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THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND FOREIGN
LANGUAGE STUDY
Russian, established around 1000 A.D., is a difficult language to
learn, being rated #2 in difficulty behind Chinese. Though it is linked to
Western roots, its word cores are often very difficult to understand from a
historic structuring standpoint. Though there are 33 letters/sound
symbols combined, they are pressed together and compacted in word
forms which often use prefixes (38 of these), making fine distinctions
between words the norm. It also uses one of the most complex
declension systems in the world---English dropped its similar system 850
years ago. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, there has been much
less interest in studying Russian all over the world. In Russia, interest in
studying foreign languages increased greatly after many controls for
study were removed in 1991. Prior to then, students mainly learned to
read and write and speaking/listening were de-emphasized; German and
English were most important. Now, students are able to study a much
wider range of languages, with the only limitation being the lack of skilled
teachers related to listening and speaking. As well, being the 2nd most
difficult language works in reverse for Russians trying to speak ANY
foreign language because, like any native speakers in any country, they
rarely learn the real complexities of their own grammar before trying a
foreign language. Russian grammar is very complex, and many teachers
there believe that most students never really learn their own language
very well. So often, it’s very difficult for Russians studying a foreign
language to relate their grammar to another language. Many who try
decide that if direct grammatical links can’t be made, study isn’t possible.
Many can’t imagine that a language system other than Russian is even
possible.
Russian slang and swearing is less structured (predictably) but
even more complex from an analytical standpoint. These two forms are
interjected far more often in relation to casual and literary language than
in Western languages, making translation more challenging. Whereas
English has very few real swear words, Russian has thousands…cursing
is an art form.
Russians construct inference and implication in different ways
which are troublesome to interpret on both sides of translation. In
Russian, tone and sound level are often vital, and the same words can be
installed into a sentence in many different orders which, along with
intonation, can change meaning. Russian also has a wonderful feature of
one word having the meaning of a phrase required in another language.
For example, the word “Ahdnalyubka” means a female who loves only
one male in her entire life, regardless of circumstances.
learn, being rated #2 in difficulty behind Chinese. Though it is linked to
Western roots, its word cores are often very difficult to understand from a
historic structuring standpoint. Though there are 33 letters/sound
symbols combined, they are pressed together and compacted in word
forms which often use prefixes (38 of these), making fine distinctions
between words the norm. It also uses one of the most complex
declension systems in the world---English dropped its similar system 850
years ago. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, there has been much
less interest in studying Russian all over the world. In Russia, interest in
studying foreign languages increased greatly after many controls for
study were removed in 1991. Prior to then, students mainly learned to
read and write and speaking/listening were de-emphasized; German and
English were most important. Now, students are able to study a much
wider range of languages, with the only limitation being the lack of skilled
teachers related to listening and speaking. As well, being the 2nd most
difficult language works in reverse for Russians trying to speak ANY
foreign language because, like any native speakers in any country, they
rarely learn the real complexities of their own grammar before trying a
foreign language. Russian grammar is very complex, and many teachers
there believe that most students never really learn their own language
very well. So often, it’s very difficult for Russians studying a foreign
language to relate their grammar to another language. Many who try
decide that if direct grammatical links can’t be made, study isn’t possible.
Many can’t imagine that a language system other than Russian is even
possible.
Russian slang and swearing is less structured (predictably) but
even more complex from an analytical standpoint. These two forms are
interjected far more often in relation to casual and literary language than
in Western languages, making translation more challenging. Whereas
English has very few real swear words, Russian has thousands…cursing
is an art form.
Russians construct inference and implication in different ways
which are troublesome to interpret on both sides of translation. In
Russian, tone and sound level are often vital, and the same words can be
installed into a sentence in many different orders which, along with
intonation, can change meaning. Russian also has a wonderful feature of
one word having the meaning of a phrase required in another language.
For example, the word “Ahdnalyubka” means a female who loves only
one male in her entire life, regardless of circumstances.
Generally, Russians are highly analytical and usually critical of those
foreigners who speak Russian, regardless of level. This, for Russians,
adds weight to the adage about “one can’t understand the people without
understanding their language.” For Russians, their language is a form of
self-defense, a difficult communicative barrier to penetrate at many
different levels. These attitudes, combined with the above comment about
poor native-speaker skills, paints a very contrasting picture about the
Russian language in general. How did this happen? The beginning of
modern Russian was the usage of Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), the
country’s greatest poet. Prior to him, Russian was mostly Church-based.
