Darbas 'work' in selected Lithuanian discourses

ENThe study presents the Lithuanian linguo-cultural image of work (darbas) reconstructed from lexicographic and textual data. The lexicographic sources used are The Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language (Lietuviu Kalbos Žodynas, LKŽ) and The Dictionary of Contemporary Lithuanian (Dabartinės Lietuvių Kalbos Žodynas, DLKŽ). The relevant definitions in the two dictionaries differ substantially and reflect, respectively, former and contemporary views on work. The lexicographic treatment contains elements of the rural understanding of work as a hard, arduous human activity, performed out of necessity but at the same time as something that brings joy and functions as the foundation of one’s life. The dictionaries also contains elements of Soviet ideology, especially anextolment of work and its superiority over people. To complement this view, data froma literary, ideological, legal, and journalistic discourse provide new means of looking at work. Descriptions of hard work as afundamental human activity can be found in the writings of classic Lithuanian authors, such as Kristijonas Donelaitis, Dionizas Poška, and Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas. At the same time, literary descriptions have a distinct poetic flavour and foster the sense of ennoblement, as well as elevating workers as heroes. Ideological discourse reveals the patriotic sense of work, legal discourse revolves around the significance of the law. The most diverse is the treatment of work in journalistic discourse: it is a value, an honour, and a duty; it brings satisfaction if it is interesting; it may also be treated as a relatively effortless hobby. Keywords: work, Lithuanian discourse, literary discourse, ideological discourse, legal discourse, journalism.

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