Reconceptualising Contemporary Lexicography: Emotional Intelligence and the Sustainable Lexicographic Modelling of the Modal Verb moći

Abstract

The article examines the modal verb moći ("can"/"to be able to") as described in dictionaries currently in active use within the Montenegrin linguistic context, with particular emphasis on its significance in both digital and interpersonal communication in contemporary language. Building upon the foundational ideas of the lexicographic project Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (ANW) (Fuertes-Olivera 2024, following Colman 2016), the authors propose that the analysis and description of lexical units — described on the example of this particular modal verb — should be preceded by a comprehensive analysis in the domain of the emotional impact on interlocutors during conversation. This approach would influence the development of dictionaries that go beyond simply defining lexical units in various contexts. Instead, they would offer guidance on using words in emotionally calibrated communication to effectively convey and elicit the intended emotional impact within a given context. Thus, the aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of emotional intelligence and regulation through the example of the modal verb moći, and to offer recommendations for more effective management of emotional tone across diverse communicative environments. In this context, contemporary dictionaries would play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality and effectiveness of communication, not only by offering precise semantic distinctions, but also by incorporating pragmatic and affective guidance, thereby ensuring that lexicography remains a sustainable and socially responsive discipline. This multidimensionality demands not only lexical precision but also contextual thoughtfulness and emotional attunement to achieve communicative effectiveness, making lexicography a sustainable discipline that remains at the heart of all linguistic research, where it rightfully belongs. Keywords: lexicography, modal verbs, digital communication, dictionaries, emotional intelligence, discourse analysis