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No 5 (2025)
Issues of Modern Russian Language
Representation of the "Great Academic Dictionary of the Russian Language" in a Lexicographic Information System
Abstract
The article considers the development of an electronic version of the "Great Academic Dictionary of the Russian Language", the last volumes of which are still being compiled by the Institute for Linguistic Studies, from a lexicographical perspective. It analyzes the possibilities of creating an electronic version, taking into account its structural features, its place within the lexicography of the Russian language, and using its materials in the current and future lexicographic projects. The electronic representation of the dictionary will make it possible to visualise the connections between language units using hyperlinks, which can be perceived as a return to the tradition of compiling definitions in academic lexicography. However, it is impossible without analysing the systematicity and possibility of structuring the elements of a dictionary entry, unifying the homogeneous language phenomena. We should consider the "Great Academic Dictionary of the Russian Language" as one of the most significant multi-volume publications in Russian lexicography and a unique collection of quotation material and aim to present the appearance of its entries traditionally. The use of hidden internal markup in dictionary articles is particularly important from this point of view. Hidden markup is taken into account when forming hyperlinks, processing search queries, etc. but does not affect the visual perception of the article on the screen. It is also supposed to use the modes of data presentation in collapsed (definition without illustrative material) and full form. Creating an electronic dictionary presentation while making changes and additions to its text will allow lexicographers to use all benefits of collaboration and get the basis for new lexicographic projects.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):7-21
7-21
Dó nelzya, Donélzya or Donelzyá? Peculiarities of Stress Patterns in Certain Adverbs
Abstract
The article presents the results of a sociolinguistic experiment conducted as part of the work on the preparation of a Large accentological dictionary of the Russian language. The study, which involved native speakers of literary pronunciation, revealed a discrepancy between vocabulary recommendations and usage. So, all the respondents said vzashéy, nazló, naperegonkí, while dictionaries record as equal or acceptable variants vzáshey, názlo, naperegónki. Accents ískoni, ízdrevle, included in dictionaries with a mark !неправ., prevailed in the pronunciation of respondents of all age groups. Adverbs zavídno and donélzya retained their normative pronunciation mainly in the speech of the older generation, while the youth showed variability. The rarely used book words were pronounced by the respondents of the older and middle groups in accordance with the norm fixed in dictionaries: vprishchúr, íspodvol', kráduchis', naótmash', návznich', nevést', pórozn' in accordance with the norm fixed in dictionaries, these adverbs showed variability in the speech of the younger respondents. The study confirms the dynamics of accentological norms and the need to revise vocabulary recommendations, especially for words with high frequency. Artificial consolidation of norms (for example, by including one or another option in exam assignments) is not effective enough.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):22-29
22-29
The Meteonym Rain in the Traditional Speech Culture of the Russian North
Abstract
The article determines the scope and content of this universal concept, characteristic of the speakers of the traditional folk culture of the Russian North based on the analysis of the semantics and compatibility of the word rain and its derivatives. Attributive compatibility is mainly related to the statement of the objective properties of rain, and also expresses their general assessment — tuchnoj (heavy rain), morokovoj (drizzling rain), zalivnoj (torrential rain), gromovoj (thunderous rain), torokovoj (squally rain). Predicates of rain represent it as an active subject in motion. Its manifestations at different stages are represented as falling from above, flying, swimming, walking, running, jumping, rolling. Rain can frighten with an attack — to frighten, to show aggression — to beat, to lash, to whip, to chop, to squeeze, to rush at someone. Rain falling as a process independent of anyone's will is described by its predicates as weakly flowing — zapobryzgivalo (splashed), zasitushilo (extinguished), zabryzgalo (spattered). Verbal metaphors represent rain as a living being whom one can ask for help. Rain may turn a deaf ear to the request, or it may appear as an unexpected guest. Signs and beliefs related to rain are preserved in the dialects. The analysis of the compatibility properties of precipitation designations allows us to form a clear image of the RAIN as it is seen by the bearers of the traditional folk culture of the Russian North. The language reflects both the realistic and mythological perception of rainy weather, conveys the worldview of a person who is in the epicenter of natural events, cognizing them and trying to use them for his practical needs.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):30-42
30-42
The Linguistic Landscape in the Russian Colony of San Javier (Uruguay)
Abstract
The paper discusses the linguistic landscape of the city of San Javier, Uruguay for the first time. San Javier is a Russian colony founded by immigrants from the South Russian dialect zone, and the inscriptions found in public spaces of the city are analyzed. These inscriptions are collected during fieldwork researches carried out from 2015 to 2023. In San Javier, there are inscriptions written in Russian in both Cyrillic script and Spanish Latin script. The analysis reveals that these inscriptions reflect both phonetic and grammatical features of the South Russian dialect (e. g. akanye, the [γ] > [h] change at the end of the word, the pronunciation of the bilabial consonant). The contact phenomena, e. g. the exchange of letters between Cyrillic and Latin scripts, and betacism (when sounds [b] and [v] are confused), are also present in the inscriptions. This dialect has been evolving for over a century in close contact with Spanish, which explains the presence of these contact phenomena. The inscriptions sometimes use transliteration of Russian words. Among the anthroponymic names found in private sector, there are numerous diminutive names. Recently, bilingual signs have begun to appear on official signs and administrative buildings. This is due to several reasons, such as preserving the linguistic identity of city residents who no longer speak Russian and promoting San Javier as a tourist destination.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):43-54
