Orthoepy, orthography and philology (An epigram by Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt In πραвα Russorum quod prava pronuntiant)

Abstract

The article, dedicated to the memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya, analyses Russian orthoepy at the beginning of 18th century. Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt (1685–1735) known for his scientific expeditions to Siberia, undertaken on the orders of Peter the Great, wrote an epigram based on his interpretation of Russian word [práva]: In πραвα Russorum quod Prava pronuntiant. Epigr<amma> subitan<eum>. Prava solet Russis data dextra fidesque sonare: Queis est prava, putes fallere posse viros: Promissam didicēre fidem servare Rutheni: Qui pravam jurat, non pejerare potest. The epigram, serving as material for the analysis, shows how he perceived the Russian word [práva] in speech, which testifies to the accentuated pronunciation of those with whom he communicated. Certain details in the text of the epigram reveal the influence of Martial’s poetry (e. g. Mart. IX 11), but at the same time it is possible to reconstruct some contexts from which Messerschmidt deduced probably the meaning of Rus. [práva] as antonym of the Latin prava. The epigram shows that he combined the meaning of three Russian homonyms: adj. f. sg. права(я), adv. право, and substantive право. That is possible only if the o : a non-distinction in the pronunciation (so called akanje) in that time was largely spread in Russia. As there are few records of Russian pronunciation during the period of Peter the Great, Messerchmidt’s epigram can be considered ‘field material.’