Contemporary Ukrainian Computational Dictionaries: History, Achievements, and Challenges

Abstract

The article deals with the factors that led to the emergence of Applied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, and Computational Lexicography – these are the processes of global digitalization of the world, the expansion of the scale of the scientific and technical revolution in the field of information systems and computer communication, the formation of the knowledge industry, requests on the development of radically new means of creating, storing, transforming and searching for information, as well as the integration of scientific fields. It is noted that at the beginning of the 21st century, lexicography incorporated centuries-old experience of theoretical linguistics and practical linguistics in the works of lexicography, and on the other hand, it received unprecedented development prospects associated with the use of computer technologies. It is emphasized that the social significance of lexicographic products is currently growing steadily. Modern science strives to embody all aspects of acquired knowledge in dictionary form, because dictionaries not only record the totality of certain knowledge, but also serve as a reliable tool for scientific mastering of reality. The works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the specific topic were analysed. It has been proven that computational dictionaries as a type of social, research or educational communication are the most popular reference materials, a source of access to any type of information (technical, encyclopaedic, linguistic, etc.) due to the fixation of the modern level of knowledge, completeness, accuracy, reliability, a systematic approach to the organization and presentation of knowledge, accessibility, extreme “comfort” for use, etc. Dictionary works are also the goal and result of scientific work on linguistic and technical issues.