Proto-Finnic loanwords in the Baltic languages? : an old hypothesis revisited
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Ankstyvieji kontaktai tarp finų ir baltų; Baltijos finų kalbos; Baltų kalbos; Etimologijos; Finų kalbos; Finų prokalbė; Kalbiniai kontaktai; Priešistoriniai kontaktai; Skoliniai; Skoliniai iš baltų kalbų; Baltic Finnic languages; Baltic languages; Baltic loanwords; Borrowings; Early contacts between Finnic and Baltic; Etimologies; Etymology; Finnic languages; Language contacts; Prehistoric contacts; Proto-Finnic.
ENIn the Finnic languages there are at least 200–300 Baltic loanwords, which were borrowed already at the Proto-Finnic stage. There are Baltic loanwords in Mordvin and perhaps Mari as well but these were probably borrowed separately. Even the Saamic languages have old Baltic borrowings, though the amount is about ten times smaller in comparison with Finnic. Prehistoric contact resulted in a relatively intensive lexical influence from Baltic to Finnic whereas no unambiguous Finnic or Uralic loans of similar age have been traced in the Baltic languages. Tens of etymologies evidencing early Uralic influence on Baltic have been proposed, but their status is disputed. The aim of this article is to critically scrutinize the proposed etymologies in order to promote the discussion regarding early contacts between Finnic and Baltic. [From the publication]
