Mediterraneanisms and Colloquial Maritime Terminology in Croatia

Abstract

The course and direction of development of maritime terminology on the eastern Adriatic coast followed the rhythm of socio-economic changes and stronger or weaker trade relations with the Mediterranean countries, especially with the Italian maritime republics. Thus, the impact of foreign languages is greater in the maritime terminology than in any other field. Croatia, i.e. its coast, has through centuries been a part of various social and political systems. It was not before the mid 19th century that the national awareness and integrative tendencies became stronger, hence the need for education in the mother tongue. Thus began the systematization of the Croatian maritime terminology. Its development will be accompanied by the coexistence of the two terminology systems, standardized and colloquial terms. Colloquial terms are still widely used in the language of our seafarers and seaside population due to the centuries-long trade relations with the Mediterranean countries. This paper describes the circumstances leading up to the development of the maritime terminology in Croatia, France and Italy, countries that had dynamic trade relations and direct maritime contacts. The similarity among the Croatian maritime idioms, Italian dialects, and French terminology mostly dates back to the time of sailing, whereby the commands and terms for parts of ship, ropes and rigging stand out. For the selected colloquial terms that are still, more or less frequently, used in the eastern Adriatic coast, and that originate from the given time, it will be determined whether there are their equivalents in French and Italian in the 18th and 19th century sources (the period of an intensive contact among these countries).

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n10p119