Disparate cognates: Polish brzoza vs. English birch
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Rychlo_Disparate_cognates_Polish_brzoza_2026.pdf (552.43 KB)
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0000-0003-1821-7219 Date
2026
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University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is twofold: firstly, to explain the difference between the pair of cognates: Polish brzoza and English birch; and secondly, to reveal the reason why these cognates cannot be brought back to identical proto-forms. It is suggested that the English birch developed from a collective formation, which underwent the process of singularization. The front vowel in the original collective suffix caused i-mutation and palatalization of the voiceless velar plosive. Consequently, Polish brzoza and English birch cannot be considered exact cognates. The study also has several implications for the method of contrasting cognates.
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Rychło, M. (2026). Disparate cognates: Polish brzoza vs. English birch. In Lege artis. Language yesterday, today, tomorrow. Trnava: University of SS Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, XI (1), p. 125-141.