Abstract:

This paper focuses on the methodological challenges involved in defining and selecting lexicographic entries within Macedonian musical folklore. Proceeding from the fact that a large part of the terminology derives from local, dialectal, and practical contexts, the question arises regarding the criteria by which a given term can be included and standardized as a lexicographic unit. The concept of ajdovno singing is examined as a case study; in field materials, it appears as a designation for a specific singing style, yet lacks a clearly established and unified definition in the scholarly literature. The analysis shows that such terms often function at the intersection of empirical usage (by tradition bearers) and scholarly interpretation, creating uncertainty during their lexicographic processing. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the paper examines the criteria for validating such entries – their frequency, geographical distribution, functional role, particularly through the musical-performative model, and semantic stability. In conclusion, a model is proposed for processing such “unstable” lexemes, allowing for their inclusion in the lexicon without reducing their cultural and contextual complexity.