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THE EVOLUTION OF LEXEME CODIFICATION AND DICTIONARY-MAKING
Tursunova Nodirabegim Fayzullo qizi
Andijan state institure of foreign languages, Doctoral student
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16892144
Abstract
This article examines the historical development, theoretical foundations, and practical
significance of lexemes within the context of dictionary-making traditions from ancient
civilizations to modern times. By analyzing the epistemological and semiological aspects of
lexemes, the study affirms their central role as the primary naming and meaning-bearing units
in any language. The research traces the progression of lexicographic traditions from early
inscriptions on stone and animal hides, through Arabic, Persian, and Turkic classical
dictionaries, to European lexicographic standardization following the invention of the printing
press. Special attention is given to the influence of European lexicographic methods on Russian,
Turkish, and Uzbek dictionary-making, particularly in the 20th century during script reforms.
The article concludes that national explanatory dictionaries are essential for standardizing the
orthographic, semantic, and grammatical norms of lexemes, thus serving as vital instruments
in language planning and preservation.
Keywords:
lexeme, lexicography, dictionary, etymology, phonetics, semantic codification,
Uzbek lexicography, printing press, historical linguistics
1. Introduction
In linguistic theory, the lexeme represents the basic unit of meaning and naming, forming
the backbone of any language’s vocabulary. As a linguistic sign, the lexeme is both a semantic
and functional entity, acting as a medium of cultural, historical, and intellectual preservation.
Throughout history, the systematic recording of lexemes in dictionaries has not only
safeguarded linguistic heritage but also facilitated standardization, language planning, and
scholarly analysis.
The study of lexemes from epistemological (gnoseological) and semiological perspectives
reveals their significance as the foundational units in a language’s lexicon. Once codified in
dictionaries, lexemes become cultural monuments, preserving the linguistic realities of their
time.
The emergence of writing systems in human history enabled the recording of words on
diverse media such as stone, clay tablets, and animal skins. These early inscriptions served as
the precursors to modern dictionaries, capturing the vocabulary of their era.
In antiquity, philosophical debates—most notably by Aristotle and Plato—addressed the
nature of the word and its meaning, laying conceptual foundations for the lexeme’s linguistic
status.
The Islamic Golden Age (8th–10th centuries) marked the rise of practical lexicography in
Arabic, Persian, and Turkic traditions. Early milestones include:
Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi –
Kitab al-‘Ayn
, the earliest known Arabic dictionary,
arranged phonologically.
Ibn Manzur –
Lisan al-‘Arab
, still a cornerstone of Arabic lexicography.
Ismail al-Jawhari –
As-Sihah
, a seminal 10th-century work.
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In the Turkic world, Mahmud al-Kashgari’s
Dīwān Lughāt at-Turk
(1072–1074) stands as
the first comprehensive Turkic dictionary, containing over 7,500 lexemes and dialectal forms,
scientifically classifying and preserving the linguistic richness of Turkic languages.
3. European Lexicographic Traditions and the Printing Revolution
European lexicography entered a systematic phase in the 18th–19th centuries, driven by
rapid social and scientific progress. The emergence of new concepts and terms necessitated
their codification. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century profoundly influenced
dictionary-making, enabling:
Wider distribution of standardized lexemes.
Increased accuracy in spelling, meaning, and usage.
Growth in the number of both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries.
Significant European lexicographic milestones include:
Samuel Johnson’s
A Dictionary of the English Language
(1755) – 40,000 words with
standardized spelling and definitions.
Robert Cawdrey’s
A Table Alphabeticall
– the first English explanatory dictionary (1604)
with 2,500 “hard words.”
Le Dictionnaire de l’Académie française
(1694) – the French Academy’s authoritative
dictionary.
Deutsches Wörterbuch
by the Brothers Grimm (1854–1960) – a monumental work in
German lexicography.
The printing revolution thus standardized national languages, codified scientific and
technical terminology, and provided a framework for translation studies.
4. Influence on Russian, Turkish, and Uzbek Lexicography
European lexicographic practices influenced Russian and subsequently Central Asian
traditions. In Uzbekistan, the adoption of Russian lexicographic principles was particularly
significant during the 1930s script reform from Arabic to Latin script. This period saw the
publication of the first bilingual Russian–Uzbek and Uzbek–Russian dictionaries.
The mid-20th century marked a milestone with the compilation of the first monolingual
explanatory dictionary of the Uzbek language, which set orthographic, semantic, and
grammatical norms for lexemes.
However, script reforms—occurring three times in one century (Arabic → Latin → Cyrillic
→ Latin)—created challenges for lexeme standardization, causing phonetic and orthographic
inconsistencies.
National explanatory dictionaries serve as:
Tools for normalizing orthography and phonetics.
Codifiers of semantic precision and contextual usage.
Archives of cultural and historical heritage.
Reference sources for terminology development.
The evolution of both Eastern and Western lexicographic traditions demonstrates the
universal necessity of dictionaries in maintaining language integrity and fostering linguistic
scholarship.
6. Conclusion
From ancient inscriptions to digital lexicography, the journey of the lexeme reflects the
intertwined history of language, culture, and technology. The codification of lexemes in
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dictionaries—whether in the form of bilingual glossaries, explanatory compilations, or
specialized terminological references—remains central to language preservation.
For the Uzbek language, the development of national explanatory dictionaries represents
not only a linguistic achievement but also a cultural imperative, ensuring that the language’s
phonetic, semantic, and grammatical integrity is maintained amidst political and technological
transformations.
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