Устаревшая лексика русского языка: вопросы преподавания и лексикографической интерпретации

Abstract

The research is devoted to lexicographic and educational issues associated with obsolescent words in the Russian language. Unresolved theoretical issues, i. e. a classification of obsolete vocabulary, research on obsolete words in connection with the chronology of their use in the language, etc., complicates applied research, teaching and lexicographical description of such vocabulary. Within the educational process it is important not only to interpret the meaning of obsolete lexical units found in classical literature, but also to enable students to understand the systematic nature, the dynamism, and the historical character of the vocabulary evolution phenomenon. It is necessary to consider the different degree of obsolescence and the processes of vocabulary update typical for the development of the modern Russian language. The author suggests that dictionaries should also be used in the process, i. e., dictionaries of rare and obsolete words, explanatory dictionaries, and, additionally, historical dictionaries. The features of the lexicographic presentation of obsolete vocabulary should also be taken into consideration. The central issues of explanatory lexicography in this regard are the following: criteria for including obsolete lexis in dictionaries, and principles of its description (a system of lexicographic notes and typical explanations, various interpretations of historicisms and archaisms, etc.). The article discusses the lexicographic practice of academic dictionaries (in particular, the “Dictionary of the Modern Russian Language”) and the innovative project titled “The Dictionary of the Russian Language of the 21st Century”, supervised by G. N. Sklyarevskaya. The author suggests that an essential advantage of the explanatory dictionary is that it can define the role and features of outdated vocabulary functioning in the modern language, interpreting this vocabulary as an integral part of the lexical composition of the Russian language. The author concludes that studying obsolete vocabulary at school and making its descriptions available for users in modern Russian language dictionaries are important prerequisites for correct interpretation and use of obsolete words and expressions.