Department of Language Cultivation
Address:
Letenská 123/4
118 00 Praha 1
Scope of research:
The work of the Department of Language Cultivation (DLC) draws on the theories of language cultivation and standard language developed by the Prague Linguistic Circle, but is mainly based on modern sociolinguistic theories and knowledge from current language planning practice. These theoretical foundations are the underpinnings of the DLC’s practically oriented activities, which include codification, language consulting and language popularisation. The DLC is the only department of the Czech Language Institute that systematically addresses spelling and pronunciation issues on both theoretical and practical levels. The scope of research interests among DLC staff is broader, however, and they research and publish papers on language norms and codification and other linguistic issues. The department collaborates with similar European institutes that conduct research on language norms, provide linguistic consulting and produce printed and electronic language reference sources. This collaboration enables international knowledge transfer and enhancement of language consulting services and results in outputs such as the Standards of language consulting.
The Department of Language Cultivation operates the Language Consulting Centre, which provides language users with methodical language consulting services, including professional expert opinions on language. Through this service, the DLC obtains linguistic and sociolinguistic information on the current language needs of lay and professional language users, as well as information on their attitudes towards language. This information is used both for research on language cultivation (language planning) and to enhance the accuracy and completeness of descriptions of language in language manuals produced by the DLC.
The DLC’s best known and widely used output is the Internet Language Reference Book (ILRB): Internetová jazyková příručka. It consists of a dictionary section, which contains over 112,000 entries, and a reference section, which includes explanations of linguistic phenomena that language users often inquire about through the consulting service. The ILRB is the first Czech linguistic reference of its kind. The public also has access to the extensive online Databáze jazykových dotazů (Language Inquiry Database), which contains thousands of responses to queries submitted to the Language Consulting Centre and the Zajímavé dotazy (Interesting Inquiries) section, which offers a selection of the most interesting questions and answers.
To promote language knowledge among the general public, DLC staff collaborates with a number of media, gives lectures to the general and professional public, and participates in CAS popularisation projects (Otevřená věda, Jedu vědu, Pozvěte si vědce do výuky). Staff members also lead courses for state administration offices and other institutions and cooperate with the Centrum pro zjišťování výsledků vzdělávání – CERMAT (Centre on Measurement in Education) on the preparation and validation of didactic tests in the Czech language.
The Department of Language Cultivation manages publication of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Naše řeč (Our Speech), which is dedicated to Czech as a mother tongue. It presents studies on contemporary Czech, historical development of the language, Czech grammar and vocabulary, spelling, stylistics and the literary variety of Czech in relation to other varieties.
Current projects:
Theory and Practice of Language Cultivation
Principal investigator: PhDr. Veronika Štěpánová, Ph.D.
The Department of Language Cultivation addresses the theory and practice of language cultivation (language planning) through scientific work and research. It is the only Czech studies department in the Czech Republic providing methodical jazykové poradenství (language consulting services) and expert opinions on language to various groups of language users. These services provide the department with ongoing feedback about the ways the language really works and about the current language needs of the members of our language community. This information is a valuable source of linguistic and sociolinguistic data and a useful starting point for theoretical studies of language in language cultivation.
The Journal Naše řeč (Our Speech) – Editorial Office
Naše řeč is a peer-reviewed scientific journal dedicated to Czech as a mother tongue. The journal has been published since 1916 and presents articles in Czech, English and, occasionally, Slovak. It addresses issues around contemporary Czech, its development, Czech grammar and vocabulary, spelling, Czech stylistics in general, the language of specific literary works, and textual linguistics. It is also concerned with literary Czech in relation to other varieties. The primary focus is on the linguistic cultivation of Czech as well as language cultivation in general, with particular attention to the current development of Czech, issues of usage, linguistic norms, and codification. The journal sparks debate on current linguistic topics. Four volumes a year are published.
Editor-in-chief: Mgr. Martin Beneš, Ph.D.
Executive Editor: PhDr. Hana Mžourková, Ph.D.
Editors: Mgr. Jakub Sláma, PhDr. Ivana Svobodová
Staff members:
PhDr. Veronika Štěpánová, Ph.D.
vedoucí
PhDr. Markéta Pravdová, Ph.D., MBA