ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ

Institute of the Lithuanian Language

THE WORDS SHRUB, SUBSHRUB, BUSH, SMALL SHRUB

CONCEPTUALIZATION (BASED ON A STUDENT SURVEY)

KEYWORDS: survey, meaning, semantic analysis, feature, definition, terminology, shrub, subshrub, bush, small shrub.

ABSTRACT

The subject of this article is the words shrub, subshrub, bush, small shrub. It was observed that people do not readily distinguish between them, although the terminological meanings of these words differ. The article sought to examine not their terminological meanings, but the contemporary everyday understanding of the words. A student survey was chosen as the research method. The article set out to identify, classify, and discuss the features of shrubs, subshrubs, bushes, and small shrubs recorded in students’ responses. The study found that the features identified, especially those of subshrubs and bushes, differ considerably from the features given in the definitions provided by the Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

This article is part of a series of articles by the authors devoted to examining the conceptualization of certain plants¹. Earlier articles examined how the words plant and flower are understood in public usage, how they are defined, and how many meanings dictionaries distinguish. Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian, and English dictionaries were consulted, material was collected from the Corpus of Contemporary Lithuanian, and student survey data were examined. While analyzing the material collected and writing these articles (especially the one about the flower), it was observed that understandings of what constitutes a shrub and a subshrub vary greatly, so it was decided to investigate the matter further. About specific shrubs and subshrubs,

¹ See Gaidienė, Liutkevičienė 2017; Gaidienė, Liutkevičienė 2018a; Gaidienė, Liutkevičienė 2018b for more details.

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 2

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

...have written about shrubs—lilac, sea-buckthorn, bird cherry, dogwood, maple, guelder rose, willow, and so on.²—folklorists, ethnologists, linguists, and others; however, the more general plant names have not attracted researchers’ attention.

The aim of this article is to investigate the contemporary understanding of the words krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis and krūmelis on the basis of student survey results and to compare it with the definitions provided in the Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia (hereinafter VLEₑ). Since the understanding of four words was investigated, it was decided, given the volume of material, to limit the study to analysis of the survey results and leave corpus and dictionary material for subsequent research. The article sets out to identify, classify, and discuss the characteristics of krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis and krūmelis recorded in students’ responses, and to compare them with the characteristics given in the VLEₑ definitions.

METHODOLOGY AND THEORETICAL ASSUMPTIONS

Research methods: semantic analysis, comparative method, calculation, and surveys.

The survey included 100 students from different levels of study and faculties at three Lithuanian universities—not only in the capital but also in a smaller city. Students were selected for the study because they are a very diverse, heterogeneous group of people³. As Kristina Rutkovska, Marius Smetona, and Irena Smetonienė state, “students are generally a group that has retained the outlook of their parents and grandparents but has already acquired new perspectives at school and university and, most importantly, is more connected to the present, accessing information more easily through the latest technologies, social networks, and the media” (Rutkovska et al. 2017: 32). Students in the exact sciences accounted for 37 percent of all respondents, those in the social sciences for 45 percent, and those in the humanities for 18 percent (see Table 1 for details). Women accounted for 56 percent of respondents (3 percent of them were in the exact sciences, 63 percent in the social sciences, and 32 percent in the humanities), while men accounted for 44 percent of all respondents (77 percent of them were in the exact sciences, 23 percent in the social sciences, and 0 percent in the humanities).

² See Gliva et al. 2010; Gritėnienė 2016; Kregždys 2012; Šeškauskaitė 2004.

³ The survey was conducted from February to May 2019. The authors sincerely thank Associate Professor Dr. Rasuolė Vladarskienė of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Dr. Ilona Čiužauskaitė of Mykolas Romeris University, and Associate Professor Dr. Jolanta Vaskelienė of Šiauliai University, who helped conduct the student survey.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 3

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

Women who spent their childhood and early youth in the countryside accounted for 26 percent of all women surveyed, while men in this category accounted for 30 percent of all men surveyed. Women who spent their childhood and early youth in a city accounted for 64 percent of all women surveyed, while men in this category accounted for 52 percent of all men surveyed. The third group consisted of students who said they had spent their childhood and early youth both in a city and in the countryside. Women in this group accounted for 9 percent of all women surveyed, and men for 18 percent of all men surveyed (see Table 1 for details).

TABLE 1. Distribution of respondents by gender and field of study, number

Field | Gender | Women | Men | Total | from countryside | from city | from city and countryside | from countryside | from city | from city and countryside | Exact sciences | – | 3 | – | 11 | 18 | 5 | 37 | Social sciences | 6 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 45 | Humanities | 9 | 8 | 1 | – | – | – | 18 | Total (location) | 15 | 36 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 8 | 100 | Total (gender) | 56 (56 percent) | 44 (44 percent) | 100

Thus, the respondents surveyed can be divided into 13 groups:

1. men from the countryside, students in the exact sciences;

2. men from the countryside, students in the social sciences;

3. men from the city, students in the exact sciences;

4. men from the city, students in the social sciences;

5. men from the city / countryside, students in the social sciences;

6. men, from the city / from the countryside, students of exact sciences;

7. women, from the countryside, students of social sciences;

8. women, from the countryside, students of humanities;

9. women, from the city, students of exact sciences;

10. women, from the city, students of humanities;

11. women, from the city, students of social sciences;

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 4

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

12. women, from the city, from the countryside, students of social sciences;

13. women, from the city / from the countryside, students of humanities.

The women surveyed were approximately 18 to 27 years old, while the men were 19 to 28 years old. Some of the women studying humanities were older (see Table 2).

TABLE 2. Distribution of respondents by age

Field Gender Women Men Exact sciences field 19, 23 21–24 Social sciences field 18–23, 25, 27 19, 20, 23 Humanities field 19–24, 45 – Total 100 respondents

The survey included nine open-ended questions (see 1–9), for which respondents had to write an answer formulated in their own words, and five closed-ended questions (see 10–14), which respondents had to answer yes or no; however, it should be noted that they could choose more than one answer option.

Respondents were asked the following questions:

1. Describe in your own words what a shrub is to you.

2. In your opinion, what are the main characteristics of a shrub?

3. In your opinion, how does a shrub differ from a tree?

4. What, in your opinion, is a subshrub, and what are its main characteristics?

5. In your opinion, does a subshrub differ in any way from a shrub? If so, how?

6. What, in your opinion, is a dwarf shrub, and what are its main characteristics?

7. In your opinion, does a dwarf shrub differ in any way from a shrub? If so, how?

8. In your opinion, does a dwarf shrub differ in any way from a subshrub? If so, how?

9. What, in your opinion, is a small shrub?

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 5

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

10. Is lilac⁴ a) a tree, b) a shrub, c) a subshrub, d) a dwarf shrub, e) a perennial herb? More than one answer may be selected.

11. Is raspberry a) a shrub, b) a subshrub, c) a dwarf shrub, d) a perennial herb? More than one answer may be selected.

12. Is oregano a) a shrub, b) a subshrub, c) a dwarf shrub, d) a perennial herb? More than one answer may be selected.

13. Is thyme a) a shrub, b) a subshrub, c) a dwarf shrub, d) a perennial herb? More than one answer may be selected.

14. Is mint a) a shrub, b) a subshrub, c) a dwarf shrub, d) a perennial herb? More than one answer may be selected.

Analysis of all the questionnaires revealed no significant differences between the answers of men and women, between the answers of those who had grown up in the countryside and those who had grown up in a city, or between the answers of representatives of different fields of study. Therefore, the collected material was subsequently analyzed without dividing the respondents into groups. This means that respondents’ sex, background, and field of study do not greatly influence students’ knowledge of the concepts of the plants examined, apparently because, given similar living and learning conditions, today’s young people have broadly equal opportunities to obtain information about the environment around them.

The closed-ended questions in the survey sought to determine whether the differences among three ⁵ words—shrub, subshrub, dwarf shrub—are understood in practice; that is, which of these words are used to name specific plants (lilac, raspberry, oregano, thyme, and mint).

At first glance, there might seem to be rather a lot of open-ended questions⁶, but in fact, to encourage students to answer as fully as possible, the same questions were posed several times, only phrased somewhat differently. Thus, the questions asked essentially amounted to the following:

a) What is a shrub, and what are its main characteristics?

b) What is a subshrub, and what are its main characteristics?

c) What is a shrublet, and what are its main characteristics?

This method proved effective, since some respondents answered the first question very briefly, rather vaguely, or not at all, but formulated their answers to the other two questions (or

⁴Questions 10–14 were presented to the students with photographs of the respective plants.

⁵The word krūmelis is not a term, so respondents were not asked about its meaning in closed-ended questions.

⁶ Plačiau apie anketavimo metodus plg. Rutkovska ir kt. 2017: 32–33.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis

samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 6

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

at least one of them) in much greater detail, making it possible to establish what respondents considered/called a shrub; cf.:

1. “Describe in your own words what a shrub is to you”⁷: (a) plant; (b) a low-growing plant; (c) –; (d) a shrub is a tree, a plant.

2. “In your opinion, what are the main characteristics of a shrub?”^?: (a) branches, leaves; (b) short in stature, with many branches; (c) shrub; (d) many branches, crowns, rounded.

