Category
Topic
Year
From trauma to novel
Keywords: documentary novel, life writing, trauma, Estonian exiles, Salme Ekbaum
The article discusses the documentary novel Ristitants by Estonian exile writer Salme Ekbaum (1912–1994), published in Sweden in 1970. The novel was inspired by the visit to Toronto by Soviet Estonian author Rudolf Sirge in September 1964, and its repercussions on Salme Ekbaum, her husband and several other local intellectuals. The events later called the (R.) Sirge affair had a traumatic effect not only on Salme Ekbaum, but also on the whole Estonian community of Toronto, giving rise to splits and conflicts that did not abate for many years. The aim of the…
The article discusses the documentary novel Ristitants by Estonian exile writer Salme Ekbaum (1912–1994), published in Sweden in 1970. The novel was inspired by the visit to Toronto by Soviet Estonian author Rudolf Sirge in September 1964, and its repercussions on Salme Ekbaum, her husband and several other local intellectuals. The events later called the (R.) Sirge affair had a traumatic effect not only on Salme Ekbaum, but also on the whole Estonian community of Toronto, giving rise to splits and conflicts that did not abate for many years. The aim of the…
From Jamaica to Paris and back to Tartu again
Keywords: adaptation, Koidula’s prose, Theodor Mügge, Luise Mühlbach, postcolonialism, Estonian national movement, French revolution
The mental horizons of 19th-century Estonian national movement were largely modelled on German examples, while the building of Estonian national identity and the rise of the self-awareness of the Estonian people were made possible through the adaptation of national romantic ideology to local conditions. Up to the end of the 19th century Estonian literature largely consisted of adapted translations from German sources, many of which have not, however, been pinpointed as yet.
The article was inspired by the discovery of two authors who served as literary models for …
The mental horizons of 19th-century Estonian national movement were largely modelled on German examples, while the building of Estonian national identity and the rise of the self-awareness of the Estonian people were made possible through the adaptation of national romantic ideology to local conditions. Up to the end of the 19th century Estonian literature largely consisted of adapted translations from German sources, many of which have not, however, been pinpointed as yet.
The article was inspired by the discovery of two authors who served as literary models for …
The functions of des- and mata-converb constructions
Keywords: syntax, semantics, grammatical semantics, constructional meaning, Estonian des-construction, Estonian mata-construction
The Estonian des- and mata-constructions operate as free modifiers of event constructions, thus qualifying for the typological definition of a converb construction. The des-converb construction modifies the main clause by expressing the occurrence of an event, whereas the mata-converb construction does the same by expressing the non-occurrence of an event. The adverbial function of the converb construction varies depending on context. As previous research has shown, the variation of the function of the des– and mata-converb construction is quite extensive. The article suggests some semantic-pragmatic categories forming a framework to describe this variation. The framework inloves two base functions…
The Estonian des- and mata-constructions operate as free modifiers of event constructions, thus qualifying for the typological definition of a converb construction. The des-converb construction modifies the main clause by expressing the occurrence of an event, whereas the mata-converb construction does the same by expressing the non-occurrence of an event. The adverbial function of the converb construction varies depending on context. As previous research has shown, the variation of the function of the des– and mata-converb construction is quite extensive. The article suggests some semantic-pragmatic categories forming a framework to describe this variation. The framework inloves two base functions…
The pleasure(?) of thinking
Keywords: Hando Runnel, essayistics, fine arts, humans, society
The article examines the essays by Hando Runnel with accent on the author’s worldview, fundamental beliefs and creative principles, in short, Runnel’s philosophical position. The approach used is inductive, as it is not based on a ready-made scheme of interpretation but is rather moving from text to text to collect keywords, which are eventually categorised into thematic groups. The first part of the article discusses artistic and literary issues, after which the focus shifts on to man and his big challenges such as individuality and collectivity, naturalness and estrangement, ethics and religion. The…
The article examines the essays by Hando Runnel with accent on the author’s worldview, fundamental beliefs and creative principles, in short, Runnel’s philosophical position. The approach used is inductive, as it is not based on a ready-made scheme of interpretation but is rather moving from text to text to collect keywords, which are eventually categorised into thematic groups. The first part of the article discusses artistic and literary issues, after which the focus shifts on to man and his big challenges such as individuality and collectivity, naturalness and estrangement, ethics and religion. The…
Some words of a criminal background (slang) in the Estonian standard language: ment and parask
Keywords: Estonian language, Estonian slang, Estonian dialects, Russian language, Russian slang, loanwords, criminal subculture, etymology
Two Russian loanwords borrowed into standard Estonian – ment and parask – are discussed. Those two loanwords are specific for originating in the criminal subculture, to be more exact, in prison slang. The article presents the more credible hypotheses advanced on the origin or etymology of those words.
