Standard Language / Bendrinė kalba

Editorial Board and Table of Contents

Vilija Sakalauskienė — 2026-01-31

Anthroponymic Terms in the First Lithuanian Psychiatry Textbook of the Inter war Period

Palmira Zemlevičiūtė — 2026-01-14

The article examines anthroponymic terms, i.e., those derived from people’s names and surnames, in the first Lithuanian psychiatry textbook. It describes how anthroponyms become one-word terms, how anthroponyms that function as the subordinate components of compound terms are adapted to the morphological system of the Lithuanian language, and takes a deep dive into the matter of the survival of anthroponymic terms in modern Lithuanian psychiatric terminology. It has been found that any changes that take place in the structure of anthroponyms after they become subordinate components in the process of their transformation into appellatives, also known as appellativisation, are but minimal, with the anthroponyms usually preserving the spelling of the onym, the extent of their Lithuanisation limited to the addition of Lithuanian endings to the authentic root morphemes, preceded by an apostrophe or not. The most significant extent of structural transformation in the process of appellativisation can be observed in the case of anthroponyms as they turn into one-word terms. As a rule, they lose their onymic spelling and become constituent components. All simple anthroponymic terms are still in use in modern Lithuanian psychiatric terminology for their simplicity, international recognition, compact expression. In contrast, their dubious function usually undermines the survival of compound terms as terms, their inaccuracy, the underlying notion being no longer relevant, and so on; on the other hand, some of these terms fall out of the field of psychiatry. Some compound terms have survived only to an extent—the spelling of the anthroponymic element has changed or has been dropped altogether, the definition of the main component has been revised and narrowed down.

The Usage of the Loanword "parkingas" and Its Equivalents in Real Estate Ads

Agnė Aleksaitė-Davidavičienė — 2026-01-14

Kalbos Patarimai (Language Recommendations) classifies parkingas ('parking') as a loanword that should be avoided in standard Lithuanian. Instead, it recommends using the phrase (automobilių) aikštelė ('(car) park') as the normative equivalent. However, language codification does not always align with actual usage trends. Additionally, the general public has proposed alternative translations of this anglicism, with Algis Ramanauskas suggesting the neologism parkvietė as a potential substitute. This study was motivated by examining the relationship between the loanword parkingas and its equivalents in real-world usage, specifically in real estate (RE) advertisements on the portal Aruodas.lt.

The study examines 500 instances in which the loanword parkingas and its equivalents appeared in RE advertisements on Aruodas.lt, collected between January 4, 2024, and September 5, 2024.

Polish Dialectology and the Challenges of the Changing Linguistic Situation in Villages – Earlier Research and a New Description of Dialects in New Conditions (Outline of the Problem)

Maciej Rak — 2026-01-14

Dynamic changes in the linguistic situation in Polish villages necessitate a different approach to the role of dialects in linguistic research. Until now, dialectology has exposed two factors: rurality and geographic differentiation, but it has remained independent from sociolinguistics. Today, dialectology focuses on generational, situational and gender diversity of dialects, that is, on strictly sociolinguistic factors. Dialectology in the new linguistic conditions of the Polish village has evolved into a sub-discipline of sociolinguistics, utilising sociolinguistic methods.

The Image of the School in the Autobiographical Narratives of the Inhabitants of the Šalčininkai District

Violeta Švaikovskaja — 2026-01-20

The study aims to investigate, using the oral history method, the role of school in the autobiographical narratives of older residents in the Šalčininkai district, the prevailing attitudes towards it, and the cultural and social aspects of the past century reflected in the narratives under study.

The research material consists of autobiographical stories of the older generation recorded during the 2012 and 2016 expeditions to the Šalčininkai and Dieveniškės regions. The analysis highlighted the importance and sensitivity of this topic, the impact of hard labour and the dangers of war that distanced the participants from school, as well as their desire to share their experiences with others. A change in attitudes towards school was also observed: as living conditions changed, attending school came to be seen as a natural and accessible phenomenon for all. Finally, the analysed narratives revealed the self-esteem of the participants: a tendency to underestimate and devalue their own achievements, abilities and intelligence, or, conversely, a tendency to emphasise facts that demonstrate their other abilities.

Once Again on the Quantity of Elements i, u in Mixed Diphthongs: Do They Really Not Lengthen in the Dialect Area Closest to the Standard Language?

