The "dialogue between civilizations" remains an unfulfilled promise of globalization, largely because knowledge resources are often restricted to elite academic circles. Substantive ideas remain dormant due to lack of translation expertise. This paper argues that to make this dialogue a reality for the masses, lexicography must be reimagined in a way that it is not merely as a scholarly recording of words, but as a democratizing tool that ensures inclusive access to knowledge. In this study the etymological and reference based methodology found in Indian Lexicographic Tradition, specifically in Śabdakalpadruma, a monolingual Sanskrit dictionary, will be employed to propose a new framework for language pedagogy and translation. As Sanskrit tradition emphasizes on dhātu (root) and the cultural genesis of words, this descriptive style of lexicography is argued to be more effective than prescriptive 'one word for one word' dictionary. This inclusive framework, combined with modern pedagogical tools, can shift the paradigm from passive translation to active cultural decoding. This paper will try to demonstrate how simplifying and adapting these classical lexicographical strategies for language learning can empower learners to decode not just foreign words, but the worldview infused within. As we human encode our knowledge into language, we enrich it with our cultural imprint. If understood, this imprint will show us the true human potential of the knowledge created; if not, then it will be an obstacle to even understand its face value. This paper tries to mitigate this and make knowledge accessible for all.

Authors:
Deepak Solanki, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

About the Presenter(s)
Deepak Solanki, a PhD Scholar at SLL&CS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Interested in learning languages, exploring new cultures. A conversation enthusiast who also Works as a Consultant Interpreter at Lower House of The Parliament of India.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-solanki-00a269260/

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