description Vladimir Dahl Overview
Vladimir Dahl was a prominent Russian lexicographer best known for his comprehensive Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language. Completed between 1863 and 1866, this dictionary meticulously documented language usage during its time, representing a significant contribution to linguistic scholarship. It remains a valuable resource primarily for historians, linguists, and those studying Russian literature and culture from the 19th century.
help Vladimir Dahl FAQ
How large is Vladimir Dahl's Russian dictionary?
The Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language was published in four volumes. Later editions contain roughly 200,000 words along with tens of thousands of proverbs and sayings.
How did Dahl collect material for his dictionary?
He recorded spoken words, dialects, proverbs, and expressions during decades of travel and professional work across the Russian Empire. His method emphasized living popular speech rather than limiting the dictionary to formal literary vocabulary.
When was Dahl's dictionary first published?
The first edition appeared in installments between 1863 and 1866. Dahl revised and expanded the work for a second edition before his death in 1872.
Was Vladimir Dahl only a lexicographer?
No, he served in the Russian Navy, trained and worked as a physician, collected folklore, and wrote stories. He also attended Alexander Pushkin after the poet was fatally wounded in his 1837 duel.
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