A DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO LEXICOGRAPHERS: Ya. K. GROT AND V. I. DAL’

The article is concerned with the professional communication between the two eminent persons of the 19th century: Ya. K. Grot and V. I. Dal’. Ya. K. Grot was the first expert of the “Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language” (“Tolkovyĭ slovar’ Zhivogo velikorusskogo jazyka”), compiled by V. I. Dal’. The review written by Ya. K. Grot helped to develop professional contacts between the two lexicographers. This review seems to be a perfect example of the ethical attitude to the Dictionary and to its author. The review combined serious critical comments and the impartial, objective, and reverent aProach to the work which was very important for the Russian language and Russian studies. A dialogue between two lexicographers is depicted in the article as the dialogue between a non-professional lexicographer, i. e. V. I. Dal’ and a professional one, i. e. Ya. K. Grot.