CZASOWNIKI ONOMATOPEICZNE W GWARACH ŚLĄSKA NA TLE SŁOWIAŃSKIM I. LEKSEMY OPISUJĄCE GŁOSY I ZACHOWANIA PTAKÓW
ONOMATOPOEIC VERBS IN THE SILESIAN DIALECT COMPARED TO SLAVIC LANGUAGES I. LEXEMES DESCRIBING BIRD SOUNDS AND BEHAVIOURS

Summary/Abstract: This paper is a study dedicated to onomatopoeic verbs in the Silesian dialect, and specifically, lexemes describing bird sounds and behaviours. The subject has been discussed compared to Slavic languages and in the context of the common Polish language, as well as taking into consideration historical Polish (in particular that in the Old- and Middle Polish era). The provided examples support the thesis that there exists a link between the word’s sound formation and its meaning. There is emphasized the opposition between ‘u’ and ‘i’ which is essential in the case of onomatopoeia (back vowels ‘u’, ‘o’ and ‘a’ are used with reference to large objects, while front vowels ‘i’, ‘y’ and ‘e’ – small objects). Noticing an interesting set of ‘bird-type’ onomatopoeia also seems important, since there is relatively little mention of this phenomena in the Polish literature (foreign studies prevail).

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