278. To Y. A. LITKENS

Written on May 19, 1921 · First published in 1932 in Lenin Miscellany XX. Printed from the original. · page 494

May 19

Take advantage of Pokrovsky’s holiday to begin work on the compiling of a dictionary of the Russian language without burdening him with administrative functions.

(1) Appoint a committee of 3-5 of the best philologists. They should within two weeks draw up a plan and the composition of the final committee (to [define]^[1] the work, its nature, time limits, etc.).

(2) The task is a brief dictionary of the Russian language, from Pushkin to Gorky (the small “Larousse” as a model). Model, arid contemporary. With the new orthography.

(3) On the basis of their report (of the 3-5), some scientific academic centre must endorse the plan. Then we shall begin by the autumn.

---

[1]This word is not clear in the original.—Ed.