Leksikologiškiausiam terminologui Jonui Klimavičiui – 80

245Terminology | 2018 | 25 Leksikologiškiausiam terminologui Jonui Klimavičiui – 80 AUŠRA RIMKUTĖ-GANUSAUSKIENĖ Kauno kolegija Eighty years ago, on November 26, 1938, Jonas Klimavičius was born in Suvalkija, one of those linguists who is known and appreciated not only by colleagues, editors, stylists, but also by the general public. PhD in humanities, linguist, terminologist, lexicologist, terminographer, lexicographer, language normifier, educator of language culture, editor, member of editorial boards, translator, consultant, author, expert, reviewer, poet... – these are only a small part of the descriptions that fit when talking about J. Klimavičius and his diverse and broad scientific activity. The beautiful 80th anniversary is a great opportunity to discuss the life and work of an extremely hard-working and zealous linguist. The parents of the jubilee had five hectares of land in the village of Geruliškės, Marijampolė district. Three more children grew up in the family. From the age of six, he was cared for and sent to school by his aunt Marija and her husband – Muraškauskai from the village of Varakiškės. “It is a 246 Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė For the most lexicological terminologist Jonui Klimavičiui – 80 Vilkaviškio rajonas. He attended Višakiške elementary school, in 1956 he graduated from Pilviškiai secondary school and entered Vilnius Pedagogical Institute to study Lithuanian language and literature. After graduating with honors in 1961, he began working at the Institute of Lithuanian Language (then – Lithuanian Language and Literature). “Kazimieras Kuzavinis happily pushed me into linguistics,” J. Klimavičius has written and told more than once about his teacher (Klimavičius 2005: 7). However, the linguistic activity was interrupted for almost two years – in the autumn of 1961 the young scientist was called to perform the compulsory military service. His first publication appeared in the press on 1 March 1962 – a review of the Literatūros mokslo terminų žodynėlis (Dictionary of Literary Science Terms). “Twenty months were deleted from the beginning of my scientific life,” the jubilee recalls about the beginning of his path as a linguist (www.lki.lt). Septynerius metus, nuo 1963 iki 1970 m. pabaigos, Jono Kruopo pastūmėtas kartu su kitais žodynininkais rašė akademinio didžiojo Lietuvių kaltiring work, but also a versatile language school, a real laboratory” (Klimavičius 2005: 7). This work did not abandon the linguist later: “The Lithuanian Language Dictionary (vols. 1–20, 1941–2002) is both a sacred object and a primary source of language data for me” (Klimavičius 2005: 7). J. Klimavičius is a co-author of volumes VIII (1970), IX (1973), X (1976), XIV (1986), XV (1991) – he wrote about two hundred and seventy pages in total. He also contributed significantly to the second edition of Volume II (1969) – he prepared more than four hundred pages. As can be seen from his works, the Lithuanian language dictionary is an essential source of language data for the researcher. J. Klimavičius has also contributed to some editions of the Contemporary Lithuanian Language Dictionary – he is a member of the editorial board of the 3rd (1993) and 4th (2000) editions, as well as of the electronic edition published in 2002. Since 1971 he has been working in the Terminology Group. “I found myself in it as an exile, but I came back to life – I was not invited back later: I felt that a lot could be done for the language in terminology” (www.lki.lt). Thus began the scientific and practical work on terminology: first in the Department of Terminology of the Lithuanian Language Institute, then in the Terminology Centre, also in the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language in 1994–2002, then in its Subcommission on Terminology (until 2012). The work of a terminologist, like that of a lexicologist, is difficult and exhausting. There are many topics and problems. It is probably impossible to count the number of written articles, articles, dictionaries of terms, dictionaries, standards expertise, reviews, consultations provided (as early as 2008). 247Terminology | 2018 | 25 published Bibliography index we find more than a thousand different positions!). Thoroughly and competently written notes have improved the quality of not one publication. Not one hour or even a day of free time, time with loved ones was devoted to all these works. But let's go back to the beginning of the scientific work. From 1967 to 1970 J. Klimavičius studied in the postgraduate program (which was then called doctorate). The candidate's dissertation International Words in the Present Lithuanian Language was not completed in time, although he wrote a lot, more than two hundred pages. The subject is very complex and broad. “He paid too much attention to the theoretical part and the history of international words in the Lithuanian language”, – it is written in the personal file (Bibliografijos rodykla 2008: 11). She was interested in international words and later – with colleagues Irena Ermanyte, Violeta Černe and Lijana Puziniene published the School Dictionary of International Words in 2010. In