Projects / Programmes
SLOVENIAN PROVERBS AS CULTURAL HERITAGE: CLASIFICATION AND CORPUS EDITING
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.04.00 |
Humanities |
Ethnology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H400 |
Humanities |
Folklore |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.05 |
Humanities |
Other humanities |
Proverb, saying, saw; folklore forms, genre system, definition, classification, corpus; computer statistical methods; text data mining
Researchers (8)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Until recently folklore forms were the most neglected research field of Slovenian literary folkloristics. For several years, systematic attention has therefore been devoted to the most representative genre - proverbs. After publishing a study on their collecting and first reflections on them, systematic copying from old sources started (dictionaries, grammars, museum collections, 19th-century newspapers, manuscript collections in the National and University Library, older and modern Slovenian literature, seminar papers and degree dissertations at the Departments of Slovenian Studies and Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana). We strove to collect contemporary material through collection actions at newspapers, radio and television stations, and field contacts. A model was elaborated for the digitisation (including context where possible) of the proverbs. 893 sources thus yielded over 50,000 digitised Slovenian proverbs, creating the conditions for their research.
However, first of all the present collection had to be arranged by:
a) verifing whether all the items in the collected material meet the standards to be considered proverbs (this means that other types of folklore forms or records which fail to meet even that standard, must be eliminated from the material;
b) collecting in one place all the versions and variants of one and the same proverb;
c) working out a model for a sensible structure of the collected material.
For the time being we envisage a classification of the proverbs into chapters, as they are provided by the ethnological classification system of the Ethnological topography of the Slovenian ethnic territory + add chapters based on values (joy, happiness, etc.). This idea however requires further verification. The principal objective of the project at this stage of research into Slovenian proverbs and sayings is a scientific collection with an added scientific apparatus: sources, in-depth scientific commentaries, and a genre definition of this folklore form based on the Slovenian material. This would certainly constitute the original result of the planned project.
In addition to standard philologically analytical and ethnological comparative methods, the extensive nature of the material will also require many statistical operations. The scientific relevance of the work lies in the emphasis that this will be a fundamental work of Slovenian paremiology, and as such a much needed study aid and comparative source for European researches into proverbs.
The social and economic achievement lies in the fact that the envisaged collection will be an encyclopaedia of Slovenian proverbs, useful to a wide range of humanist and social sciences. The techniques used in the classification of Slovenian proverbs can also be used in the processing of similar texts: classification of SMS text messages on mobile phones or user comments on websites. These techniques, verified in the classification of proverbs, may also be useful to other folklore genres and beyond literary folklore. They may among others be used for efficient classification of the questions of users of products or services and sending answers to them; such techniques of artificial intelligence are further useful in any dissemination of public information (public administration, health service, etc.).
Significance for science
From a scientific point of view, the project makes a relevant contribution to, and a shift in Slovenian literary folkloristics for the following reasons: 1. In a long-term perspective, the scientific collection of proverbs is a foundation for relevant scientific research in all philological sciences and a number of areas within social sciences and humanities. 2. For a number of sciences, it is an excellent source for electronic databases and specialised reference books. 3. The publication of this fundamental work is the most apt way to define and establish Slovenian paremiology. 4. The collection facilitates production of special publications (e.g. collections organised by topic, location, etc.) in the Slovenian and other languages. Translations of such collections accompanied by apt texts would make a fine emblem of Slovenian science (and state) in the European society. 5. The published collection and the accompanying study will be a valuable comparative source in international research, and a welcome study aid for Slavic and other European research into proverbs and related research projects, making Slovenian paremiology an equal partner in international paremiology. 6. The statistical (quantitative) processing or statistically supported data mining techniques used in the classification of proverbs will also be applicable to the classification of other similar short texts that are focused in terms of content; something of great importance for literary folkloristics as well as linguistics and many other sciences. 7. In combination with professional and analytical methods, the project paves the way for the development of applied literary folkloristics, and offers a scientific insight into large user text corpora, which are built by means of modern technology. 8. Statistically supported data mining techniques, as well as the professional and analytical approach used in the classification of proverbs will be applicable to the classification of other similar short texts that are focused in terms of content (e.g. research into short textual messages such as SMS text messages or users’ comments in internet forums and blogs). 9. An upgrade of classification techniques for the purpose of automatic replies to user questions. 10. The interdisciplinary approach resulting from the implementation of data mining in the methodological apparatus of literary folkloristics will enable new types of research based on the latest information technologies. This will contribute to new insights into the historical national cultural dynamics, as well as to the dissemination of the general knowledge and use of modern technologies.
Significance for the country
The direct and all-embracing relevance of the first scientific collection of Slovenian proverbs lies in its general accessibility and usefulness not only for the humanities and social sciences, but under certain conditions also for the general public. One of the advantages of the collection is that proverbs are well organised and accessible from a single place, time savings being one of the key economic categories of today. 1. The collection of proverbs is a relevant contribution to the knowledge and expressions of the Slovenian mentality in the Slovenian language. 2. A lexical representation of Slovenian proverbs is useful for all those dealing with the issues of Slovenian identity and its continuity. 3. It is not just evidence of Slovenian creativity in the past, but an addition for today’s literature to draw on the collection of this creative initiative. 4. It will enhance the linguistic competence of journalists and professional language users in general. 5. The corpus of Slovenian proverbs enables production of special publications (e.g. collections organised by time period, topic, location, etc.) in the Slovenian and other languages. 6. Translations of such collections accompanied by apt texts can make a fine emblem of Slovenia in the European society. 7. Establishing Slovenian paremiology is an important aspect in promoting Slovenia by means of the spiritual culture, with the new discipline joining the international flow of knowledge. 8. The corpus is evidently applicable to educational processes at all levels of education (pre-school, primary education, secondary education, higher education). 9. The collection allows for the advertising industry to draw on tradition to create new and original advertisements. By popularizing products, it enables at the same time direct identification with Slovenian regional or local areas and connects to a wider European environment. 10. The project fills one of the voids in the knowledge, protection, and preservation of the Slovenian intangible cultural heritage.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
