Mendieta eta (bere etimologietako) euskara / Understanding Mendieta's Basque Through His Etymologies

Abstract

In this work we will catalogue the etymological interpretations of placenames and several other words which Francisco Mendieta (Ayala, Alava, ca. 1550 - ca. 1620) inserted in his works on the history of Biscay: Annales de Vizcaya and Aerario de la Hidalguía. Our aim is to extract the features of Mendieta's Basque, an archaic variety, unknown of but for this testimony. Additionally, we will defend the need for a catalogue of all Basque etymologies coined by the different authors from the 15th and 18th centuries.