Lingua halieutica – fishing language of Komiza's fishermen

On the Komiža waterfront, a special speech could once be heard that was understood only by those who came from the sea. This speech was called Lingua halieutica – the fishing language of Komiža fishermen. It was not a real, full language, but a special vocabulary that emerged from everyday life at sea. For centuries, fishermen created their own words for ships, tools, winds and fish. Thus, the falkuša had its own special parts and names, and tools such as the peškafonda were used for night fishing for squid. These words mixed Croatian, Venetian, Italian and other Mediterranean languages, just as trade and fishing routes mixed on the open sea. Lingua halieutica was actually a small world in itself. Fishermen used it while they worked, sailed or cast their nets, and each word carried experience and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. That is why this language became part of the identity of Komiža, a code that connected the community and kept the secrets of the sea. Today, this speech is heard less and less often, but it has not been forgotten. Thanks to records, books and festivals, part of it is living again. When falkuša are restored in Komiža or fishermen's festivals are held, along with the smell of sardines and the sound of the waves, you can hear a few words from this old language. Some of the fishing expressions and comic terms are: Kalovat - to lower Dvizot - to raise Botovat - to put Calafatat - wooden bottom of a ship (ship repair) Shiovat - drive backwards Martor - tarionik, for grinding spices Lantina - part of the sail Scoop - a wooden container for throwing water out of the ship Sorgadina - anchor rope Arganel - marking rope (starting rope) Major - stone weight for the net Strap - the rope that connects the oar to the thumb on the boat Bodanj - a wooden or concrete container used for grapes Mih - bag (sometimes leather) for grape picking and transport Tartajun - rope reel with which grape sacks are tied Shogula - rope for tying grass or branches (used in agriculture) Pajul - the inner part of the ship that is stepped on Skaram - a wooden thumb on the ship where it is placed oar Parsura - pan Lasagna - rolling pin Fishing language is more than words. It is a symbol of cultural heritage, proof that the sea shapes not only life but also the speech of the people who live next to it.