3. “In your opinion, how does a shrub differ from a tree?”: (a) shrubs are usually shorter and more branched, while trees have one trunk; (b) in height, weight, density; (c) a shrub is small, whereas a tree is a plant; (d) a shrub is smaller and flowers; trees do too, of course, but shrubs flower in a greater variety of ways.

Respondent (a)’s answer indicates that, in their opinion, the main characteristics of a shrub are ‘a plant’; ‘shorter than a tree’; ‘having many branches’; ‘having several trunks’⁸.

Respondent (b) considers the main characteristics of a shrub to be ‘a plant; smaller than a tree’; ‘having many branches (offshoots)’; ‘denser than a tree’⁹; ‘lighter than a tree’¹⁰.

Respondent (c)’s answers are unusual; cf.: the main characteristic of a shrub is that it is a shrub; a shrub is small, whereas a tree is a plant—it is unclear why this contrast is made, since a shrub is also a plant. However, even from such statements, at least one characteristic of a shrub can be discerned: ‘small’ (if compared with a tree). Respondent (d)’s answers indicate that the main characteristics of a shrub are ‘a plant’; ‘having many branches (crowns)’; ‘rounded in shape’; ‘flowering’; and ‘smaller than a tree’.

The same applies to answers to questions concerning subshrubs and dwarf shrubs.

It should be noted that the article examines even the least frequently mentioned characteristics of these plants. This approach was chosen because the questionnaire data are expected to be compared in the future with data from other sources, where the frequency of characteristics may be quite different.

The survey data were processed manually. The answers are presented in the article as numbers and percentages.

⁷The students’ language was edited very lightly in the article; only grammatical errors were corrected.

⁸ The respondent does not mention several trunks, but this conclusion can be drawn from the statement that trees have one trunk (and thus differ from shrubs).

⁹ The respondent uses the word density; theoretically, the opposite could also be inferred—that a shrub is less dense than a tree—but such an interpretation is nevertheless questionable.

¹⁰ The respondent uses the word weight; perhaps what is meant is not so much lightness or heaviness as volume.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 7

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

ANALYSIS OF THE STUDENT SURVEY RESULTS

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF A SHRUB IDENTIFIED BY STUDENTS

VLE shrub is defined as “a perennial plant with several or a dozen or so woody stems of approximately equal thickness, branching from the ground surface or close to it, and 0.5–6 m tall.”

Analysis of the survey data showed that the students surveyed mentioned 20 characteristics of a shrub. Many respondents identified several characteristics rather than just one. The article’s authors decided to break down these characteristics and count how often each one was mentioned. Thus, although there were one hundred respondents, the total number of mentions of all the characteristics was considerably higher¹¹.

All the characteristics of a shrub mentioned were divided into three groups: 1) shrub in the general sense (2 characteristics, 10 percent), 2) external characteristics of a shrub (14 characteristics, 70 percent), and 3) internal characteristics of a shrub (4 characteristics, 20 percent). The group of characteristics shrub in the general sense comprised, as its name suggests, the most general descriptions of a shrub. The group external characteristics of a shrub included characteristics that can be perceived through sight, touch, and so on—in other words, things that people themselves see and perceive in everyday life. Internal characteristics of a shrub are more closely related to the internal properties of the plants under study (reproduction, cell structure, and so on).

1.1. Shrub in the general sense

1.1.1. 87 respondents stated that a shrub is, first and foremost, a ‘plant’. When asked what a shrub meant to them, 15 of them identified only a) this characteristic, cf.: plant; a shrub is a plant; to me, a shrub is a plant, or b) added another debatable characteristic, cf.: a shrub is a flower / plant; a shrub is a tree, a plant. One answer, which most likely meant the same thing—that a shrub is a plant—was phrased rather complexly: a shrub is a category of organism of plant origin.

1.1.2. One respondent stated that a shrub is part of nature.

¹¹ The same applies to the answers to questions about subshrubs, dwarf shrubs, and small shrubs.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 8

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

1.2. External characteristics of a shrub

1.2.1. 79 respondents thought that a very important characteristic of a shrub is its ‘size’12.

Most respondents did not compare the size of a shrub with anything, cf. the answer options: very small; small; short; low; low-growing; not tall; not tall-growing; of modest height; modest-sized; of modest height; usually modest-sized; not very tall; not tall; does not grow tall; does not grow very tall; small or large; large.

Some students compared the size of a shrub with the size of a tree, cf.: ((much) smaller than a tree; finer than a tree; (much) shorter than a tree; with a trunk shorter than a tree’s; a reduced tree; not as tall as a tree. The third group, of whom there were only 4–1, indicated a specific height that they considered typical of a shrub: grows to hip–chest level; 0.5 m tall; up to 1 m tall; 1 m tall.

As can be seen, the size of a shrub is imagined in very different ways—from very small to large. Nevertheless, for many respondents a shrub is a ‘small’ plant. In fact, a shrub, as already mentioned earlier, can grow to as much as six metres in height, but hardly anyone imagines (and the survey confirms this) a shrub to be that tall; thus one of the most typical characteristics of a shrub is ‘smallness’, at least in comparison with a tree.

1.2.2. 70 respondents mentioned ‘branchiness’ as one of the main characteristics of a shrub. First of all, students said that a shrub ‘has branches’, cf.: can have branches¹³; has branches; with branches; branchy; branched; consists of a mass of branches; with a crown; with a tangle of branches; has (very) many branches; has many branchings; many branched branches; many branches in one place; many larger and smaller twigs; a huge network of twigs; more branched than a tree; has more branches (twigs) than a tree; a shrub is a very branchy tree.

Some respondents tried to describe the branches of a shrub; they think that a shrub’s ‘branches are dense’¹⁴, ‘thin, small’, cf. the answer options: with small twigs; thin branches; made up of small branches; has no thick (large) branches (author’s note: like a tree); many small branches; many twigs; many small and thin branches; narrow twigs, and there may be more of them in one place.

12 In most cases, height is meant, but in some cases respondents probably had both height and width in mind (small, large), which is why this characteristic is referred to as ‘size’ rather than ‘height’.

13 A rather strange answer, suggesting that a shrub may also have no branches; indeed, one answer was exactly that: “has no branches”.

14 The characteristic of the shrub as a whole (not just its branches)—density—is discussed below, where examples of dense branches are also added.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 9

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

According to a couple of students, a shrub’s branches are ‘long’¹⁵, thin, but ‘strong’¹⁶. Some respondents also indicated ‘how shrub branches grow’; cf.: branched from ground level; branches closer to the ground than a tree’s¹⁷.

Thus, the typical features of a shrub identified by many respondents would be ‘extensive branching’ and ‘branch density’. Additional features are ‘thinness’, ‘length’, and ‘strength’; it is also mentioned that a shrub ‘branches from ground level’.

1.2.3. Fifty-seven respondents, when describing a shrub, cite ‘the characteristics of the shrub’s trunk (stem)’¹⁸ as an important feature. First, quite a few respondents believe that shrubs ‘do not have trunks’, while some consider the shrub’s trunks to be branches; cf.: trunkless; has no stem; has no (single) trunk; has no single distinct trunk; a tree has a trunk, a shrub does not; it is a plant whose trunk is not prominent; there is no single common trunk; has no single main trunk; has no distinct, thick trunk; the main trunk is not visible; the trunk is more visible in trees (author’s note: than in shrubs); has no single trunk, but has many branches; has no trunk, the branches start at ground level; has no single trunk, it consists of a cluster of branches; a shrub is a plant growing from a root, made up of intertwined branches, usually small.

Other respondents emphasize that a shrub ‘has several trunks’; cf.: often has several trunks; it is a plant with several trunks; has a few trunks; has many stems; has a cluster of hard, woody trunks; has a great many trunks; differs from a tree in the number of trunks; a tree has a prominent trunk, while a shrub is made up of several stumps; a shrub has more trunks than a tree.

It is also noted that a shrub’s trunk is ‘thin’, at least thinner than a tree’s: has a thin trunk; has a not-thick trunk; trunks are thinner than a tree’s; a thin and long trunk, smaller than a tree’s; differs from a tree in trunk thickness; a tree has a thick trunk, while a shrub does not; a tree’s trunk is thicker and wider (author’s note: than a shrub’s).

It is said that a shrub’s trunk is not only thin but also ‘short’, shorter than a tree’s: has no long trunk; with a short trunk; a lower trunk than a tree’s; stem

¹⁵ Only one respondent says this.

¹⁶ Only one respondent says this.

¹⁷ This feature is closely related to the shrub feature discussed below—its trunk characteristics.

¹⁸ The terms kamienas and stiebas denote different concepts, but for non-specialists, in most cases, when speaking of a tree and a shrub, kamienas and stiebas are synonyms. This understanding is also recorded in some dictionaries, even in school textbooks. However, this topic requires more serious research, so for now it is sufficient to say that in this article kamienas and stiebas are treated as synonyms, and the word kamienas will be used when describing shrub characteristics.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 10

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

smaller than a tree; a tree has a long trunk, shrubs do not; a tree has a tall (large) trunk, a shrub does not; differs from a tree in the size of its trunk¹⁹.