For the 30 years prior to Pushkin’s birth, French was the language of the
Russian Government and Court, simply because many words required
didn’t exist in Russian. Pushkin bridged that gap and gave Russian soul
and life in the printed and spoken forms. Russian soared, along with the
arts and crafts, for the entire 19th century until reaching full parity with other
languages by the 20,th though many words developed were directly related
to agrarian-evolved languages. Russian even has its own word for ANY
word of foreign origin. This swift progress has taken an evolutionary toll
on Russia’s heretofore illiterate masses---(*KEY*) meaning that for the last
110 years, the emphasis has been only on teaching them basic literacy
and nothing more. Another problem with full individual language
development of the poorer masses has been that between 1918 and 1991,
all subjects were viewed through a rose-colored prism of Socialist
perspective and restraint, which forced excessive rote memorizing and
minimized creative expression. SAMIZDAT started a change in that trend
during the 1950’s, along with Shalikhov’s novel QUIET FLOWS THE
DOWN and Pasternak’s novel DR. ZHIVAGO. The bard Vladimir
Vysotsky, who in addition spoke French, was the 20th-century lesser-
equivalent of Pushkin, creative-language-wise.
Interestingly, the actual world-wide spread of portable-phones and
personal computers began EXACTLY with the demise of the USSR in
1991. Many foreign words began streaming into Russian and there was
great resentment about this felt by many. Here it is important to stress a
VITALLY important difference between English, especially, and Russian.
(*KEY*) While English has always thrived on inputs from many other
languages, and is flexible in adapting to them, Russian is the exact
opposite. When Putin became president, a movement began to stop him
from using so many words of foreign origin (he speaks several foreign
languages as well) in his public speaking. This is one of the important
reasons why, as the world grows closer and closer together, Russian has
fallen in stature as an important language. It’s another contrast: For the
native speaker, Russian is wonderfully flexible but for the great majority of
foreigners, it is extraordinarily rigid and, realistically, mostly impenetrable.
foreigners who speak Russian, regardless of level. This, for Russians,
adds weight to the adage about “one can’t understand the people without
understanding their language.” For Russians, their language is a form of
self-defense, a difficult communicative barrier to penetrate at many
different levels. These attitudes, combined with the above comment about
poor native-speaker skills, paints a very contrasting picture about the
Russian language in general. How did this happen? The beginning of
modern Russian was the usage of Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), the
country’s greatest poet. Prior to him, Russian was mostly Church-based.
For the 30 years prior to Pushkin’s birth, French was the language of the
Russian Government and Court, simply because many words required
didn’t exist in Russian. Pushkin bridged that gap and gave Russian soul
and life in the printed and spoken forms. Russian soared, along with the
arts and crafts, for the entire 19th century until reaching full parity with other
languages by the 20,th though many words developed were directly related
to agrarian-evolved languages. Russian even has its own word for ANY
word of foreign origin. This swift progress has taken an evolutionary toll
on Russia’s heretofore illiterate masses---(*KEY*) meaning that for the last
110 years, the emphasis has been only on teaching them basic literacy
and nothing more. Another problem with full individual language
development of the poorer masses has been that between 1918 and 1991,
all subjects were viewed through a rose-colored prism of Socialist
perspective and restraint, which forced excessive rote memorizing and
minimized creative expression. SAMIZDAT started a change in that trend
during the 1950’s, along with Shalikhov’s novel QUIET FLOWS THE
DOWN and Pasternak’s novel DR. ZHIVAGO. The bard Vladimir
Vysotsky, who in addition spoke French, was the 20th-century lesser-
equivalent of Pushkin, creative-language-wise.
Interestingly, the actual world-wide spread of portable-phones and
personal computers began EXACTLY with the demise of the USSR in
1991. Many foreign words began streaming into Russian and there was
great resentment about this felt by many. Here it is important to stress a
VITALLY important difference between English, especially, and Russian.
(*KEY*) While English has always thrived on inputs from many other
languages, and is flexible in adapting to them, Russian is the exact
opposite. When Putin became president, a movement began to stop him
from using so many words of foreign origin (he speaks several foreign
languages as well) in his public speaking. This is one of the important
reasons why, as the world grows closer and closer together, Russian has
fallen in stature as an important language. It’s another contrast: For the
native speaker, Russian is wonderfully flexible but for the great majority of
foreigners, it is extraordinarily rigid and, realistically, mostly impenetrable.
