ABOUT THE VERB ‘ĆUTATI’ IN SERBIAN LANGUAGE

Abstract

This paper is focused on various lexical units which have the root ćut- in their basis. The focal point is the verb ćutati: various meanings taken from normative and dialectical dictionaries (‘to be silent’, ‘to be still’, ‘to feel’) are compared and contrasted, followed by a review of the subject in the folk epic and proverbs. In addition to that, the meanings of the verb are also compared to the meanings of derivatives. Special attention is drawn to semantic transformations, while simultaneously trying to recognize the mechanisms which enabled (or conditioned) the development of meaning of the verb in Serbian language. Furthermore, the possible influence of culture aspects of ćutanje (‘being silent’) on the meaning of the verb is pointed out.