engleski

Non timber forest products linguistic diversity: the case of mushrooms

Mushrooms have a special position in many cultures where they are used as food, medicine, handicrafts, have special cultural significance as symbols or in rituals and are a motivation for forest recreation. However, there is also a dark side to mushrooms which are also associated with poisoning, decay and death. This dichotomy is reflected in the separation of mycophilic (mushroom‐loving) and mycophobic (mushroom‐fearing) cultures. The aim of this research is to examine the diversity and coherence of European mushroom cultures through the lens of linguistic analysis of mushroom names focusing on (a) names for two ubiquitous, wild mycorrhizal mushrooms common and commonly used across Europe (1) the cep (Boletus edulis) and (2) the chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and (b) "national" mushroom species, which are culturally significant within countries. Collection of names was undertaken by the members of COST Action FP1203 Working Group 1 ‐ Mushroom and Truffles. All names including dialect variations and synonyms, the literal meaning of the name and etymology were recorded. To date, we have collected more than 1, 400 names from 28 countries. The cep is represented in our results with almost 300 names and the chanterelle with more than 400 names, while 41 other species are mentioned as "nationally important". Concerning the use, most species mentioned are characterized as edible with few references to commercial, poisonous, medicinal or handicraft material. Our next step is the classification of these names to different folk categories, which would group names according to whether they refer to: habitat description, colour, shape, relation to persons or animals etc. We hypothesize that the number and diversity of names is an index of the extent to which a culture is mycophilic or mycophobic. Furthermore transference of names from one language to another should reflect the changing nature and extent of homogenisation of European mushroom cultures.

Europe, fungi, vernacular names

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