Slavic vs. Slavonic

[Bjoern Wiemer]

Hello,

I am a German scholar dealing with Slavonic (Slavic??) languages and would
be anxious to know whether there are any obliging terminological norms as to
how we should name the languages of our investigations in press. Is it
'Slavonic' or 'Slavic'? Is this a question of personal preferences or are
there meaningful distinctions that have to be borne in mind when using these
adjectives?
        Sometimes I have the feeling that the latter is used rather with
respect to ethnic groups (prehistorical tribes, nations etc.), whereas the
former seems to be preferred for naming the language(s). Am I correct?
        The same, mutatis mutandis, concerns the name of people dealing with
these languages: are we 'Slavists' or 'Slavicists'?

        I should be grateful for competent comments on this topic and shall
be willing to deliver a summary of respective replies.

        And - by the way - Happy New Year!

Bjoern Wiemer.


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Bjoern Wiemer
Universitaet Konstanz
Philosophische Fakultaet / FG Sprachwissenschaft - Slavistik
Postfach 55 60 - D 179
D- 78457 Konstanz

e-mail: Bjoern.Wiemer at uni-konstanz.de
tel.: 07531 / 88- 2582
fax:  07531 / 88- 4007
                - 2741

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