THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE IN CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION: THE CRIMEAN LEXICOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT
The article deals with the writing of a series of thematic learner’s dictionaries for the polycultural area of Crimea. In these dictionaries Russian is the source language and the languages of other Crimean ethnic groups are the target languages. The special features of the Russian language and culture functioning in neighbourship with the cultures of the various other Crimean ethnic groups are pointed out. The success of the cross-cultural communication is determined by the consolidating the function of Russian language which helps to balance the polycultural situation. Our lexicographical project is able to create real conditions for the dialogue between the cultures in polycultural Crimea. In particular, language bears the treasures of each culture in itself by reflecting them in its lexical units. Our series of dictionaries provides the opportunity to realize the right of the various ethnic groups to study their own mother tongues with the help of Russian language. In this way, each of the ethnic cultures, being reflected in the language of the given ethnic group, becomes a participant in the polylogue of cultures with equal rights, occupying its rightful place in the constellation of cultures. For the writing of such thematic learner’s dictionaries a common basic lexical component unifying them into a series is essential. An important aspect is the inclusion of elements of cultural commentary.