Style of the language systems as reflected in A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson (1755) and A Dictionary of the Russian Academy (‘Slovar’ Akademii Rossiyskoy’, 1789–1794)

Abstract

The article considers some stylistic aspects of the Russian and English language systems based on A Dictionary of The English Language… by Samuel Johnson, and A Dictionary of The Russian Academy (‘Slovar Academii Rossiyskoy’), 18th c., that laid a foundation of the British and Russian national lexicography. A comparison of major literary sources of the dictionaries and approaches applied in these lexicographic traditions reveals significant differences between the styles of the two language systems, which has an impact on the national mentalities, ways of perception of a mother tongue and а foreign language, as well as methods of teaching the two languages.