Prerequisites:

There are no specific prerequisites. However, prior knowledge of basic linguistic theories, general lexicology, and grammar is recommended.

Content (Syllabus outline):

1. Ethnolinguistics as a field of research

• The development of ethnolinguistics as a science;
• Discusses the connections between language and culture and the most important linguistic-anthropological schools.
• Discusses two major ethnolinguistic schools: Lublin and Moscow;
• genres, forms, and meanings of folklore texts;
• ethnolinguistic terminology;
• typological characteristics of folklore forms as typical texts (proverbs as the central paremiological genre);
• description of methodological approaches to the study of folklore texts.

2. Processual aspects of folklore

• processuality and modifications of literary folklore and the question of the aesthetics of identity;
• form-meaning dynamics of folklore texts.

3. Social aspects of folklore texts

• folklore texts as a source of knowledge about society;
• linguistic specifics and generalities from a contrastive and interlinguistic perspective;
• the origin of folklore texts, their connection to mythological texts and everyday life;
• folklore texts as stereotyped situations and social generalizations of aspects.

4. Cultural aspects of folklore texts

• sources for the cultural interpretation of folklore texts;
• intercultural aspects of the treatment of folklore texts;
• the role of folklore texts in identity and cultural memory.

Seminar

The seminar is related to the thematic areas covered in the lectures and represents an in-depth exploration of these areas and an opportunity for independent study of a specific research question. The seminar topic is tailored to the student’s individual study program, and the selection of scientific literature is also tailored to the chosen topic.

Connection with other subjects

A basic knowledge of linguistics, folklore studies, and the fundamental chapters of ethnology is required to understand the topics covered. The subject is connected with other subjects within the module Lexicology, Lexicography, Grammar, and Slovenian Studies – Tradition and Modernity.

Readings

The list predominantly contains items of compulsory reading. Additional readings for individual lectures, seminars and/or seminar papers will be supplied subsequently according to specific and individual needs.

• BABIČ, Saša. Lingvistična antropologija in etnolingvistika. Studia mythologica Slavica. 2011, 14, str. 169-180.
• BARTMIŃSKI, Jerzy. 2009. Aspects of cognitive ethnolinguistics. London; Oakville: Equinox.
• DOBROVOLJSKIJ, Dmitrij, The structure of metaphor and idiom semantics (a cognitive approach)
• BROWN Michael F. 2008. Current Anthropology, Vol. 49, No. 3 (June 2008), pp. 363-383.
• GLIHA KOMAC, Nataša, 2009: Slovenščina med jeziki Kanalske doline. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za družbene vede ; Ukve: Slovensko kulturno središče Planika Kanalska dolina ; Trst: SLORI.
• HRISZTOVA-GOTTHARDT, Hrisztalina, VARGA, Melita Aleksa (ur.): Introduction to Paremiology: A Comprehensive Guide to Proverb Studies. Varšava: Versita.
• JAKOP, Nataša, 2006: Pragmatična frazeologija. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC.
• KRŽIŠNIK, Erika, 2005: Frazeologija v luči kulture. V: Stabej, Marko (ur.): Večkulturnost v slovenskem jeziku, literaturi in kulturi. Zbornik predavanj 41. seminarja slovenskega jezika, literature in kulture. Ljubljana: Center za slovenščino kot drugi/tuji jezik pri Oddelku za slovenistiko Filozofske fakultete. 67–81.
• KRŽIŠNIK, Erika, 2008. Kulturološka interpretacija frazema. V: Kalin Golob, Monika, Logar Berginc, Nataša, Grizold, Anton (ur.): Jezikovna prepletanja. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za družbene vede. 149–165.
• KRŽIŠNIK, Erika, 2008a. Viri za kulturološko interpretacijo frazeoloških enot. Jezik in slovstvo 53/1. 33–47.
• KUŽNIAK, Marek, LIBURA, Agnieszka Libura, SZAWERNA Michał (eds.). 2014. From Conceptual Metaphor Theory to Cognitive Ethnolinguistics. Patterns of Imagery in Language. Peter Lang Editions.
• MERC BRATINA, Karin, 2014: Jezikovna podoba slovenske Istre : kulturna semantika slikovitega v slovenskoistrskem narečju. Koper : Univerza na Primorskem
• METERC, Matej, 2017: Paremiološki optimum. Najbolj poznani in pogosti pregovori ter sorodne paremije v slovenščini. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC.
• PETROVIĆ, Tanja, 2019: Jezikovna in kulturna identiteta etnolingvistične skupnosti Srbov v Beli krajini. Slovenski jezik in njegovi sosedje, 204-211.
• RAVNIK, Mojca, 1994: Terenski pogovori – vir za etnološke in etnolingvistične raziskave. Ljubljana: SAZU.
• TOLSTOJ, Nikita Ilʹič. 1995. Jazyk i narodnaja kulʹtura : očerki po slavjanskoj mifologii i etnolingvistike. Moskva: Izdatelʹstvo Indrik.