the introduction to the book “International words in Lithuanian language” J. Klimavičius wrote that there is no uniform concept of international words in Europe, discussed published dictionaries of international words, proposed a definition of international words. The dissertation was successfully defended on 14 December 1993. Only the subject is quite different – the term system of melioration. In his dissertation, the scientist examined not so much scientific concepts as linguistic semantic microsystems of terms, discussing them not only terminologically but also lexicographically. Even before defending his dissertation in 1992, together with Kazimieras Gaivenis, Angela Kaulakiene and Stasys Keinis, J. Klimavičius prepared the book Terminologijos taisymai, in which “the criteria and principles of terminology standardization emerged and which received even several alternative reviews” (Rosinas 2008: 29). A very productive period of terminology research began with the scientific journal Terminologija. Initially, Jubiliatas was a member of the editorial board of the first issue of the journal (the first issue was published under the title Terminologijos vagos), from 1995 he became deputy editor-in-chief, and from 2001 to 2008 – editor-in-chief. The linguist has repeatedly mentioned that editing took a lot of time and energy. The author of these lines had the opportunity to prepare a huge work for the press – a collection of articles published in the scientific press Leksikologijos ir terminologijos darbai: norma ir istorija (Works of Lexicology and Terminology: Norm and History), which appeared in 2005. First of all, he was concerned at least minimally to explain the basic thing – what is the vocabulary of common language? The book consistently combines historical and normative aspects of research. He paid particular attention to the systematic nature of lexicon and terminology. This collection of articles is one of the favourite books of terminologists, especially of the younger generation. 248 Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė For the most lexicological terminologist Jonui Klimavičiui – 80 “The most attractive was the wonderful and mysterious world of words, in its infinite breadth, scientific activity became multidisciplinary. Everything determined this – the circumstances (slavery of collective work – of course, out of understanding, voluntary), the way (energy and domesticity), destiny – the example of the Teacher, as well as John Jablonski and especially Kazimierz Bogus. But this multifacetedness was also united by a credo probably taken from them – theoria cum praxis, perhaps more precisely – practice with theory: theory, which says nothing about the speaking person, sometimes seems unfruitful, practice that does not fertilize – futile, and practice without theory – either impossible at all, or just false paths. The normative and educational aspects without the investigated – levers without a point of support”, – the researcher writes in the afterword of the book Leksikologijos ir terminologijos darbai: norma ir istorija (Klimavičius 2005: 7). During all those years devoted to the Lithuanian language, from the first publication already mentioned in the Soviet Teacher in 1962, in addition to numerous scientific articles published in special scientific publications Lietuvių kalbotyros klausimai (Acta Linguistica Lithuanica), Kalbotyra, Baltistica, Kalbos kultūra (Bendra kalba), Terminologija, J. Klimavičius published even more popular articles in publications devoted to language culture and education Mūsų kalba, Gimtoji kalba, Gimtasis žodis and others. That is why it is well known to editors, stylists, language processors. Many tips, corrections, suggestions are aimed at them. As he himself wrote: “I engaged in the third part of the language culture program formed in my youth [1) to develop my own, 2) to create new, 3) to review – revise the old]. I let newcomers into people, there are those who have settled in" (www.lki.lt). “According to my credo, I did not drag every publication to the rank of recognized scientificity – you always have to have a theory, but you do not necessarily have to show it at the top. J. Jablonskis and K. Būga never showed that theory can be a lining,” the linguist himself wrote about his work. And what about the radio and television language hours (spoken almost around the clock)… Separate mention should be made of the huge dictionaries of terms, the terminologist of which is J. Klimavičius: Medical Terms Dictionary (1980, together with K. Gaivenis), Electrotechnical Terms Dictionary (1999), Clothing Dictionary: Lithuanian–English–German–French–Russian language clothing dictionary (2002), Construction Terms Dictionary (2002), Artillery Encyclopedia Dictionary (2004), Physics Terms Dictionary: Lithuanian, English, French, German and Russian languages (2007), Explanatory Wood Terms Dictionary: 3020 terms in Lithuanian, English, German, French, Russian languages (2014), Lithuanian Ethnographic Encyclopedia Dictionary (2015) and many others. 