As can be seen, a considerable proportion of respondents believe that a shrub has no trunks, regarding them as branches. In fact, this is not so: shrub branches grow on trunks (stems). However, this opinion is understandable, since visually shrub trunks do indeed resemble branches. Another group of respondents thinks otherwise and identifies a very important characteristic of a shrub—‘several trunks’. Moreover, they describe these trunks as ‘thin’ and ‘short’. In this case, shortness is relative; this is also emphasized in the answers—the trunks are short when compared with tree trunks. As mentioned in footnote eleven, shrubs can also grow very tall.

1.2.4. 48 respondents considered ‘having leaves’ or ‘being prickly’ an important characteristic of a shrub. Most of those surveyed simply stated that a shrub ‘has leaves’, e.g.: leaves; has leaves; a plant that has leaves; a leafy plant; has a crown of leaves; many leaves; many branches or leaves; with twigs or leaves²⁰; the trunks are covered with leaves right from the roots. Some respondents mentioned not only that there are many leaves, but also that they are ‘small’: small leaves; tiny leaves; small, tiny leaves; usually has small leaves; has many leaflets.

Leaves were cited as a distinguishing feature between a tree and a shrub, e.g.: more leaves than a tree; has more leaves than a tree (if the shrub is deciduous); a shrub is a leafy tree²¹; different leaves from those of a tree.

Several respondents stated that a shrub can be not only ‘leafy’ but also ‘prickly’, cf.: a leafy or prickly plant; with leaves or needles; has leaves, can sometimes have needles. Some answers are not entirely clear, e.g.: prickly; a shrub is a prickly plant; prickly, round in shape; many branches, perhaps needles; can prick; a shrub is a stinging plant. From such answers, one might infer that there are no deciduous shrubs, only conifers. However, the last two answers (can prick; a shrub is a stinging plant) are ambiguous, since not only needles but also dense branches can sting or prick.

Summarizing respondents’ answers about ‘having leaves’ and ‘being prickly’, it can be said that ‘having leaves’ is a typical characteristic of a shrub. In addition, shrub leaves are thought to be ‘smaller than a tree’s’ and ‘more numerous’. ‘Having needles’ is mentioned much less often.

¹⁹ What is probably meant here is not only height but also width.

²⁰ An odd formulation; it would seem that a shrub can have either twigs or leaves, but not both.

²¹ It can be understood to mean that a shrub has more leaves than a tree.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis

samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 11

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

1.2.5. 22 respondents indicated that a shrub is ‘dense, lush’, cf. the responses: density; dense; quite dense; very dense; dense branches; many dense branches; densely covered with branches; branches denser than a tree’s; branch density (much) greater than a tree’s; with broad and dense branches; many dense twigs; a dense mixture of branches and leaves; dense, small leaves; denser than a tree; more branches in one place than on a tree; tree leaves are not as dense; differs from a tree in density (having many branches); lushness; a lush plant; very lush, lusher than a tree; a plant with many branches that is difficult to get through.

The shrub characteristic ‘density, lushness’ is quite clear and typical. Respondents state that ‘the plant itself is dense’, ‘its branches are dense’, and ‘its leaves are dense’. One respondent even emphasizes that it is difficult to get through a shrub—that is what ‘density’ means. In this case, ‘lushness’ means more or less the same thing.

1.2.6. 15 respondents mentioned ‘shape’ as one of the important characteristics of a shrub, ‘shape’, but not everyone specified what that shape is, e.g.: a shape different from a tree; an irregular, indefinite shape; a (dense branch-and-leaf) mixture forming some kind of shape; (has many leafy twigs and) forms some kind of shape; round; a rounded shape; usually convex in shape; a loose shape; a human-formed shape and grows uniformly in all directions; growing upwards and outwards; flourishing in all directions.

The following shrub characteristics can be distinguished from these responses: ‘round, convex shape’; ‘growing equally lushly in all directions’. One respondent speaks of the visual ‘untidiness’ of this growth, while another, on the contrary, states that a shrub’s ‘shape is formed by people’. Presumably, both respondents are right, since the shape of some shrubs is cultivated, but certainly not all. There were also some quite vivid responses—has a shape larger than a single flower.

1.2.7. Another group of responses is related to the shape of a shrub: 12 respondents noted that a shrub is ‘wide’, cf.: wide; widely branching; branches spread widely; not spreading upwards but growing broadly; a shrub spreads out in width; large in width, not height; short in stature, covering a large area; wider than a tree.

1.2.8. 9 respondents identified its ‘purpose’ as an important characteristic of a shrub: a plant that effectively blocks the view; to protect from the wind; to partition off space; in the countryside, instead of a fence; a place to hide in; differs from a tree in its purpose²²; a plant intended to decorate yards; to make a yard beautiful; there are many shrubs in Lithuania, but not all are beautiful, and sometimes they are unnecessary.

²² However, the specific purpose was not indicated.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 12

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

As can be seen, a shrub can also be described by its purpose. Very tentatively, one could say that this purpose is twofold: a shrub can be used as a kind of cover (to screen something from view or cover something) and as a decorative element. The author of the final comment sees a shrub only as an ornament—if a shrub is not ‘beautiful’, then it is ‘unnecessary’.

1.2.9. 8 respondents believe that a shrub is characterized by ‘berries’ or ‘fruit’, cf.: can have berries; some produce berries; often produces berries, differs from a tree because a tree produces larger fruit; producing berries; a plant <...> capable of bearing fruit; fruit-bearing; an abundance of fruit; differs from a tree in that berries do not grow on a tree²³.

‘Being able to bear berries or fruit’ is a fairly typical characteristic of a shrub, but few respondents mentioned it. Perhaps young people do not conceive of a shrub as a fruit-bearing shrub.

1.2.10. 7 respondents mentioned a shrub’s ‘color’: green; green plant; green color; lots of green; green leaves; has green leaves in the warm season; its color changes with the seasons. Some students call the entire plant ‘green’, while others refer only to its leaves; however, given that a shrub has many leaves (or needles), this is practically the same thing. Visually, most shrubs are green. It is true that this is also related to seasonality: when it gets cold, most deciduous shrubs shed their leaves, so their color changes. This is also recorded in the final response.

1.2.11. As one of the characteristics, 6 respondents noted that a shrub has ‘roots’.

This is understandable, since the same students also stated that shrubs have branches, leaves, and so on; in other words, they listed the shrub’s structure. One respondent identified roots as a distinguishing characteristic between a shrub and a tree: it differs from a tree in that a tree’s roots are larger and the tree itself is larger.

1.2.12. 5 respondents considered a shrub’s ‘flowers’ important, cf.: flowers; an abundance of flowers; can produce flowers; a shrub flowers, and trees obviously do too, but shrubs flower in more varied ways; usually has no flowers. Although few respondents identify ‘flowers’ (or ‘flowering’) as a characteristic, their answers nevertheless range from ‘an abundance of flowers’ to ‘having no flowers’. One respondent also notes the ‘variety of flowers’ on shrubs. In fact, it can be said that almost all the answers are correct. All shrubs flower, but the flowers of some are difficult to notice or recognize; therefore, the response usually has no flowers can simply be understood to mean that the observer does not see those flowers.

²³ An inaccurate description: for example, cherry and plum trees can be either trees (fruit trees) or shrubs (fruit-bearing shrubs), yet they bear fruit; cf. VLE: https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/slyvos-87620, https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/vysnios-108346.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 13

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

1.2.13. The answers of the third respondents can be summarized as ‘the overall appearance of a bush’: a tree is much more beautiful than a bush; a tree simply has a large bush on a long trunk; a bush can consist of several trees.

The first example shows that beauty matters to one of the respondents, and that he regards bushes quite skeptically in this respect. We may recall the sentence already mentioned when discussing the purpose of a bush: There are many bushes in Lithuania, but not all are beautiful; sometimes they are unnecessary. These are answers from two different people. The other two examples given are odd, but indeed vivid.

1.2.14. One respondent also mentions the bush’s ‘growth pattern’:A bush is a small, tree-like plant that grows singly or in a dense cluster.

1.3. Internal characteristics of a bush

1.3.1. Certain structural features of bushes were considered important by 9 respondents. ‘Structural features.’ Eight respondents mentioned ‘the degree of woodiness’ as a characteristic of a bush, cf.: herbaceous plant; the branches are not very strong and woody compared with a tree; woody stems; usually a woody plant; a woody plant. In fact, a bush’s stems are entirely woody, so 6 of the 8 respondents identified the correct characteristic—‘woody or with a woody stem’. One respondent noted that a bush ‘has chloroplasts²⁴’.

1.3.2. Ten respondents mentioned characteristics of a bush related to ‘life cycles’; three of them emphasized the ‘seasonality’ of a bush’s life: it has many leaves, which it usually sheds in winter; it has green leaves in the warm season; its color changes with the seasons.

Three respondents identified ‘a perennial plant’ as a characteristic of a bush. Another four answers were also related to a bush’s life: a plant that lives on sunlight and water; production of seeds; growth; it differs from a tree in its method of reproduction.

1.3.3. Eight respondents consider a bush’s ‘place of growth’ to be one of its characteristics: there are many of them in Lithuania; a plant often found in Lithuania; a plant that grows in nature; a plant that grows outdoors; it can be found throughout the forest; it usually grows in forests or near roads, where people rarely go; often found in the city, as well as in the countryside (instead of a fence); usually grows in the yard.

