Jovan Cvijic in Serbian lexicography of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century

Abstract

Work of Jovan Cvijic includes several scientific disciplines and time periods. He left a considerable scientific heritage of about 10,000 pages. Cvijic’s body of work is, up to date, researched by geographers, geologists, ethnologists, biologists, psychologists, philosophers, historians, sociologists. Over 1,000 of papers, monographs and conferences were dedicated to him. In the paper, the presence of biography articles about Jovan Cvijic in selected works of Serbian lexicography in the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century is established. The extent of dedicated articles is researched, their contents analysed and it is investigated which part of the rich Cvijic’s scientific work was elaborated in most details. In order to evaluate Cvijic as a scientist, we have to understand the time period in which he lived and created his most important works. Furthermore, we need to understand the social climate within Serbian lexicography at the time, and only then try to establish how and why Cvijic was presented in the national lexicography the way he is. This also applies to the lexicographical presentation of the greatest individuals and scientists of the epoch besides Cvijic, whose scientific work, beyond any doubt, went ahead of his time. The paper represents a contribution to understanding of contemporary reception of Cvijic’s scientific work in Serbia on the 150th anniversary of his birth. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 47016: Interdisciplinary research of cultural and linguistic heritage of Serbia, creating multimedia internet-portal “Glossary of Serbian culture]