A word game: St Petersburg University scholars compile a unique media dictionary for journalists and philologists

In 2020, the DataSlov media dictionary project was awarded a grant from the Vladimir Potanin Foundation Fellowship Programme for lecturers of master's programmes. The project was created under the guidance of Ekaterina Shcheglova, Associate Professor at St Petersburg University, and with the participation of Associate Professors at the Department of Speech Communication Natalia Prokofeva and Iuliia Koniaeva.

DataSlov is compiled like an ideographic dictionary. Such dictionaries are focused on: lexical meanings – common lexis, that is, the literary norm; and contextual meanings, which have become widespread in recent times. The main criterion for choosing words is the frequency of their use in the media. Despite the fact that such dictionaries exist, they are published mainly in printed form. The online format makes the media dictionary interactive, accessible, and convenient for a wide range of users. It also avoids the lengthy process of preparing a publication, which is especially important when working with topical, ‘hot’ data.

‘As in an ordinary dictionary, we have definitions, dictionary illustrations, and grammatical labels. The innovation of our project is the reference of actual meanings in word usage and a cultural and historical reference. This describes the actualisation of the word and the emergence of new meanings: in connection with which event they appeared and came into vernacular usage,’ said Associate Professor Natalia Prokofeva. The authors add that their resource makes it possible to build connections between words and therefore outline different thematic fields.

The project has three partners: Samara State University; Lublin University; and the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation. Negotiations on participation in the development of the resource are underway with colleagues from Poland, Belarus and Hungary. I hope our project will be especially relevant in the professional and academic communities.

Ekaterina Shcheglova, Associate Professor at St Petersburg University

According to the compilers, the media dictionary will be of interest to those who study the Russian language, since observing the linguistic picture of the world is an integral element of this process. Additionally, school teachers of the Russian language and literature have become interested in the dictionary. The authors note that it might be a good help in the classroom: examples from the media, which are found in dictionary entries, can become an addition to the more traditional ones from fiction.

Also, one of the main objectives of the project is to become a learning resource for future media professionals.

The word is an influencing element, it has a huge suggestive potential. And to understand it, students need to be interested, involved in the process, and to make the word more ‘real’.

Associate Professor Natalia Prokofeva

Students will participate in the role of compilers of dictionary entries. They will be able to offer words and their actual definitions. This is also included as part of the course ‘Linguistic Worldview of the Present Time’ of the master's programme of St Petersburg University ‘Media Texts in Mass Communications’.

The creators of the project are sure that the main advantage of the interactive dictionary is its constant development in real time. Everyone can therefore become an author. They can suggest additions to a specific entry or add new words. Instructions for using the media dictionary are available on the project website. Additionally, any user can share any article from the dictionary on social networks and thereby help promote the project.