249Terminology | 2018 | 25 And that's not all. The jubilee is still working productively, without rest. However, he also devotes time to his hobbies, especially to writing poetry and translating, which is a slightly less known activity. He only signs under a pseudonym. In 2008, a collection of intellectual poetry was published under the pseudonym of Klementas Gerulis. After this collection, he appeared with a gift for the anniversary of the name of Lithuania – a 20-part hymn Tūkstantmetė Lietuva (2011). The same pseudonym has been used for the poetry hymn Three Crossroads: The Caretaker of the Nation by Jonas Aistis (2012), the book of poems Arti gimti ir amžini (2016) and the collection of sonnets, hymns, sayings, paraphrases and poems Živoji amžių Lietuva (2018). One can only guess how many poems are still unpublished and unwritten… Apparently, because of this passion for creating scientific articles, J. Klimavičius’s articles can be recognized by their individual style: verbal language, rare words, novelties, various metaphors and other means of artistic expression. He likes to say it sharply, ironically, present a lot of precisely collected facts, details, quite often invites his reader to think together and make a summary, conclusions. My acquaintance with Dr. J. Klimavičius began in 2004 in the Terminology Centre of the Lithuanian Language Institute. After graduating from Vilnius Pedagogical University, I started working as a senior laboratory assistant at the Terminology Centre, and a year later as a junior researcher. From the very beginning of our work at the institute, we shared one office with J. Klimavičius. This is where the friendship between a stubborn Žemaites and a rational Suvalkian begins. At that time, the editor-in-chief of the journal Terminology seemed to me very demanding, a little distant, a little mysterious, always writing something, concentrated, but with a great sense of humor and surprising colleagues with his creative lines, especially on birthdays. From the very beginning of my work at the Institute, I felt J. Klimavičius’ paternal care, especially when writing my first scientific articles. I still remember how eagerly and with fear (in fact, like other young colleagues) I waited for the reviews of my first article for the Journal of Terminology, especially the editor’s. His remarks, advice and encouragement were very important to me. Each article was carefully read by J. Klimavičius (more than once!), carefully edited, spared no comments and suggestions. I remember perfectly the autumn of 2007, when I asked J. Klimavičius to become the scientific director. He agreed. He patiently, fatherly and professionally supervised me throughout my doctoral years. The many hours we spent together reading the manuscript of my dissertation were the greatest school I could have had. In 2011, I successfully defended my dissertation on 1883-1916 catechism 250 Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė For the most lexicological terminologist in Jonui Klimavičiui – 80 mų religijos terminija. Taip J. Klimavičiui teko dalia prisidėti ir prie negausaus terminologų būrio ugdymo. Su Jubiliatu teko dirbti ir Valstybinės lietuvių kalbos komisijos Termithe subcommittee of noology. Here young terminologists could see how much time the researcher devoted to reading the texts of the terminology dictionary, standard, etc., so they had a great opportunity to learn. J. Klimavičius always came prepared, having studied every term, every definition, and had his own opinion. His firm, principled opinion was not always liked by his colleagues, but it was reasonable and clear, and rarely changed. Talking about Dr. Jonas Klimavičius is not easy – the best way to describe Jubiliatus is through his works. They speak for themselves. Almost six decades have been devoted to language, to careful and consistent work in linguistic science and practice. Without his work, we would certainly be much poorer. And knowing that the drawers are full of material, drafts, the head – thoughts, we will still receive not one interesting and valuable work. Therefore, on the occasion of such a beautiful anniversary, I would like to wish you good health and strength in working for the sake of the mother tongue. Longest years, Master! LITERATŪRA Balašaitis A. 2012: Linguists and Poetry. – Science and Life 1, 13–15. Dr. Jon Klimavičius. – Lithuanian Language Institute website, www.lki.lt. Access via the Internet: http://old.lki. lt/LKI_LT/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186&Itemid=1 (accessed 2018-09-03). Jonas Klimavičius: bibliografijos rodyklė, Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2008. Klimavičius J. 1993: The term system of melioration. Thesis of doctoral dissertation, Vilnius: Institute of Lithuanian Language. Klimavičius J. 2005: Lexicology and terminology works: norm and history, Vilnius: Lithuanian Language Institute publishing house. International School Dictionary, Kaunas: Šviesa, 2010. Pupkis A. 2005: Language Culture Studies, Vilnius: Gimtasis žodis, 256–257. 2008. "About Us: A History of the Roman Catholic Church". – Native Language 2, 29–31. Umbrasas A. 2008: Jonas Klimavičius – the most lexicological terminologist. – Language Culture 81, 336–339. Retrieved 2018-09-04 Aušra Rimkutė-Ganusauskienė Kauno kolegija Pramonės g. 20, 50468 Kaunas, Lithuania E-mail ausra.r[email protected]