| Summary: | Animal themes in vernacular names of wild-growing plants (englanti)2/1998 (102)Jarna KarhuAnimal themes in vernacular names of wild-growing plants In the article the writer discusses the vernacular names of wild-growing plants that include the name of an animal, such as koiranputki (koira 'dog'; Engl. 'cow parsley'), kissankello (kissa 'cat'; Engl. 'harebell') and hevonhierakka (hevonen 'horse'; Engl. 'northern dock'). Most animal-themed plant names are compounds whose modifier is the genitive form of an animal name, and whose principal element is a nominal with the meaning of a plant. The most commonly occurring animals in vernacular plant names are hevonen, nauta 'bovine animal' (also hrk 'ox, bull', lehm 'cow', mulli 'bull calf'), koira, harakka 'magpie' and sika 'pig'.Animal-themed names have been used above all for plants which are not useful to man, and in particular for plants which are not fit to eat especially berries. For example variksenmarja (Engl. 'crowberry', Empetrum nigrum) has commonly been called harakanmustikka, karhunmustikka, kissanmustikka or sianmustikka (mustikka 'blueberry, bilberry', modified by magpie, bear, cat and pig, respectively). From these names it is clear that variksenmarja has been compared with the edible berry mustikka.There are also many names which have been motivated by the shape of the plant or a part of it, for example the name koirankieli (kieli 'tongue'; Engl. 'hound's-tongue') is motivated by the plant's oblong leaves, and hrnsilm (silm 'eye'; Engl. 'cat's-ear') by the bright-coloured flowers or blossoms. If the name features hevonen, hrk or karhu, this could indicate that the plant is large in size. Correspondingly, hiiri 'mouse', kissa and lintu 'bird' often suggest smallness or slenderness. A plant name may also feature the name of the animal for which the plant has been used as medication or food, or which can be driven away using the plant. Some plants, on the other hand, which grow either in water or wet places may have fish-themed names. Folk etymology, too, ...
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