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lunar calendar ; Polynesian languages ; Armenian ; etymology ; historical-comparative linguistics ; cultural astronomy
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The subject of this study is the most stable night names of the Pre-Eastern Polynesian lunar calendars, whose etymologies are comparatively reliable, namely Hiro, Kokore, Hotu, and Mutu. Using the method of historical-comparative linguistics, the semantic and structural features of these night names were examined, and their possible comparative correspondences in Armenian were proposed. During the study, methods of historical-comparative, etymological, and semantic analysis were employed, based on comparative data from Polynesian languages, materials from the POLLEX project, and classical ethnographic sources. The analysis shows that the night names under consideration exhibit interesting formal and semantic parallels with certain lexical strata of Armenian. In some cases, these comparisons contribute to a more precise semantic interpretation of Polynesian night names. In particular, in the case of the Kokore series, it is proposed to distinguish two semantic layers corresponding to the phases of the waxing and waning moon: “curvature / curving” and “loss / diminution / disappearance.” The aim of the study is to enrich the material basis for investigating possible Armenian-Polynesian linguistic-cultural commonalities and to expand the scope of comparative calendrical studies.