The word ment ’policeman, copper’ is a Russian loanword probably originating in Polish slang. The word is also likely to be linked with the Russian ментик – pelisse (fur-trimmed jacket, multiple breasted, with cords and eyelets, worn loosely over…
Two Russian loanwords borrowed into standard Estonian – ment and parask – are discussed. Those two loanwords are specific for originating in the criminal subculture, to be more exact, in prison slang. The article presents the more credible hypotheses advanced on the origin or etymology of those words.
The word ment ’policeman, copper’ is a Russian loanword probably originating in Polish slang. The word is also likely to be linked with the Russian ментик – pelisse (fur-trimmed jacket, multiple breasted, with cords and eyelets, worn loosely over…
Two colleagues sharing a common interest
Keywords: Heldur Niit, Ülo Tedre, folklore studies, editing practices, newer folk song
The article discusses the history of Estonian folkloristics via the activities and relations of copy editor Heldur Niit and folklorist Ülo Tedre. Heldur Niit had majored in folklore at the University of Tartu and also taken a postgraduate course in the subject. From 1972–2007 he worked as copy editor for folklore and literary studies at the journal Keel ja Kirjandus. Ülo Tedre, Head of the Department of Folklore at the Institute of the Estonian Language sat on the advisory board of the journal and authored a great number of…
The article discusses the history of Estonian folkloristics via the activities and relations of copy editor Heldur Niit and folklorist Ülo Tedre. Heldur Niit had majored in folklore at the University of Tartu and also taken a postgraduate course in the subject. From 1972–2007 he worked as copy editor for folklore and literary studies at the journal Keel ja Kirjandus. Ülo Tedre, Head of the Department of Folklore at the Institute of the Estonian Language sat on the advisory board of the journal and authored a great number of…
Name transfer and its interpretation in Estonian toponymy
Keywords:Estonian, onomastics, place names, secondary naming, transferred names
The article explores toponyms that originate from proprial names. The phenomenon in which an already existing name has been transferred to denote another place is called name transfer and the names that have originated from already existing names are called transferred names. Name transfer has not been a particular field of interest in Estonian onomastics so far. The article provides an overview of the relevant theories and perceptions related to the subject of name transfer and explains the conception applied to Estonian place names.
The more frequent the use of a place name, the more likely it…
The article explores toponyms that originate from proprial names. The phenomenon in which an already existing name has been transferred to denote another place is called name transfer and the names that have originated from already existing names are called transferred names. Name transfer has not been a particular field of interest in Estonian onomastics so far. The article provides an overview of the relevant theories and perceptions related to the subject of name transfer and explains the conception applied to Estonian place names.
The more frequent the use of a place name, the more likely it…
The shifting relationship between discourse analysis and quantification in the English- and French-language tradition
Keywords: discourse analysis, formalisation, text corpora, lexicometry
The article gives a historical overview of discussions within the Anglophone and French traditions of linguistic discourse analysis about the formalisation and quantification of text data. We begin with the first steps towards the formalisation of text analysis, derived from the work of Zellig Harris (1952). Then we consider the lexical interpretation of Harris’ work by the French lexicometric school and in a more syntax-based and critically engaged approach developed by Michel Pêcheux (1969). In contrast to the quantitative methods, we discuss qualitative approaches to discourse analysis within the humanities more generally (Michel Foucault)…
The article gives a historical overview of discussions within the Anglophone and French traditions of linguistic discourse analysis about the formalisation and quantification of text data. We begin with the first steps towards the formalisation of text analysis, derived from the work of Zellig Harris (1952). Then we consider the lexical interpretation of Harris’ work by the French lexicometric school and in a more syntax-based and critically engaged approach developed by Michel Pêcheux (1969). In contrast to the quantitative methods, we discuss qualitative approaches to discourse analysis within the humanities more generally (Michel Foucault)…