Usage Qualifiers and Their Lexicographic Significance — Examples from the Dictionary of the Montenegrin National and Literary Language

Abstract

This paper addresses a key component of every descriptive dictionary — lexicographic qualifiers, with a particular focus on one of their types, namely usage qualifiers. The analysis draws on examples from the first volume of the Dictionary of the Montenegrin National and Literary Language. It considers both normative and functional-stylistic qualifiers, which are essential elements of lexicographic description. Their significance is highlighted in both the standardization of the lexicon and its functional-stylistic stratification. By providing explanations and illustrative examples, this paper emphasizes the importance of usage qualifiers for an accurate understanding of the semantic content of lexemes in a broader context, as well as their communicative value and pragmatic relevance. Moreover, the paper points out the inherent susceptibility of usage qualifiers to change (which reflects the dynamic nature of the lexicon and language changes in general), thereby highlighting the need to establish general principles and criteria for their more consistent use in descriptive dictionaries. Some characteristic examples of the use of qualifiers have also been examined comparatively, in relation to their treatment in other dictionaries from the formerly shared Serbo-Croatian linguistic area. Attention is likewise drawn to the challenges lexicographers face in marking and classifying lexical items, as well as to possible approaches to overcoming these issues. Keywords: usage qualifiers, lexicography, lexeme, lexicon, lexicographic description, descriptive dictionaries, functional-stylistic qualifiers, normative qualifiers, context, pragmatics