Salvational and chthonic functions of a speech act in old Norse Culture

Inna Matyushina

doi:10.28995/2073-6355-2018-3-30-42

Salvational and chthonic functions of a speech act in old Norse Culture

Inna Matyushina

https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6355-2018-3-30-42

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Abstract

The aim of the article is to examine how a speech act is applied in old Norse literature in order to save the poet’s life or to take revenge on an enemy (in Olga Freidenberg’s terminology, a “salvational” and a “chthonic” function of the word). As is shown by the author on the basis of Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar, the chthonic function of a speech act depends on belief in runic magic and in the magic effectiveness of the skaldic poetic form. Although runic magic is essential to the functioning of salvational texts, Egil’s “Head-ransom” is shown to achieve the effect through the use of other means: performative formulas, highly formalised meter (runhent) and unusual semantics (concentrated on the personality of the author rather than the addressee).

Keywords

поэзия скальдов, хвалебная песнь, руны, сальвационная функция, перформативная формула, olga Freidenberg, speech act, runic magic, skaldic poetry, Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar,

About the Author

Inna Matyushina

Russian State University for the Humanities; Exeter University (Great Britain)
Russian Federation

References

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Supplementary files

For citation: Matyushina I. Salvational and chthonic functions of a speech act in old Norse Culture. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2018;(3-1):30-42. https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6355-2018-3-30-42

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