The answers make it clear that respondents have quite different ideas about where bushes can grow. It is quite obvious that a bush is a typical Lithuanian plant. It is also clear that a bush, like any plant, is thought to usually grow in nature, outdoors. Other answers

²⁴ Chloroplasts are “the green plastids of plant and algal cells”; for more information, see VLE: https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/chloroplastai-60470.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 14

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

contradict one another: a shrub most often grows in a forest or near roads, where people rarely gather (author’s note: it is unclear why specifically near roads.) and a shrub most often grows in a city, village, or yard (author’s note: that is, precisely where there are people). One might think that city dwellers and villagers gave such different answers, but the latter four answers came only from city dwellers.

1.3.4. Three respondents considered the ability to perform ‘photosynthesis’ to be the main characteristic of a shrub, cf.: performing photosynthesis; to perform photosynthesis; produces oxygen from sunlight through photosynthesis. One other respondent also associated shrubs with the production of oxygen, cf. an oxygen-producing plant. Of course, oxygen is produced not only by shrubs but also by most other plants.

To summarize the characteristics of shrubs identified by respondents, it should be recalled that they were divided into three large groups: 1) shrub in the general sense (88 answers, accounting for 19²⁵ percent of all answers, without division into groups), 2) external characteristics of a shrub (342 answers, 74 percent), and 3) internal characteristics of a shrub (31 answers, 7 percent).

The most frequent description of a shrub was that ‘a shrub is a plant’ (19 percent of answers). All the other most typical characteristics of shrubs mentioned by respondents are external: ‘shrub size’ (17 percent of answers), ‘branching’ (15 percent), ‘trunk characteristics’ (12 percent), ‘leafiness or prickliness’ (10 percent), ‘density or luxuriance’ (5 percent). The other characteristics mentioned by respondents (both external and internal) each accounted for only a few percent of the answers or a fraction of a percent.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSHRUBS IDENTIFIED BY STUDENTS

VLE_e defines a subshrub as follows: “a perennial plant whose lower shoot parts are woody, while the upper, herbaceous part freezes or withers during an unfavorable period for growth.”

An examination of the answers to questions about subshrubs revealed that the surveyed students’ knowledge of subshrubs is much more limited than their knowledge of shrubs. Some respondents (18) said that they ‘did not know what a subshrub is’. Nine young people gave brief answers to questions related to subshrubs: I don’t know; I don’t know what a subshrub is. Another nine respondents likewise

²⁵ Percentages are rounded throughout.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 15

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

also said that they did not know what a dwarf shrub was, but tried to work it out and identify one or another characteristic²⁶, cf.: I don’t know, but maybe <...>; something <...>, but I don’t know, as I have never used this word; I’m hearing this word for the first time, it probably differs (author’s note: shrub and dwarf shrub), but I don’t know how; I don’t understand the meaning of the concept “dwarf shrub,” but it probably differs (author’s note: from a shrub); I don’t know (author’s note: what a dwarf shrub is), but I think it differs from a shrub; I don’t know, but it should differ; I can’t imagine, but probably <...>; I’ve never heard of this distinction, but probably <...>.

Both these respondents and many others who answered the questions and at least did not say that they did not know what this plant was used words, phrases, or the subjunctive mood expressing uncertainty when describing the characteristics of a dwarf shrub: perhaps; maybe; could be; possibly; probably; most likely; I think that; should (be, differ, etc.). This also indicates that the meaning of this word was much less clear to respondents than that of shrub.

Six respondents were convinced that a shrub and a dwarf shrub “do not differ at all.” Nine respondents stated that these plants do not differ, but nevertheless identified one or another characteristic that seemed to suggest that some difference existed. Some interesting reflections also emerged, for example: (author’s note: they differ) in name; I think people decide for themselves whether it is a shrub or a dwarf shrub.

The answers in which a dwarf shrub was described at least in some way were divided into three groups according to 12 characteristics: 1) dwarf shrubs described according to their working definition (2 characteristics, 17%), 2) external characteristics of a dwarf shrub (8 characteristics, 66%), and 3) internal characteristics of a dwarf shrub (2 characteristics, 17%).

2.1. A considerable number of respondents (28) apparently did not know (although they probably imagined that they did) what a dwarf shrub was, but tried to describe it according to the working meaning of the word.

2.1.1. Twenty respondents thought that a dwarf shrub was ‘half a shrub, half something else’, some other plant, but most often ‘half a shrub, half a tree’, cf. the answer variants: a dwarf shrub—half shrub, half tree; probably half shrub, half tree (fewer shrub characteristics); an intermediate plant with characteristics of both a tree and a shrub; an intermediary between a shrub and a tree; half shrub, having characteristics of both a shrub and a tree; a half-shrub resembling a tree; a half-shrub that looks like a small tree; between a tree and a shrub, with several trunks, tall; probably a shrub-tree hybrid, where the dwarf shrub is not as tall as a tree; has a fairly tall trunk, like a tree, but also many small branches, like a shrub; small

²⁶ These characteristics will be discussed later, together with those identified by other respondents.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis

samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 16

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

a shrub into which material from another tree has been grafted; that is, a plant between a tree and a shrub, its main characteristic being that it is taller than most shrubs; a dwarf shrub is an entity situated between a shrub and a tree, larger than a shrub and smaller than a tree; it is a shrub more like a tree, or a shrub like sturdy grasses; it is a half-shrub/plant, even smaller than a shrub; it may be a shrub with characteristics of other categories; resembling a shrub but not quite a shrub (different in appearance, yet also sharing similarities); half shrub, half something; I can’t imagine, perhaps half a shrub; partly having the characteristics of a shrub.

2.1.2. Eight respondents imagined that a dwarf shrub was ‘half a shrub’ (inherently smaller than a whole shrub or pruned by a person), cf.: half a shrub; a shrub that is half the size of a shrub; a shrub that is damaged; a trimmed shrub; a pruned shrub; perhaps a pruned, tidied-up shrub.

2.2. External characteristics of the semi-shrub

2.2.1. As in the case of the bush, the most frequently mentioned characteristic of the semi-shrub, noted by 57 respondents, was ‘size’. However, the size (or height) of a semi-shrub was imagined in different ways.

45 respondents thought that a semi-shrub is ‘a small plant, smaller than a bush’; cf.: small plant; perhaps a very small bush; perhaps simply a little bush; a smaller bush; it is usually short; a low bush; a small bush; a smaller form of bush; small, short. For example, raspberry²⁷, blueberry²⁸, etc.; a semi-shrub is smaller (author’s note: than a bush); it is even shorter (author’s note: than a bush); it is smaller; it is a plant smaller than a bush; I think they differ only in size: a semi-shrub is smaller than a bush; it is much smaller; a semi-shrub could be a smaller bush; it differs from a bush in size, being smaller; an even smaller plant than a bush; probably a more diminutive but similar plant than a bush; it is probably smaller (author’s note: than a bush); something smaller than a bush; a bush that is half the size of a bush; a semi-shrub is a smaller bush; I think a semi-shrub should be smaller than a bush; perhaps even shorter than a bush; a semi-shrub is smaller than a bush in size.

²⁷ Raspberries can be bushes, semi-shrubs, or, more rarely, herbs; see VLE for more.https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/aviete-67393.

²⁸ Blueberry is a dwarf shrub, cf. VLE: “blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), a perennial dwarf shrub of the bilberry genus in the heath family (Ericaceae)” (https://www.vle.lt/PaieskosRezultatai?search=m%C4%97lyn%C4%97).

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 17

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

Sometimes a semi-shrub is treated not as ‘a type of small bush’ but as the same bush, only small for other reasons; cf.: an undergrown bush; a semi-shrub is a pruned bush.

Eleven respondents held the opposite view—they imagined that a semi-shrub is ‘larger than a bush’; cf.: taller than a bush; larger than a bush; a plant that is larger than a bush; a large bush; probably a hybrid of a bush and a tree, where the semi-shrub is not as tall as a tree; a semi-shrub (author’s note: compared with a bush) differs in size, may resemble a tree; a semi-shrub differs from a bush in that it is taller; the main characteristic is that it is taller than most bushes, but rarely grows several metres high; they differ because a bush is smaller, while a semi-shrub is <...> larger.

One respondent thought that a semi-shrub could be both larger and smaller than a bush; cf.: (author’s note: a semi-shrub is) a small bush or a bush the size/height of a tree.

2.2.2. To 13 respondents, the most important characteristic of a semi-shrub seemed to be its ‘trunk’.

It was most often stated that a semi-shrub differs from a bush specifically by its trunk (often—only by it); cf.: the stem of a semi-shrub is not visible; it can have a trunk; it differs in having a trunk; it has a sort of trunk; a semi-shrub has a small trunk, but you wouldn’t call it a tree; it has a thin, small trunk, resembling a small tree, whereas a bush does not; a bush that does not grow right next to the ground²⁹; it has a fairly tall trunk, like a tree; it has a hard, thick trunk; the only difference would be the length of the trunk (author’s note: judging from another response by the same respondent, the semi-shrub’s trunk is taller than the bush’s); perhaps the trunk structure differs³⁰; it differs from a bush in having one trunk; it has several trunks; the lower part of the trunk is not covered with leaves.

