Kinship terms in the mythological dimension (a case study of Arkhangelsk dialects)

Kinship terms belong to the group of connotative vocabulary. They are easily transferred to the spheres quite distant from protomeanings, and become strongly associated with the animal, vegetable and object world, as well as with abstract concepts. These terms are used as anthroponyms and toponyms; they can be parts of interjection constructions. The analysis of the secondary meanings of kinship terms clearly demonstrates anthropocentrism of the linguistic view of the world. The article discusses the use of the natural kinship terms of Russian pagan pantheon for addressing mythological owners of the house, yard, barn, banya, water, forest, field, and also for designating pagan spirits. It proves the existence of strong connection between paganism and Christianity, which manifests itself in appealing to all the gods simultaneously. Whereas in the Christian tradition the most important kinship terms are associated with the concepts of father, mother, son, in pagan tradition the range of the terms is much wider. They are associated with the concepts of grandmother ~ grandfather, mother ~ father, sister ~ brother, aunt ~ uncle. There are no daughter, son (although there is children), grandchildren and nephews notions. This is the first time when such vast factual material, collected by philologists of Moscow State University in Arkhangelsk region, is introduced into scientific use.