Cattle colours with a dendrological component as an ethnolinguistic phenomenon

Abstract

In Slavic languages, a large number of colour designations are derived from the names of trees; these designations are not only formed morphologically, but also in a lexico-semantic way. This mainly concerns the name of the birch tree, which is noticeable primarily in numerous Pol-ish derivatives, some of which can be built up into Proto-Slavic prototypes. However, a similar phenomenon can be observed in other languages around the world. Generally speaking, these coloratives are of both narrow linguistic (etymological) and ethnolinguistic interest. They reflect the view of the Slavic peoples on the importance of dendroflora in material and spiritual life and help shed light on the worldview of the ancient Slavs.