As can be seen, the answers are not unequivocal: in the respondents’ view, a semi-shrub ‘has a trunk’, but not necessarily (may have a trunk) or ‘the stem is not visible’; the trunk may be ‘one’ or ‘several’; the trunk is ‘somewhat small and thin’, but it can also be ‘tall, hard, thick’; it is also mentioned that the trunk is ‘not entirely covered with leaves’.

2.2.3. 9 respondents believe that the best way to describe a subshrub is by ‘its or its branches’ sparsity’ (or, much less often, ‘density’), if it were compared with a shrub, cf.: sparser; perhaps a more sparse shrub; a subshrub has thicker and sparser branches; few branches; shrubs with sparse branches; a subshrub is less branched; a subshrub is smaller, with fewer branches; a subshrub is taller, has fewer branches, differs in the size of its branches³¹. One other respondent mentions that

²⁹ It may be surmised that what is meant is that the trunk ‘lifts’ the bush off the ground (or that its branches are not right next to the ground, or that visually there are not many stems growing from the ground, but only one trunk).

³⁰ No further specifics are provided.

³¹ It is not specified what that size is, or whether the branches are thicker or smaller.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 18

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

The whole of a subshrub is made up of branches. Thus, in this case it seems understandable that a subshrub is ‘dense’ rather than ‘sparse’.

As can be seen, some responses also allude to the characteristics of subshrub branches; compare one more response – its twigs are narrower.

2.2.4. As one of the features of a subshrub, 5 respondents indicated ‘decorativeness’; compare: perhaps an ornamental shrub; an excellent ornamental plant; serves an ornamental function³²; a shrub is more of an ornamental plant; a shrub is more beautiful.

Once again, the responses are ambiguous: some respondents thought the subshrub was the more beautiful plant, while others thought it was the shrub.

2.2.5. 6 respondents mention ‘other organs of the subshrub’ (roots, flowers, fruit, or berries) and believe that these are precisely what distinguish a subshrub from a shrub; compare: differs in the strength of its roots; more often has flowers; has flowers; perhaps by its fruit (author’s note: differs); a subshrub bears fruit (e.g., a raspberry subshrub); no fruit or berries grow.

2.2.6. Two³³ respondents stated that ‘the purpose of the subshrub’ is important: I think its purpose differs (author’s note: from that of a shrub), depending on where it is planted; a subshrub performs the same function as a shrub.

2.3. Internal characteristics of the subshrub

2.3.1. As an important feature, 9 respondents indicated the subshrub’s ‘degree of lignification’:

its branches are woody at the bottom but not at the top; the lower part is woody, while the upper part is still herbaceous; the bottom is woody, the top green; the lower part (trunk) is woody, while the upper part is herbaceous; the branches are less woody; a subshrub is <...> less woody; a subshrub is a herbaceous, non-woody plant; the stems of a subshrub are flexible, not woody, and resemble flower stems; perhaps its branches are more like the stems of flowers or other plants³⁴.

Four respondents who submitted answers were correct—as already mentioned, the lower part of a subshrub is woody, while the top is herbaceous. The two who stated that a subshrub is less woody than a shrub were also right, although their responses were less specific. The other two, who answered that a subshrub is a herbaceous, non-woody plant, were only partly right, since the lower part of this plant does in fact become woody.

³² From the wording, this feature can also be understood as purpose.

³³ See also footnote 30.

³⁴ It is assumed that the degree of lignification is meant here as well.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis

samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 19

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

2.3.2. One respondent indicated that a semi-shrub is a ‘perennial’ plant.

Comparing the descriptions of a shrub and a semi-shrub, one striking fact is that respondents have a much poorer idea of what a semi-shrub is, even though this plant is widespread in Lithuania. Some people explicitly said that they did not know what it was. Twenty-eight respondents (22 percent), when describing a semi-shrub, relied on the compositional meaning of the word—‘half a shrub’ or ‘partly a shrub’. These answers have nothing to do with the terminological meaning of a semi-shrub. But does a semi-shrub really lack the features mentioned in the respondents’ answers? A survey alone is not enough to answer this question. Still, it is somewhat surprising that a considerable number of respondents associate a semi-shrub with a tree rather than a shrub, claiming that this plant is more like a tree than a shrub.

As in the case of a shrub, the other two groups of answers concern the external (92 answers, 71 percent) and internal features of a semi-shrub (9 answers, 7 percent). The most frequently mentioned external features are ‘the size of a semi-shrub’ (44 percent), ‘stem characteristics’ (10 percent), and ‘sparsity / density’ (7 percent). The other features were mentioned much less often. It should be noted that the external features of a semi-shrub most frequently cited by respondents do not correspond to what is stated in encyclopedias—neither ‘size’, nor ‘stem characteristics’, nor ‘sparsity’, as often indicated in the answers, are at all distinguishing features of a semi-shrub as opposed to a shrub. Only a few respondents mentioned the internal features of a semi-shrub, but these are precisely the answers that correspond to the features cited in the definition of its terminological meaning.

3.

FEATURES OF THE DWARF SHRUB INDICATED BY STUDENTS

VLE defines a dwarf shrub as “a perennial plant up to 0.5 m high, with several or a dozen stems that are woody in the lower part and not fully woody in the upper part, branching from the ground surface or close to it.” To be honest, it is difficult for a non-botanist to understand from this description what the actual difference is between a semi-shrub and a dwarf shrub, or how the upper herbaceous part (of a semi-shrub) differs from the upper, not fully woody part (of a dwarf shrub). Let us see what differences between these two plants respondents discern. Recall that the Dictionary of Contemporary Lithuanian (hereafter DŽ₇) gives two meanings for krūmokšnis: 1. bot. a small (up to half a metre) shrub (heather, lingonberry, etc.). 2. a stunted shrub. These two meanings differ considerably, and this should be borne in mind when examining the features of a dwarf shrub.

As in the case of a semi-shrub, a considerable proportion of respondents were unfamiliar with the terminological meaning of a dwarf shrub. Twenty-five respondents answered that they did not know what a dwarf shrub was, or did not provide any answer at all

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 20

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

jokio atsakymo, plg.: nežinau; nežinau, kas yra krūmokšnis; neįsivaizduoju; pirmą kartą girdžiu tokį augalo rūšies pavadinimą; nežinau, aš ne sodininkė.

Nineteen respondents stated that ‘a shrub and a dwarf shrub are no different’. Ten of them wrote that the plants do not differ, but nevertheless mentioned one or another distinguishing feature, most often ‘size’. One such answer was: a shrub, just a different variety. Five respondents indicated that only the word differs, cf.: a dwarf shrub is the same as a shrub; a dwarf shrub is a synonym for shrub; it differs (author’s note: from a shrub) only in its name; one can call a shrub whatever one likes, the only difference is the expressiveness of the word; a dwarf shrub is some kind of shrub that has no name.

Nineteen respondents also thought that ‘a dwarf shrub is no different from a semi-shrub either’, cf.: there is no difference; I think there is no difference; in my opinion, they are no different at all; I do not think they differ; I could not tell them apart; not physically, but when writing a poem or a short story I would use the word “dwarf shrub”.

The answers mentioning features of a dwarf shrub (16 in total) were divided into two groups: 1) external features of a dwarf shrub (12 features, 75 percent) and 2) internal features of a dwarf shrub (4 features, 25 percent).

3.1. External characteristics of the shrublet

3.1.1. The most frequently mentioned characteristic by respondents (as in the case of the shrub and subshrub) was the shrublet’s ‘size’. It was mentioned by 42 students. Most of them thought that a shrublet is a ‘small shrub’; cf.: tiny shrub; small shrub; I think it is a small shrub; perhaps it is a small shrub, e.g. blueberries and the like; very small shrub; very small, a little shrub; a shrublet is a tiny shrub; very short; a low-growing plant; a small plant up to 60 cm (author’s note: the same respondent gave the following distinction between a shrub and a shrublet: shrublets are very small, while shrubs vary in size); a shrublet would be an even smaller version of a shrub; a barely noticeable, indistinguishable shrub; even smaller than a subshrub; even smaller than a subshrub.

One respondent associated the shrublet’s small size not so much with ‘plant type’ as with ‘maturity’; cf.: it is an immature, flimsy shrub, inferior to a shrub. 5 respondents imagined that a shrublet is ‘larger’ than a shrub; cf.: a taller shrub; a shrublet is a bulkier shrub; it is taller; the shrublet is larger; similar to a shrub, but taller.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 21

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

Most thought that a shrublet is ‘smaller than a subshrub’, cf.: a smaller shrublet; they differ in size (author’s note: it is small); they differ in height, the shrublet is smaller; the shrublet is smaller than the subshrub; a shrublet will often be smaller; a shrublet is quite small, a low shrub, while a subshrub is larger; they differ because it is shorter; they differ because a subshrub is almost like a tree, larger than a shrublet.

A few respondents nevertheless stated that a shrublet is ‘larger than a subshrub’, cf.: the shrublet is larger; bulkier than a subshrub; a subshrub is small (whereas a shrublet is leafy); a shrublet is closer in origin to a tree³⁵.

