents evidence of the associative indexing of lexical items realising a battle-kenning of this particular metric-structural type: certain kenning base-words exhibit a preferred semantic category of determinant. On the other hand, it also presents evidence of the associative indexing of lexical items that are used for realising the metrically required rhyme in a position in the line that is outside of the semantic formula: certain kenning base-words exhibit co-occurrence with a particular rhyme-word.

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Lost and found in translation: the case of alliteration

Lotman

2014

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Abstract. Th e paper examines the transmission of alliteration in Estonian and Russian translated verse. Th e main focus is on the translation of alliterative epic, on the one hand, and more recent literary alliteration, on the other hand. Various alliterative techniques in diff erent genres are observed, as well as various strategies in conveying alliteration: rejection of alliteration, transmission of alliteration, compensatory translation, for example, with functional equivalent and eventually, saturation with alliteration, to signal alliteration in a tradition without corresponding framework.

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Alliteration in (Balto-) Finnic Languages

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

The Finnic Tetrameter – A Creolization of Poetic Form?

The Finnic Tetrameter – A Creolization of Poetic Form?

Mythological Names and dróttkvætt Formulae II: Base-Word-Determinant Indexing

Lost and found in translation: the case of alliteration

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