Objectives and competences:

Objectives:

The course offers students an in-depth look at ethnolinguistics in the broadest sense. Student will become familiar with the field of ethnolinguistics and its analytical methods and will understand the intertwining of language and culture at the highest level, i.e., diachronically, synchronically, and interculturally.

Competences:

• Students understand ethnolinguistics as a science and method in a narrower and broader sense in relation to other linguistic, ethnological, and anthropological sciences, and are familiar with the basic concepts of ethnolinguistics and its history in Slovenia and worldwide.
• They know how to distingush and define different genres of folklore, their interrelationships, and their connection to the environment and culture.
• They are familiar with different approaches to textual analysis.
• They are familiar with the fundamental literature and are able to critically evaluate and interpret it.

They interpret social conceptual starting points and intercultural comparative analysis. They interpret texts from this field in the social and cultural context of contemporary times.

Intended learning outcomes:

• Prepares a written scientific paper.
• Performs scientifically and methodologically sound fieldwork.
• Critically analyzes sources, interprets results in a broader ethnolinguistic and analytical-cultural context.

Learning and teaching methods:

Types of learning/teaching:

• Frontal teaching
• Independent students work
• e-learning

Teaching methods:

• Explanation
• Conversation/discussion/debate
• Work with texts
• Case studies

Assessment

• Short written assignments 20 %
• Presentations 20 %
• Final examination (written/oral) 60 %

Lecturer’s references

• JAKOP, Nataša, BABIČ, Saša. Gospodarske podobe vsakdanjika v luči folklornih obrazcev. Slavistična revija : časopis za jezikoslovje in literarne vede. [Tiskana izd.]. 2025, letn. 73, št. 2, str. 295-308, fotogr. ISSN 0350-6894. https://srl.si/ojs/srl/article/view/4240, DOI: 57589/srl.v73i2.4240.
• BABIČ, Saša. Animal predators as a characterising element in short folklore forms. Proverbium. 2024, vol. 41, no. 1, str. 1-21. ISSN 2806-7568. https://naklada.ffos.hr/casopisi/index.php/proverbium/article/view/472, DOI: 29162/pv.41.1.472.
• BABIČ, Saša, VOOLAID, Piret. A sociocultural view of Estonian and Slovenian proverbs on alcohol and drinking. Folklore. Sept. 2023, vol. 134, issue 3, str. 370-394, ilustr. ISSN 0015-587X. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0015587X.2023.2175972, DOI: 1080/0015587X.2023.2175972.
• BABIČ, Saša. Waste and dirt in short folklore forms. Traditiones : zbornik Inštituta za slovensko narodopisje. [Tiskana izd.]. 2020, letn. 49, št. 1, str. 125-139, ilustr. ISSN 0352-0447. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/traditiones/article/view/9099/8225, DOI: 3986/Traditio2020490107.
• BABIČ, Saša. Stereotipna podoba ženske v slovenskih folklornih obrazcih. V: ŽBOGAR, Alenka (ur.). Ustvarjalke v slovenskem jeziku, literaturi in kulturi : 57. seminar slovenskega jezika, literature in kulture : 5.-16. 7. 2021. 1. natis. Ljubljana: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, 2021. Str. 80-88. Zbirka Seminar slovenskega jezika, literature in kulture, 57.