Potencjał semantyczno-pragmatyczny leksemów bydło i skot w języku polskim i rosyjskim

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the etymology and semantics of the words bydlo and skot. The analysis is based on data from dictionaries that describe both the Polish and Russian general language and their dialectical variations. Language data shows that bydlo and skot lexems have features in common but also many differences. Their meanings have evolved over the centuries. Directions of semantic shifts are surprising in many definitions. The complexity of the connotations is complemented by Polish and Russian paremias (proverbs).