Completing an unfinished historical dictionary

Conference item

This paper discusses a project concerned with the completion of a historical dictionary of the Croatian literary language: Rječnik hrvatskoga književnoga jezika od preporoda do Ivana Gorana Kovačića (Dictionary of the Croatian Literary Language from the [Croatian] Revival to Ivan Goran Kovačić [the last out of the 107 Croatian writers whose works are cited in the dictionary], compiled by the renowned Croatian translator, lexicographer, literary critic, and writer Julije Benešić. The first twelve volumes of his dictionary were published about thirty years after his death in 1957; in 2008 began a new endeavor at completing this distinguished work. Since the dictionary was never compiled according to a clear set of rules, the current project is confronted with numerous dilemmas. However, it is important for the dictionary to be completed, as it refers to a particularly interesting period in the history of the Croatian language and literature marked by significant changes, including the establishment of the standard Croatian language. Finally, Benešić's dictionary contains elements that place it in both historical and contemporary lexicographical paradigms. In other words, like in traditional historical dictionaries, each word is described through chronologically ordered citations, so that the reader can follow gradual changes in the language. On the other hand, in light of contemporary concerns about lexicographical evidence, every decision in the dictionary is corpus-based.

Authors: Nikolic-Hoyt, A

• Alternative title: Presented at Eastern European And Other Lexicography session
• Publication status: Not published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Edition: Author's Original
• Language: English
• Subjects: Lexicography