Guardian angel of knowledge and goodness

15.5.2020

The teaching staff of the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications honors the memory of Doctor of Philology, Professor Viktor Dmytrovych Uzhchenko.

Summer. Heat. The end of June. An exhausting silence is interrupted by a decisive phone call. I look at the display and cannot believe my eyes – Viktor Dmytrovych himself is calling. Hands tremble, but I answer. Such a sincere and kind voice. There is no limit to my happiness. Even the words are missing – Uzhchenko himself noted my amateurish linguistic notes. Now I will count the days until September to meet with Viktor Dmytrovych, the guardian angel of knowledge and goodness. Here is such student happiness …

1998, Doctor of Philology, Professor, outstanding Ukrainian phraseologist Viktor Dmytrovych Uzhchenko became the head of the Ukrainian Language Department of the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology.

Viktor Dmytrovych is the author of more than 200 scientific papers on Ukrainian phraseology. Among his jewelry-works are monographs, dictionaries, teaching aids, like this: “The Birth and Life of Phraseologism” (1988), “Ukrainian Phraseology” (1990, co-authored), ,”Phraseological Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language” (1998, co-authored).

The phraseological paths of the teacher and scientist began in the fall of 1959. Viktor is a freshman at the Philological Faculty of Kharkiv (now national) University. Years will pass, and Viktor Uzhchenko will deeply develop the Potebnyansky internal form of the word, trying to transfer it to phraseology.

In 1993, the most authoritative academic publication – the journal “Linguistics” will publish its theoretical article “The internal form of phraseology in connection with the internal form of the word”, where it will be first called as “the form of many forms”.

The young third-year student sincerely admires the phraseology, which will then become the meaning of his scientific life. First will be the completion of a university course (1964, diploma with honors), many years of work in secondary school, postgraduate study under the direction of F.P. Medvedev (1966 – 1970), one and a half year work (1967 – 1968) at Kharkiv University in the position of assistant and again school – until 1977. While working in secondary school, Viktor Uzhchenko defended his thesis “Phraseology of the Works of Ostap Vyshnia” (1973).

Since 1977, Viktor Dmytrovych at Luhansk State Pedagogical University – Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor (1981), Professor (1991). In 1994 he defended his doctoral dissertation “The Historical and Linguistic Aspect of the Formation of Ukrainian Phraseology”.

Together with Viktor Dmytrovych, his family went along the phraseological paths: his wife Tamila Grygorivna (the author and co-author of the manuals that were still popular and still relevant for teachers) and daughter Iryna are teachers. Son Dmytro, now Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, continues the scientific traditions of his father – the Phraseological Dictionary of the East Slobozhansky and Steppe dialects of Donbasˮ became their joint work, which was published in three editions – 1993, 1997 and 2000. 

Viktor Dmytrovych Uzhchenko was a member of the Academic Council and the Scientific Commission of the University, chairman of the scientific council in the specialty 02.10.01 – “Ukrainian Language” of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, member of specialized councils in Donetsk and Kharkiv universities, deputy chief editor of the university scientific publication, Bulletin of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National Pedagogical Universityˮ.

In 2003, under his leadership, the publication of a professional collection of scientific papers “Linguistics” was founded. For a long time Viktor Dmytrovych headed the scientific seminar “Ukrainian Phraseology”. Under his leadership, 6 master’s theses were defended, which enriched the scientific phraseological school of V. D. Uzhchenko.

Viktor Dmytrovych Uzhchenko was awarded the Order of Petro Mohyla. He was awarded the title of Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, Honorary Professor of Luhansk State Pedagogical University.

The outstanding scientist cared about the state of the Ukrainian language in our region: he participated in television and radio broadcasts, various cultural events in the city and region.

Viktor Dmytrovych, as a leading scientist and a true teacher, founded the scientific and practical conference “The Figurative Word of Luhansk Region”, which became traditional and acquired the status of the All-Ukrainian Conference. Now leading scientists from all over Ukraine, students, master’s students, postgraduate students and language teachers are involved in this conference.

We invite you to participate in the conference dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the birth of Viktor Uzhchenko (Information letter of the conference “The Figurative Word of Luhansk Region – 2020ˮ).

Teaching staff of the FUPSC