3.1.2. For 13 respondents, an important characteristic of a shrublet appeared to be ‘fruits (or berries)³⁶’; cf.: a shrublet is a shrub that grows fruit (author’s note: and the only difference from a shrub: it differs in that it has its own fruit); a shrub that grows fruit, berries, and so on; a shrublet bears fruit, but a shrub does not; shrublet sounds like a shrub that bears fruit (author’s note: the only difference: a shrub has no fruit at all); a fruit-bearing shrub; I think it is a shrub that bears fruit; if I am not mistaken, a shrublet grows berries; a shrub on which berries grow; berries grow on it (it looks the same, but berries do not grow on a shrub); it is a small shrub that ripens berries.

The distinction respondents drew between a shrub and a shrublet is somewhat surprising, since both shrubs and shrublets can bear fruit or berries, and this is not at all unusual. For example, currants and gooseberries, commonly grown in Lithuania, are shrubs. Perhaps the young people thought that fruit shrubs are not shrubs.

5 respondents indicated that a shrublet also differs from a subshrub in that it bears fruit (berries) (whereas a subshrub does not). In fact, subshrubs also produce fruit (berries), for example, raspberries³⁷.

3.1.3. As characteristics of a shrublet, 10 respondents identified ‘leaves³⁸ or ‘spines’, cf.: a plant with leaves; a shrub with dense leaves; more leaves (author’s note: than a shrub); it differs (author’s note: from a subshrub), perhaps it has more leaves. It may be spiny; it has little spines; perhaps it is spiny to a greater extent (than a shrub); a spiny shrub.

3.1.4. The ‘stem’ of a shrublet was mentioned by 9 respondents: it has no stem at all; it looks like a tree without a trunk; neither a tree nor a shrub, it has no single trunk; a shrublet has

³⁵ Therefore, one may infer that it is larger.

³⁶ Edible fruits or berries are meant here.

³⁷ As already mentioned, raspberries can be shrubs, subshrubs and, more rarely, herbs.

³⁸ Leaves are mentioned twice more among other characteristics.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 22

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

a visible stem; having only one trunk; grows in separate stems (grows discontinuously); I think the dwarf shrub’s trunk is short. As can be seen, ideas about what a dwarf shrub’s trunk is like vary considerably – there is no trunk at all, there is only one, or there are several. And it is probably short. In fact, as mentioned earlier, a dwarf shrub has several or even a dozen stems and, of course, it does not resemble a tree at all simply because of its height.

3.1.5. Seven respondents cited ‘density’ (or ‘lushness’) as one of the characteristics of a dwarf shrub, cf.: dense; more densely grown than a bush and subshrub; differs in density (author’s note: from both a bush and a subshrub); is lush; very dense or most of the shrubs have grown together into one³⁹; differs from a subshrub in density⁴⁰.

3.1.6. Six respondents considered its ‘branches’ important in describing a dwarf shrub, cf.: a dwarf shrub is a bush, only its branches are thin; has many thin twigs; a dwarf shrub is a larger bush with more branches; more branched (author’s note: than a bush); it consists of intertwined branches; the branches begin higher up (author’s note: than those of a bush and subshrub). The branches of many dwarf shrubs are indeed thin, but they do not differ from those of a bush or subshrub in their abundance, and they begin branching quite low down.

3.1.7. Another characteristic of a dwarf shrub related to ‘branches’ is ‘spread’. Four respondents mention it: a dwarf shrub is leafy and spreading; a very overgrown, branching bush; a dwarf shrub is more branched (author’s note: than a subshrub); it is a large, broad plant.

3.1.8. Four other respondents consider ‘the shape of a dwarf shrub’ important, although the shape was not clearly described in all the answers, cf.: it comes in various irregular shapes; differs in shape (author’s note: from a bush and subshrub); a different shape (author’s note: than a bush and subshrub); it is an untidy bush; a dwarf shrub needs pruning more often than a bush.

3.1.9. Four respondents also mentioned the dwarf shrub’s ‘growth habit’, cf.: a dwarf shrub is a solitary bush (bushes usually grow in groups in one place, whereas a dwarf shrub grows alone); (author’s note: a dwarf shrub is) a row of bushes; a plant spreading over a large area; it is a chain of bushes.

3.1.10. Three respondents also mention ‘flowers’ as a characteristic of a dwarf shrub: a dwarf shrub flowers; a dwarf shrub bears fruit/flowers, but a bush does not; leaves and flowers usually grow on a bush, while berries grow on a dwarf shrub.

³⁹ This characteristic is also a dwarf shrub’s growth habit.

⁴⁰ But it is unclear whether it is denser or sparser.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 23

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

Both shrubs and dwarf shrubs have flowers, and the last statement indicates that the respondent has little knowledge about plants, since berries could not exist at all without flowers.

3.1.11. 2 respondents also emphasized the purpose of a dwarf shrub, describing it in some detail: it is of no use to people; a dwarf shrub is often undesirable where an area is maintained by people; a dwarf shrub is like a weed, unnecessary, and of no use to either people or animals. Here, the meaning of dwarf shrub ‘small shrub’ is intended. Another meaning of the purpose of a dwarf shrub would be entirely the opposite—it bears berries and fruit and serves a decorative function.

3.1.12. One answer can tentatively be called ‘the general appearance of a dwarf shrub’: a dwarf shrub is more withered (than a subshrub). The meaning of dwarf shrub ‘small shrub’ is probably intended. However, it remains unclear why it is compared with a subshrub rather than with a shrub.

3.2. Internal characteristics of a dwarf shrub

3.2.1. For 6 respondents, an important characteristic of a dwarf shrub seemed to be its ‘degree of lignification’: woody; woody lower part; less woody than a subshrub; almost non-woody; perhaps more like a perennial herb; sometimes it can be confused with tall grass. The answers vary, but one can say that they are all correct. As already mentioned, the stems of dwarf shrubs are woody at the bottom and not entirely woody at the top. Dwarf shrubs are low-growing, often evergreen, and thus can indeed resemble grasses.

3.2.2. The ‘growing location’ of a dwarf shrub was specified by 7 respondents: a dwarf shrub grows in forests or in more remote places away from the city; grows in forests; grows on the forest floor; it is a small shrub that grows in the forest; grows in abandoned areas, a feral shrub; a dwarf shrub is more commonly found in the wild; grows in uninhabited areas.

3.2.3. 2 respondents mentioned its ‘reproduction’ as one of the characteristics of a dwarf shrub: reproduces by creeping shoots; dwarf shrubs reproduce more often and more quickly (author’s note: than subshrubs).

3.2.4. One respondent stated that dwarf shrubs are evergreen. And indeed, this is often the case.

After analyzing the answers to questions about dwarf shrubs, it is clear that respondents do not really have a clear idea of what kind of plant this is—just as in the case of subshrubs. Quite a few

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 24

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

respondents answered that they did not know what a dwarf shrub is. Some thought that a dwarf shrub ‘does not differ from a shrub or subshrub’.

The external characteristics of a dwarf shrub were indicated in as many as 105 responses (87 percent of all responses about the characteristics of a dwarf shrub). Internal characteristics were mentioned by 16 respondents (13 percent). The abundance of external characteristics shows that there is no common understanding of this plant, so it is difficult to identify typical characteristics. Of all the characteristics, the external ones most frequently mentioned were ‘the size of a dwarf shrub’ (35 percent), ‘bearing fruit or berries’ (11 percent), and ‘having leaves or needles’ (8 percent). Other characteristics were much less frequent. The large proportion of responses shows that respondents not only do not know what a dwarf shrub is, but are even inclined to indulge in considerable speculation, since in fact a dwarf shrub is not larger than a shrub; it does not differ from a shrub in that one bears fruit (berries) and has flowers while the other does not; it is not more prickly than a shrub; its branches do not begin higher up than a shrub’s, and so on. Of course, a good deal of confusion also arises because the word krūmokšnis has two meanings. Nevertheless, many of the responses fit neither of the two meanings of the word krūmokšnis. Nor can it be said that these responses suggest some third meaning of the word under examination. It is clear that this word also needs further semantic investigation using other sources.

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF A KRŪMELIS AS INDICATED BY STUDENTS

It should be noted that all respondents knew the meaning of the word krūmelis.

4.1. The most frequently indicated characteristic of a krūmelis was external—its ‘size’. It was mentioned by 61 respondents; cf.: small shrub; the smallest shrub; a very small shrub; an extremely small shrub; a smaller version of a shrub; a smaller variant of a shrub; a small shrub; a shrub, only smaller; a short shrub; a krūmelis is a low-growing, small shrub; the form and woodiness are the same as a shrub’s, only smaller; a small shrub, about 50 cm tall.

Another 16 respondents indicated that it was not just a small, but a ‘young, not yet fully grown shrub’, cf.: young shrub; a krūmelis—a young, small shrub; a young, not yet fully grown shrub; a shrub that is still growing; a shrub that has not yet fully grown; a small shrub still in the process of growing; a shrub sapling; a young shrub plant; a small sprout.

