Définir pour apprendre et apprendre à définir: repenser la lexicographie pour l’enseignement des langues
Defining to Learn and Learning to Define: Rethinking Lexicography for Language Teaching

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the pedagogical potential of the Active Dictionary of the Russian Language,edited by Ju. D. Apresjan and developed within Mel’čuk’s framework of Explanatory and CombinatorialLexicography (ECL) and Apresjan’s Active Lexicography (AL). Rather than treating the ActiveDictionary solely as a reference work, the article approaches it as a methodological tool for integratinglexis and grammar in the teaching of Russian as a foreign language. Following a conciseoverview of the theoretical principles underpinning ECL–AL, it shows how dictionary definitionscan be adapted for pedagogical purposes. Each example highlights the controlled simplification ofdefinitions and demonstrates how they can foster paraphrastic competence and support learnersin justifying lexical choices in the target language. The approach proposed here argues for a moresystematic incorporation of lexicographic methodology into language instruction.

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