Vladimir+Ivanovich+Dal

Vladimir Ivanovich Dal

(alternatively transliterated as Dahl; Влади́мир Ива́нович Даль)
//November 10, 1801 – September 22, 1872// He was one of the greatest Russian language lexicographer. During his lifetime he compiled and documented the oral history of the region that was later published in Russian and became part of modern folklore. He was interested in the wealth of the Russian language, and he began collecting words while still a student in the Naval Cadet School. Later he collected and recorded fairy tales, folk songs, birch bark woodcuts, and accounts of superstitions, beliefs, and prejudices of the Russian people. His industry in the sphere of collecting was prodigious. Explanatory Dictionary of the Live Great Russian language, was published in four huge volumes in 1863–1866. Dal was a strong proponent of the native rather than adopted vocabulary. His dictionary began to have a strong influence on literature at the beginning of the 20th century. For his great dictionary Dal was honoured by theLomonosov Medal and honorary fellowship in the Russian Academy of Sciences. To mark the 200th anniversary of Vladimir Dal's birthday, UNESCO declared the year 2000 The International Year of Vladimir Dal.