4.2. 13 respondents wrote that it was a ‘diminutive form of the word’ or that the word ‘has an endearing connotation’, cf.: a shrub called by a diminutive word; the same shrub, only the word is in diminutive form; a diminutive name for a shrub; the same shrub, only the krūmelis is

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 25

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

a diminutive word used to describe a shrub; the diminutive form of the word “shrub”; krūmelis is simply a diminutive word that can be used to name a small shrub; krūmelis is the diminutive of the word “shrub”; a person who looks after and protects a shrub calls it a krūmelis, just as a mother calls her son her little son; a very dear shrub.

4.3. In the opinion of 9 respondents, an important characteristic of a krūmelis is its ‘decorativeness’; cf.: an ornamental shrub; an ornamental, pruned shrub or subshrub; perhaps more ornamental (author’s note: than a shrub); it is an ornamental plant; it serves a decorative function; a beautiful, neat, small shrub; it could be an ornamental shrub developed by people—this is a cultural characteristic.

4.4. 9 respondents also thought that a krūmelis is not simply a small shrub, but a ‘slightly different species’; cf.: a different species of shrub; a smaller plant that resembles a shrub; a plant even smaller than a shrub, often called a “flower krūmelis”; a krūmelis is a plant smaller than a shrub, among all those listed above (author’s note: shrub, subshrub, and dwarf shrub) the plant closest to the ground; a small, low-growing plant, a simpler version of a shrub; a krūmelis is the smallest form; krūmelis equals subshrub; the same as a dwarf shrub; a synonym for dwarf shrub.

Thus, the most important characteristic of a krūmelis is external—its ‘size’. It accounted for as much as 72 percent of all the characteristics mentioned. Another external characteristic recorded in the responses was ‘the decorativeness of a krūmelis’ (8 percent).

12 percent of the responses relate to the diminutive meaning of the word krūmelis. And, as noted, some respondents thought that a krūmelis is a different kind of shrub; such responses account for 8 percent.

Most of the responses suggest that the meaning of krūmelis is indeed associated with its smallness or endearing quality. It should also be borne in mind that DŽ gives two meanings for the word krūmas: 1. a perennial plant with several stems, branched from the very base; 2. a herbaceous plant whose stems emerge directly from the roots, a clump (DŽ₇)⁴¹. One response suggests that the word krūmelis also has two meanings, i.e. it can denote not only a small shrub but also a clump of a herbaceous plant, cf.: it is a plant even smaller than a shrub, often called a “flower krūmelis” (flowers are most often herbaceous plants).

5. NAMING SPECIFIC PLANTS

⁴¹ These meanings are also recorded in LKŽₑ.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 26

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

To check how respondents’ theoretical answers to the questions correspond to their assessment of specific plants, respondents were asked to indicate which category each of five plants belongs to—a shrub, subshrub, dwarf shrub, or perennial herb: lilac, raspberry, oregano, thyme and mint.

Answers to the questions about lilac showed that 37 respondents thought it was a tree; 23, a shrub; 15, that it could be both a tree and a shrub; 10, a subshrub; 6, that it could be both a shrub and a subshrub; 3, a dwarf shrub; 2, that it could be both a tree and a dwarf shrub. Four respondents did not answer.

Double responses (it can be both one and the other) were split⁴², yielding the following results: lilac is a tree — 54 responses, a shrub — 44, a subshrub — 16, and a dwarf shrub — 5. In fact, lilacs are shrubs or small trees⁴³. Thus, 82% of the responses were correct.

The answers to the questions about raspberry were as follows: 37 respondents thought this plant was a shrub; 18, a dwarf shrub; 15, a perennial herb; 14, a subshrub; 4, that it could be both a dwarf shrub and a perennial herb; 2, both a shrub and a dwarf shrub; 2, both a subshrub and a dwarf shrub; 1, both a subshrub and a shrub; and 1, both a tree and a shrub. Six respondents did not answer. Here, too, the double responses were split. The final result was as follows: 41 responses identified raspberry as a shrub, 26 as a dwarf shrub, 19 as a perennial herb, 17 as a subshrub, and 1 as a tree. According to VLE_e, raspberry is a shrub or subshrub, and less commonly a herb⁴⁴. Thus, 71% of the responses are correct.

Respondents answered as follows about oregano: 37 thought it was a perennial herb; 21, a subshrub; 16, a shrub; 14, a dwarf shrub; 2, that it could be both a subshrub and a dwarf shrub; 2, both a dwarf shrub and a perennial herb; 1, both a shrub and a dwarf shrub; 1, a subshrub, a dwarf shrub, and a perennial herb; and 1, both a shrub and a perennial herb. Five respondents did not answer. Splitting the responses yielded the following result: oregano was identified as a perennial herb in 41 responses, a subshrub in 24, a dwarf shrub in 20, and a shrub in 18. According to VLE_e, oregano is a subshrub or a perennial herb⁴⁵. 63% of the responses were correct.

⁴² The question may arise as to why double or triple responses were split. Had this not been done, and only an answer that fully matched the one given in VLE_e been considered correct, in some cases—for example, for raspberry, oregano, and thyme—there would not have been a single correct answer. This is not the case, however, since there were many answers that were at least partly correct.

⁴³ See VLE_e for further details: https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/alyvos-72830.

⁴⁴ See VLE_e for further details: https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/aviete-67393.

⁴⁵ See VLE_e for further details: https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/raudonelis-78545.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 27

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

Responses about thyme were distributed as follows: 68 responses stated that it is a perennial herb; 11, a shrub; 8, a subshrub; 3, a shrublet; 3, that it could be both a shrublet and a perennial herb; 2, that it could be both a subshrub and a perennial herb; 5 respondents did not answer. When the responses were disaggregated, it emerged that, in the respondents’ view, thyme is a perennial herb (73 responses), a shrub (11 responses), a subshrub (10 responses), or a shrublet (6 responses). VLEₑ states that thyme is a subshrub or a shrublet. The proportion of correct answers is 16%.

Responses to the questions about mint show that 73 respondents considered this plant a perennial herb; 7, a shrublet; 7, a subshrub; 2, a shrub; 2, both a shrublet and a perennial herb; 2, a subshrub and perennial herb; and 1, both a shrub and shrublet. Six respondents did not answer. The disaggregated responses rank as follows: mint is a perennial herb (77 responses), a shrublet (10), a subshrub (9), and a shrub (3). In fact, mint is a perennial herb⁴⁶. The proportion of correct answers is 78%.

Thus, this study also shows that respondents judge plants of this type chiefly by their size: the smaller the plant, the more often it is identified as a perennial herb, with little attention paid to the woody nature of its stems or to other features.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Previous studies have noted that people have little understanding of the differences among the words shrub, subshrub, shrublet, although these words have different terminological meanings. Accordingly, the study described here aimed to investigate not the terminological but the contemporary everyday understanding of these words. A survey of students was selected as the research method.

2. Analysis of the study data showed that respondents identified 20 characteristics of a shrub, which were divided into three groups: 1) shrub in the general sense (2 characteristics, 10%), 2) external characteristics of a shrub (14 characteristics, 70%), and 3) internal characteristics of a shrub (4 characteristics, 20%).

2.1. A total of 88 people described a shrub in the general sense. Of these, 87 identified a shrub as a ‘plant’ (19% of all responses about shrubs, without division into groups). This was the most frequently cited characteristic.

2.2. External characteristics of a shrub were mentioned in 342 responses (74% of all responses). The most typical external characteristics of a shrub are: ‘shrub size’ (17% of all responses,

⁴⁶ For details, see VLEₑ: https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/meta-14361.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 28

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

without dividing them into groups), ‘branching’ (15%), ‘trunk characteristics’ (12%), ‘deciduousness or needle-bearing’ (10%), ‘density or luxuriance’ (5%). ‘Branching’ and ‘trunk characteristics’ are also included in Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodyne ^{(DŽ₇ᵢ), but the other external features are not. It would be worth considering whether at least some of these should be included in the definition of this word in the} Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno.

2.3. Respondent 31 identified internal characteristics of a shrub (‘woody growth’, ‘features of the shrub’s life cycle’, etc.), but these accounted for only 7% of all responses.

3. An analysis of the respondents’ answers revealed that their knowledge of subshrubs is much more limited than their knowledge of shrubs. Quite a few respondents either did not know at all what a subshrub was or believed that it did not differ at all from a shrub. The answers in which the subshrub was described at least in some way were divided into three groups according to 12 characteristics: 1) descriptions of the subshrub based on its derivational meaning (2 characteristics, 17% of responses); 2) external characteristics of the subshrub (8 characteristics, 66% of responses); and 3) internal characteristics of the subshrub (2 characteristics, 17% of responses).

3.1. Twenty-eight respondents (22% of all responses about subshrub characteristics) described a subshrub based on its derivational meaning. The students thought that a subshrub was ‘half a shrub’ or ‘a semi-shrub’. These answers have nothing to do with the technical meaning of subshrub. A considerable number of respondents associated the subshrub with a tree rather than a shrub, claiming that this plant was more like a tree than a shrub.

3.2. The external characteristics of a subshrub were mentioned in 92 responses (71 percent). The most common were ‘the size of the subshrub’ (44 percent), ‘stem characteristics’ (10 percent), and ‘sparsity / density’ (7 percent). Other external characteristics were cited much less frequently. It should be noted that the external characteristics of a subshrub most often given by respondents do not match what is stated in encyclopedias—neither ‘size’, nor ‘stem characteristics’, nor ‘sparsity’ is in any way a distinguishing characteristic of a subshrub as opposed to a shrub.

