Językowo-kulturowy obraz roślin w litewskich źródłach leksykograficznych Jęczmień jeździ konno, a owies się wozi .......... 135

LINGUISTIC CULTURAL PICTURE OF PLANTS IN LITHUANIAN LEXICOGRAPHIC SOURCES: OAT IS RIDING, WHILE BARLEY IS DRIVING

When reconstructing a fragment of the linguistic world image related to plants, including cereals, we see a particularly rich material of Lithuanian lexicographical sources, which encode the answer to the question: how man perceives the world, how they think about plants, what qualities they attribute to them. Based on Lithuanian lexicographic sources, the article reconstructs the linguistic-cultural image of oats in the Lithuanian language. The research presented in the article was inspired by the Lublin Ethnolinguistic School Liaudies stereotipų ir simbolių žodynas (Dictionary of folk stereotypes and symbols). Ethnolinguistic information about oats can be found in Lithuanian articles, definitions, illustrative sentences, terminological compounds, derivatives of main words, phraseology, paremias, etc. The amount of data on oats allows us to analyze the cultural image of this plant using the methodology developed by the Lublin Ethnolinguistic School. The study focuses on the connection between oats and man’s existence, as well as folk culture, the value of oats to humans, and the evaluation of oats in relation to other cereals. In Lithuanian lexicographic sources, the oat is described as a spring cereal and is used for fodder. Traditionally, oats, rye, wheat, barley, and buckwheat, are classified as food crops. Oats are valued second only to the rye in the culture of the Lithuanian people. Oats are sown and processed together with rye, wheat, barley, buckwheat. Data from dictionaries reflect the comparison and evaluation of these cereals. High-yield oats are a symbol of vitality, fertility and purity, while poorly growing oats are considered of little value. Oats as a cereal, are used in daily diet and for preparing ceremonial meals, and also as a remedy for patients. Folk beliefs reveal the relationship between man and nature. They help man to protect themselves and their crops, hope for a good harvest, predict the weather, and keep to the sequence of farm work. It should be emphasized that lexicographic sources provide much more limited material than folklore narratives. However, with the help of folklore narratives, the material of lexicographic sources allows us to reconstruct a linguistic-cultural picture of plants.