12-10-03 04:58, Andy Howey wrote:
> Marius:
>
> Your definitions of "Slavic" and Slavonic" are not entirely accurate.
> The term "Slavonic" can be used as a generic reference to all the
> languages in the family, such as Reginald de Bray's "Guide to the
> Slavonic Languages." In this case, it doesn't just refer to OCS but to
> all of the the Slavic languages in general.
Yes, the terms <Slavonic> and <Slavic> are practically synonymous in
English, although <Slavic> is more frequent in current linguistic use
(as regards other variants, <Slavonian> is now obsolete and <Slav>
[adj.] obsolescent, I think). Some people use <Slavic> for the branch
and as a adjective meaning 'pertaining to the Slavs in general', and
reserve <Slavonic> for (O)CS (<(Old) Church Slavonic>). There would be
some merit in it if only all people concerned could be consistent, but
they aren't. I personally favour simplicity, so in my own usage
<Slavonic> is rare. I say and write "the Slavic languages",
"Proto-Slavic", "Old Church Slavic", etc.
Piotr