Etymologia a konotacja wybranych nazw kamieni
ETYMOLOGY AND CONNOTATION OF CERTAIN TERMS REFERRING TO STONES

Summary/Abstract: A question is posed whether and to what extent the etymology of a word is reflected in its contemporary connotation. An analysis is presented of a few terms referring to Stones (kamień ‘stone’, skała ‘rock’, głaz ‘boulder’). A juxtaposition of their etymology and connotation has led to the conclusions sketched below. (1) Connotation may constitute a continuation of features distinguished in etymological analysis (such is the case with the features of durability, hardness and the weight of a stone). (2) Certain features accepted by etymologists as primary are linguistically attested only in a rudimentary or partial way (e.g. the connection between a stone and life or eternity). (3) Extra-etymological documentation leads one to acknowledge the existence of new connotative features. (4) Particular semantic features may disappear in the meaning of a term but be preserved in that of another (e.g. the feature of sharpness, which disappears in the semantics of kamień ‘stone’ but dominates in the connotation of skała ‘rock’).A hypothesis can be formulated that inquiries into the etymology of a word coupled with its contemporary connotations may serve as a verification of the former. The reverse, however, is not true: if a well-motivated feature established in etymological analysis lacks contemporary attestation, the fact does not disprove the etymology.

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