This contribution reports on a study that set out to paint as complete a picture as possible of the context and content of modern Slovenian lexicography. We aimed to discern the philosophical underpinnings, the most noteworthy accomplishments, and the main projects of Slovenian dictionary work as presented by our seven subjects, who are all prominent members of the lexicographic community. We sought specialists who work on synchronic topics and concentrate more on the standard language and terminology rather than on dialectal variation and other lexicographic topics that are of more interest to scholars than to educated lay persons. The interview script consisted of thirteen narrative questions, designed to allow the interviewees to reflect in as much depth as possible on their daily practice as well as on their underlying vision of what lexicography or terminography is. This article discusses the development and influences of Slovenian lexicographic theory and presents part 1 of the results of this study: the views of the practicing lexicographers on whether they perceive their lexicographic work as drudgery and what they see as the essential nature of their role in society % how the dictionary maker can be a force for good and avoid any potential for harm.
COBISS.SI-ID: 68618082
In Slovenia, there is institutional bilingualism in two ethnically mixed areas: Prekmurje (Slovene-Hungarian) and Slovene Istria (Slovene-Italian). Financial resources for the implementation of linguistic diversity are ensured by the constitution. In public institutions in these areas where an employed individual comes into contact with the public, the use of the two languages may bring a financial incentive. Linguistic diversity can thus be said to have a direct economic value and provides an advantage in the labour market.
COBISS.SI-ID: 13733709
Pronominal subject use constitutes a potential challenge in translation because of cross-linguistic differences: while the subject must be expressed in non-null subject languages, this is not necessary in null subject languages. The aim of the paper is twofold: first, to show that the type of source language influences the frequency of personal pronouns in translation, and second, to establish whether translations into a null subject language differ from comparable target language originals in terms of pronominal subject use. The study is based on the analysis of a 625,000-word corpus comprising original and translated popular science texts in Slovene and the corresponding source texts in English and Italian. The results confirm that pronominal subjects are more frequent in translations from English, a non-null subject language; furthermore, they are more frequent in translations than in comparable originals. Untypical cohesive patterns are identified in translations and possible reasons for their presence are explored.
COBISS.SI-ID: 67037538
The paper reports on a study of German-Slovene language relations in the area of onomastics. Its aim is to build a typology of German-Slovene exonyms on the basis of lexicographic and textual material. Initially, it presents cultural and historical, linguistic and political as well as contact related factors which are to be taken into account in the formation of Slovene exonyms referring to the German speaking territories. The paper goes on to analyze different types of German-Slovene toponymic pairs and shows the applicability of the proposed typology in contrastive analysis, translation studies, lexicography and the teaching of first as well as second/foreign languages. In addition to that, knowledge about endonyms and exonyms can also be a useful part of general culture.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24226824
The article presents and compares ways of expressing diminution in English and Slovene nouns, verbs and adjectives with the aim of testing a hypothesis suggesting that Slovene uses diminutive forms more frequently than English. Depending on language typology, diminutiveness can be realized predominantly word-formationally or predominantly analytically. The hypothesis is tested against an analysis of diminutive forms used in Dahl's Matilda and its Slovene translation, showing that Slovene indeed prefers to use diminutives more frequently than English. A tendency can be established for Slovene to form diminutives by word-formational means in the categories of noun and verb. In verbs, English tends towards neutrality of expression. Frequent use of multiple diminutiveness and the ability of analytic and synthetic diminutive forms to be freely interchangeable in Slovene testify to the strong presence of diminutive forms in the language system.
COBISS.SI-ID: 65761122