Work in the worldview of the South-Southern Aukštaitian ; Darbas pietinių pietų aukštaičių pasaulėvaizdyje

The paper discusses the attitude to work held by the residents of the South-Southern Aukštaitian area and describes their working activities. The material extracted from the Dic-tionary of the South-Southern Aukštaitian Subdialects is used as the basis for this paper. The research draws on the methodology of Jerzy Bartmiński, who represents the Lublin School of Ethnolinguistics, as well as the work of several Lithuanian and Russian ethnolinguists. An in-depth analysis of the Dictionary of the South-Southern Aukštaitian Subdialects, which includes examples of words in current usage as well as certain permanent collocations, revealed the main semantic aspects associated with the concept of darbas [work]. These are: the mental aspect (forges one’s character, forms values and inclinations); the social aspect (maintains and strengthens family relations as well as the relationships with other people); the physical aspect (requires considerable physical strength, affects one’s health); the everyday life aspect (provides material well-being and comfortable living); and the biological aspect (ensures living conditions). The analysis of the dialectical discourse shows the differences between the archaic and the contemporary approaches. It also highlights the changes taking place in one’s material as well as spiritual life. The research resulted in the identification of the main features the South-Southern Aukštaitians associated with the concept of darbas [work], when talking about chores and the daily activities. The findings revealed that work was considered an important personal (and social) physical activity which occupied the central place in one’s life and took up most of one’s time, shaped one’s character and values. Work is the basis for one’s life and well-being, one’s duty and purpose, it also secures good relationships amongst family members and within the wider society.