ABSTRACT

The question of the relation between language and ethnicity is a vexed one. On one hand, it has long been demonstrated that there is no one-to-one, necessary correlation between ethnic groups and languages. On the other hand, it is quite clear that language can be used for and often is an important means of displaying ethnic identity. Where a language in contact with other languages becomes a marker of ethnicity, the general expectation is that more grammatical than vocabulary borrowing will occur. However, the influence of Germanic and Altaic upon Slavic is predominantly lexical; by contrast, the influence of Romance is phonological and morphological. Since emblemic styles are often displayed in times of social and political convulsions, it is important to note that the hoards of silver and bronze from Left-Bank Ukraine represent a ritual form of competitive display and conspicuous destruction of wealth (through burial) of a type known to anthropologists as potlatch.