THE COLLOCATION HOLUBIČÍ NÁROD ‘DOVE-LIKE NATION’ AND HOLUBIČIA POVAHA/NÁTURA ‘DOVE-LIKE NATURE’ IN CONTEMPORARY SLOVAK JOURNALISM

• Authors: Hebal-Jezierska Milena
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article explores the linguistic expression holubičí národ (“dove-like nation”) and the related collocations holubičia povaha/nátura (“dove-like nature”). The research material was drawn from the Slovak language corpus prim-10.0-public-sane (journalistic subcorpus) as well as from general Slovak language dictionaries. Particular attention is given to semantic shifts in these expressions, their deviations from prototypical meanings, the functioning of modified meanings in specific contexts, and their axiological dimensions. To trace meanings and metaphors, the study examines the definitions of the analysed lexemes and their paradigmatic relations. The use of the collocations holubičí národ and holubičia povaha/nátura in Slovak journalism and public discourse reflects an ongoing, intense debate about the auto-stereotypical characterization of Slovaks encapsulated in the concept of a dove-like nation. This process is evident in the semantic shift of the term, which originally denoted a nation characterized by peacefulness, tolerance, and moral integrity. Over time, however, it has acquired negative connotations, suggesting cowardice, a lack of assertiveness, and an absence of significant achievements. These semantic transformations align with the metaphor of the non-warrior, which emerges from both corpus occurrences and an analysis of the definition and paradigmatic relations of the adjective holubičí as well as the collocations holubičí národ and holubičia povaha/nátura.

Keywords

EN

SLOVAK LANGUAGE; DOVE-LIKE NATION; NON-WARRIOR METAPHOR; SEMANTIC ANALYSIS; STEREOTYPE

• Publisher: Ludovit Stur Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Slovenská reč (Slovak Language)
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 90
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 107 – 125

Contributors

author

Hebal-Jezierska Milena

• University of Warsaw, Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Philology, Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, Warszawa, PolandSLOVAK LANGUAGE DOVE-LIKE NATION NON-WARRIOR METAPHOR SEMANTIC ANALYSIS STEREOTYPE

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6325-3545

Identifiers

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31577/slovrec.2025.2.6