Even Lexicography: Formation and Modern State

• Main Author: Sardana I. Sharina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Российской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центр 2020-10-01
• Series: Oriental Studies
• Subjects: endangered languages; revitalization; the even language; lexicography; bilingual dictionary; dialect vocabulary; cultural factor
• Online Access: https://kigiran.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/2277
• ISSN: 2619-0990; 2619-1008

Introduction. Currently, despite the results achieved, the languages of the indigenous minorities of the North remain one of the little-studied. Scientific descriptions, insights, theoretical generalizations are required both by previously accumulated linguistic and folklore materials, and those that can be collected and preserved at the present time. The undelayable task is to create a scientific base for the revitalization of the Even language — the creation of various types of dictionaries, descriptive grammars, the publication of folklore materials. Object. The article provides a brief overview of lexicographical works on the Even language, starting with the accumulation of linguistic material in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries to the present. Results. Despite the fact that the tradition of compiling bilingual dictionaries in Even linguistics has a long history, the current state of this branch of lexicographical activity in historically established conditions does not meet the needs and requirements of modern society. In connection with the need for urgent fixing and documentation of the Even language, the necessity of developing a new Russian-Even dictionary designed for a wide range of users is justified. In the absence of dialect, spelling, etymological, cultural, encyclopedic, and other dictionaries of a minority language, lexicographers face broader tasks in compiling bilingual Even language dictionaries. One of them is the codification of the current spelling rules adopted in 1958. The next important task is the most comprehensive coverage of Even lexicon, a characteristic of the grammatical signs of a word. In the course of the lexicographic description of the Even language, a systematic study of the Even language vocabulary is carried out, which contributes to the presentation of an extensive dialectal material, first introduced into scientific circulation. Nevertheless the substance of compiling the Russian-Even dictionary is in the consideration of cultural factors that reflect the specificity of the material and spiritual culture of the people. The language represents all the specificity of the material and spiritual culture of the indigenous people of the North. Therefore, in a bilingual dictionary, which, first of all, satisfies the need of the user — non-native speaker of the language and culture in gaining knowledge, the background knowledge of the native speaker is reflected. Thus, a bilingual dictionary could become not only the result of the reflection of the culture of the people, but also an intermediator for the preservation and dissemination of lost traditional knowledge. The features of the compiled dictionary are not only reliance on the literary Even language, but also taking into account dialect vocabulary, the most complete reflection of all varieties of names, their functioning through marks and illustrative examples. A modern Russian-Even dictionary will be developed taking into account the extensive dialectal material first introduced into scientific circulation. The most important application of the results of research in the socio-economic sphere will be its use in the field of education, science, culture, which will contribute to the revival, preservation and development of the Even language.