3.3. The internal characteristics of a subshrub, ‘woody growth’ and ‘perennial plant’, were identified by 9 respondents (7 percent of all responses). Although only a few respondents mentioned such characteristics, it was precisely these answers that corresponded to the characteristics of a subshrub described in the definition of its terminological meaning.

4. As in the case of the subshrub, the terminological meaning of krūmokšnis is unknown to a considerable proportion of respondents. However, they were also unfamiliar with the non-terminological meaning of krūmokšnis (‘a small shrub’). Another group of respondents thought that a krūmokšnis did not differ in any way from either

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis

samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 29

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

than a shrub, nor from a subshrub. The answers mentioning characteristics of a small shrub (16 in total) were divided into two groups: 1) external characteristics of a small shrub (12 characteristics, 75 percent of answers) and 2) internal characteristics of a small shrub (4 characteristics, 25 percent of answers).

4.1. The external characteristics of a small shrub were emphasized in 105 answers (87 percent of all answers about the characteristics of a small shrub). This abundance of characteristics shows that there is no consensus about this plant, making it difficult to identify typical characteristics. The most frequently mentioned were ‘size’ (35 percent of answers), ‘bearing fruit or berries’ (11 percent of answers), and ‘having leaves or needles’ (8 percent of answers).

4.2. The internal characteristics of a small shrub—‘degree of woodiness’, ‘reproduction’, ‘growing location’, and ‘evergreen nature’—were mentioned by only 16 respondents (13 percent of answers).

4.3. A large proportion of all the answers indicated that respondents not only do not know what a small shrub is, but are even inclined to fantasize considerably, since in fact a small shrub is not larger than a shrub; it does not differ from a shrub in that one of them bears fruit (berries) and has flowers while the other does not; it is not thornier than a shrub; its branches do not begin higher up than those of a shrub, and so on.

5. All respondents knew what a krūmelis was. Its characteristics were not divided into finer categories, since there were only four of them. The most important characteristic of a krūmelis is external—‘size’, mentioned by as many as 72 percent of all respondents. Twelve percent of the answers related to the diminutive meaning of krūmelis.

6. Analysis of the answers to questions about specific plants (lilac, raspberry, mint, thyme, oregano) showed that respondents judge plants of this type primarily by their size: the smaller the plant, the more often it is identified as a perennial herb, with little attention paid to whether its stems are woody or to other characteristics.

7. The characteristics mentioned in definitions of the terminological meanings of the plants discussed in the article, especially those of a subshrub and a dwarf shrub, differ considerably from the characteristics of the plants examined and identified in the study. Clearly, the concepts of the plants denoted by all these words need to be investigated using other sources as well—dictionaries and corpora.

ŠALTINIAI

DŽ_7i: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas: 7-as patais. ir papild. leid. Vyr. red. S. Keinys. – Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2012; elektroninis variantas, 2015 (atnaujinta versija, 2017). Prieiga internete: http://lkkiis.lki.lt/dabartinis.

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 30

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

LKŽ_e: Lietuvių kalbos žodynas (t. I–XX, 1941–2002): elektroninis variantas. Redaktorių kolegija: G. Naktinienė (vyr. redaktorė), J. Paulauskas, R. Petrokienė, V. Vitkauskas, J. Zabarskaitė. – Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2005 (atnaujinta versija, 2008). Prieiga internete: www.lkz.lt.

VLEₑ: Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija: elektroninis variantas. – Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras, 2018. Prieiga internete: https://www.vle.lt.

LITERATŪRA

Gaidienė A., Liutkevičienė D. 2017. Reikšmių apibrėžimo ypatumai Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyne: augalai ir gyvūnai. – Bendrinė kalba 90, 1–47. Prieiga internete: http://www.bendrinekalba.lt/?90.

Gaidienė A., Liutkevičienė D. 2017a. Gėlės samprata aiškinamuosiuose žodynuose. – Bendrinė kalba 91, 1–19. Prieiga internete: http://www.bendrinekalba.lt/?90.

Gaidienė A., Liutkevičienė D. 2017b. Žodžio gėlė samprata viešojoje vartosenoje. – Bendrinė kalba 91, 1–34. Prieiga internete: http://www.bendrinekalba.lt/?90.

Gliwa B., Šeškauskaitė D. Kas bendra tarp dievmedis ir dievas, dievai? – Respectus philologicus. 2010, Nr. 17 (22), p. 205–218.

Gritėnienė A. 2016. Šermukšnio vaizdinys „Lietuvių kalbos žodyne“. – Tautosakos darbai 52, 85–104.

Kregždys R. 2012. Baltų mitologemų genezė: amalas ‘Viscum album’. – Sakralieji baltų kultūros aspektai. Senovės baltų kultūra 9. Vilnius: Lietuvos kultūros tyrimų institutas, 260–292.

Rutkovska K., Smetona M., Smetonienė I. 2017. Vertybės lietuvio pasaulėvaizdyje, Vilnius: Akademinė leidyba.

Šeškauskaitė D. 2004. Augalai lietuvininkų ir lietuvių dainose. Bendrumai ir skirtumai. – Tiltai. Priedas: Lietuvininkai ir lietuviai: Etninė kultūra 3. Klaipėda: 219–252.

Gauta 2019 11 26

Priimta 2019 12 30

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 31

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 32

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

THE PERCEPTION OF THE WORDS KRŪMAS, PUSKRŪMIS, KRŪMOKŠNIS, KRŪMELIS (SHRUB, SUBSHRUB, BUSH, SMALL SHRUB); BASED ON A STUDENT SURVEY

Summary

It has been noticed that people rarely differentiate between the words krūmas (shrub), puskrūmis (subshrub), and krūmokšnis (bush), even though the words have different terminological meanings. This study aimed to investigate the contemporary rather than terminological daily perception of these words. A survey of students was chosen as an instrument of enquiry.

Analysis of the data has showed that the respondents listed 20 attributes of the shrub (Lith. krūmas). The most frequent description of the shrub was that ‘a shrub is a plant’. Other most typical attributes of the shrub have to do with its exterior: ‘the size of the shrub, ‘how branchy it is’, ‘the qualities of its trunk’, ‘how leafy or thorny it is’, ‘how thick or lush it is’. Several interior attributes of the shrub were mentioned as well, and included qualities such as ‘woodiness’, ‘the characteristics of the bush lifecycle’, and so on.

A review of the survey forms has revealed the knowledge of the subshrub (Lith. puskrūmis) to be much poorer than that of the shrub. A lot of the respondents did not know what a subshrub was or thought it was completely the same as the shrub. A total of 12 subshrub attributes were named. Some of the respondents described the subshrub on the basis of its formational meaning: ‘half a shrub’ or ‘semi-shrub’. These replies have nothing to do with the terminological meaning of subshrub. Strangely, quite a few of the respondents connected the subshrub with a tree rather than a shrub, believing this plant to bear more semblance to the first rather than the latter. The most frequent exterior attributes of the subshrub mentioned were its ‘size’, ‘trunk properties’, ‘rarity’. Notably, these attributes differ from what encyclopaedias have to say. Several respondents also mentioned some interior attributes of the subshrub: ‘subshrub’s woodiness’ and that the subshrub is a ‘perennial plant’. These answers conform to the attributes of the subshrub that its terminological meaning refers to.

The respondents also had some difficulty with describing the bush (Lith. krūmokšnis). There were a massive 12 exterior attributes of the bush mentioned and this plenitude of attributes indicates the absence of a uniform opinion about this plant. The most frequent

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ, DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ. Žodžių krūmas, puskrūmis, krūmokšnis, krūmelis samprata (remiantis studentų apklausa) | 33

doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2019.92.12

mentions were the ‘size’, ‘bearing of fruit or berries’, ‘presence of leaves or thorns’. Interior attributes mentioned were four: ‘the degree of woodiness’, ‘reproduction’, ‘place of growing’, ‘evergreenness’.

Everyone knew what a small shrub (Lith. krūmelis) was. The underlying attribute of the small shrub is of the exterior variety: its ‘size’. A portion of the replies were tied to the diminutive meaning of the small shrub.

Analysis of the replies about specific plants (lilac, raspberry, mint, thyme, oregano) has revealed that the respondents tend to judge about this type of plants by their size: the smaller the plant, the more often it is referred to as a perennial herb, rather disregarding the woodiness of its stems or other attributes.

The attributes referred to in the terminological meanings of the plants covered in the article, and those of subshrub and bush in particular, differ to a rather substantial extent from the plant attributes identified in the course of this study. It is obvious that all of them need to be researched on the basis of other sources, such as dictionaries and corpuses, as well.

KEYWORDS: survey, meaning, semantic analysis, attribute, definition, terminology, shrub, subshrub, bush, small shrub.

ANŽELIKA GAIDIENĖ

DANUTĖ LIUTKEVIČIENĖ

Lietuvių kalbos institutas

Petro Vileišio g. 5, LT-10308 Vilnius

[email protected]

[email protected]

BENDRINĖ KALBA 92 (2019)

www.bendrinekalba.lt

ISSN 2351-7204