Rima Bakšienė — 2026-01-21

The article analyses the quantity of the elements of mixed diphthongs i and u in the northwestern part of the Western Aukštaitian subdialect of Kaunas, encompassing the local dialects of Jurbarkas, Šakiai, and Vilkaviškis. The phonological and prosodic structure of these regional dialects is most commonly used as a basis when codifying the norms of standard pronunciation. There is still ongoing debate about the established pronunciation of the acute syllables of this type in the standard language (whether they are short or semi-long), so it is essential to identify their prosodic features in those local dialects that have traditionally been considered an area where the elements i and u do not lengthen and which stands out from the rest of the Lithuanian language system.

Based on the findings of studies conducted using experimental phonetic methods and evaluated with the statistical Student’s t-test, it can be concluded that in the northern part of the Kaunas subdialect, specifically the Jurbarkas area and partly the surroundings of Šakiai, the elements i and u in both acute and circumflex mixed diphthongs should be considered semi-long. Moreover, the lengthening of acute elements becomes more pronounced as we move northward within the described area. The identified prosodic patterns of the Kaunas subdialect should undoubtedly be taken into account when establishing standard pronunciation variants.

Structural Models of Definitions of Animation Terms

Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė — 2026-01-21

The article examines the definitions of animation terms that have not previously been analysed from a terminological perspective and briefly discusses the concept of definition. Using material from animation term glossaries, the study identifies types of definitions and their corresponding structural models. The analysis shows that, in relation to the concept system, definitions can be classified into three categories: systemic, semi-systemic, and non-systemic. Systemic definitions are the most common (56%), with intensional definitions predominating within this group (55%), while extensional definitions are very rare. Non-systemic definitions are the least common (14%). The analysis of structural models of definitions of animation terms shows that intensional and extensional definitions best meet the requirements, as they have a clear logical structure and allow the concept’s place within the system to be established. Other models (descriptive, mixed, incomplete, and encyclopaedic) only partially satisfy terminological needs but can, where necessary, be revised into systemic definitions. Referential and synonymous definitions do not fulfil the function of a proper definition, but they contribute to the consistent presentation of terms in the sources. Overall, the results indicate that all definitions serve specific functions, while their suitability for terminological purposes depends on compliance with the general requirements for drafting definitions.

„Žingeidus“ – To Be Or Not To Be

Daiva Murmulaitytė — 2026-01-29

The article discusses the adjective žingeidus and its derivatives in relation to the norms of standard Lithuanian. This word, which appeared in the 19th century, has been corrected for more than 120 years due to its origin, morphology, and semantics. It is considered a non-standard calque from German, Polish, or Russian that does not comply with Lithuanian word formation rules. Nevertheless, žingeidus is still in use and has a considerable number of cognates. Its non-standard nature is often disputed because the proposed replacement, smalsus, does not have the same meaning.

After evaluating the morphology, derivation, semantics, and synonymic relationships of the adjective žingeidus, reviewing the history of its codification and the reasons for its correction, and examining the current usage of not only the adjective itself but also its derivatives, it becomes clear that there are sufficient reasons to include it in the standard language. Then, žingeidus and its most commonly used derivatives žingeidžiai and žingeidumas should also appear in the Dictionary of the Standard Lithuanian Language. The dictionary entries for these words should reflect their semantic relationship with the adjective smalsus and its derivatives, as well as the differences in their meanings and usage.

Oral History Towards Linguistic and Cultural Studies

Damian Gocół — 2026-01-29

This article discusses the relationship between oral history and linguistic and cultural studies. The author begins by presenting various definitions and approaches to oral history within these fields of knowledge. He focuses on the definitional and methodological proposals put forward by, among others, Jerzy Bartmiński, Linda Watts, Gary Okihiro, Dawid Dunaway, Donald Ritchie, Richard Dorson, Alessandro Portelli, Katja Roller, Natalie Braber, Diane Davies, Anisa Puri, Matthew F. Simmons, and David Carr. He then explores the intersection of various research methods, situating linguistic and cultural studies within an anthropological approach to oral history. He identifies key themes connecting oral history with these disciplines: textuality, narrativity, subjectivity, relationship with memory, and performativity.

Thirty Conferences of Jonas Jablonskis

Irena Smetonienė — 2026-01-29