43-54
From the History of the Russian Language
On the Word Lād in Russian: Connecting Cooperage, Sound and Art
Abstract
One of the central notions of Russian musical theory, the word lād is unique and enigmatic both because of its origin and its entry into musical terminology in the 19th–20th centuries. In Russian music theory, where foreign words prevail, the word lād is remarkable not only for its Slavic origin and for including other musical terms of Slavic origin in its terminological "circle" (ustoï (stable) — neustoï (instable)), but also for the fact that it became one of the key notions and to a certain extent a turning point in the comprehension of music in Russia. The article examines the semantics of this word in diachrony and suggests a "key" or "transitional" meaning, that could clarify the evolution and the transition of this word mostly into music sphere. This meaning is a 'stave of the barrel' or a 'gap between staves of a barrel'. This meaning combines craft, connectedness, sound, harmony, aesthetics and outlines the main trajectories of the evolution of meaning in this word and derived words. Semantic parallels between the Russian word lād and the Greek word ἁρμονία also allow us to emphasize some lines of development of the musical meaning of the word lād.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):55-70
55-70
New Information About the Russian Translation of Gerasim Vlakh's Four-Language Lexicon (Thesaurus) (In the Copy by N. P. Popov)
Abstract
The article publishes new information concerning one copy of Gerasimos Vlakh's Lexicon (Thesaurus), containing a handwritten translation, attributed to Sylvester Medvedev. At the beginning of the 20th century this book was in the personal collection of the historian and archaeographer N. P. Popov, who made the extracts from this book for the Card Index of the Old Russian Dictionary (KDRS), which is used to create the Dictionary of the Russian Language of the 11th–17th centuries. The owner of this copy attributed the authorship of the translation to Sylvester Medvedev. The copy was considered lost for a long time, until it was discovered last year, 2024. A comparison of the handwritten translation with the extracts made by N. P. Popov for the KDRS showed their selective and fragmentary nature, which significantly impoverished the information that could be used in the process of compiling dictionary entries, because the handwritten translation contains much more significant lexical material compared to the super-brief extracts made by the subscriber for the Card Index. Detection of the complete handwritten translation makes it possible to evaluate the translation language in a new way, to show the richness of its lexical material, to supplement, and in some cases, to revise the available lexicographic descriptions. The question of the Sylvester Medvedev's authorship is still open.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):71-85
71-85
The Language of Fiction
Anthroponoms in Nikolai Leskov's Сhronicle "Soboriane" ("The Cathedral Folk")
Abstract
This article examines the etymological and semantic aspects of onomastics (specifically, anthroponymy) in the chronicle "Soboriane" ("The Cathedral Folk") by Nikolai Leskov. Leskov's constant interest in the church everyday life and the life of clergy is indicated. For Leskov, the choice of a surname or name for a character of his prose was very important: he himself often paid attention to this and the characters of his works often talk about it. The article offers clarified explanation of the origin and meaning of the "artificial" ecclesiastical surnames of the main characters, who were clergymen in a provincial Russian city. The "artificial" surnames were characteristic of the Russian clergy in the 18th–19th centuries and where often formed from Greek, Latin, and Church Slavonic terms. In this regard, attention is paid to the surname of the main character of this chronicle, archpriest Tuberozov. The surnames of his two assistants, priest Benefaktov (an early version of this surname, used by the author, was Benefisov) and deacon Desnitsyn, have been studied and commented on in more detail. The two priests have surnames of Latin origin, while the deacon has a Church Slavonic one. The surnames of two negative characters (Prepotensky (an early version was Omnepotensky) and Termosesov) were studied as well.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):86-98
86-98
"Different Mantillas and Bilindryasis": Foreign Cultural Clothing in the Traditional Russian Language Consciousness (Based on the Plays by A. N. Ostrovsky)
Abstract
The article examines a number of words and expressions used by the characters of A. N. Ostrovsky's early plays ("Family Picture", "Morning of a Young Man", "Poverty is not a vice"), brought up in traditional culture (Stepanida Trofimovna Puzatova, merchant Smurov, his nephew Vasya, Grisha Razlyulyaev), to denote an unusual foreign cultural clothing (tailcoat or frock coat, lace capes, etc.). These types of clothes penetrated into the Old Russian merchant life due to the desire of individual representatives of this class (Antip Antipych Puzatov, Matryona Savishna Puzatova, Gordey Karpych Tortsov) to "yield to no one", "live in the current way" and "engage in fashions" i. e. to assimilate noble and European culture. Often it was only a blind external imitation and copying, and therefore took caricatured, funny forms, and, accordingly, the characters of early Ostrovsky, who lived "in the old days", perceived fashionistas as mummers in ridiculous masquerades, which was reflected in the designation and characteristics of their clothes. Thus, it was found that the considered composite names of clothing (translit. mantil'i da bilindryasy — transl. mantillas and bilindryasis (mantillas and trivial things), translit. shtuka kurguzaya — transl. kurguzy piece (kurguzy thing), translit. stram pal'to — transl. stram coat (very indecent coat)) and monosyllabic (translit. shtuka — transl. piece (thing)), as well as the expression It doesn't matter how well you starch you clothes (translit. kak ni krakhmal'sya), not only name a certain garment or characterize actions and behavior, but also reflect the attitude towards them. In particular, the latter is manifested in the rejection of noble and European clothing by characters who are committed to the traditional Old Russian way of life. The semantics of a number of such designations (translit. mantil'i da bilindryasy — transl. mantillas and bilindryasis (mantillas and trivial things), translit. kortekol — transl. kortekol (a sort of short dress-coat), translit. stram pal'to — transl. stram pal'to (stram coat, very indecent coat)) are clarified in relation to the context and language of A. N. Ostrovsky's plays.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):99-112
99-112
Science and Persons
"I'm Waiting for Changes in my Fate": on V. V. Vinogradov's Vyatka Letters to his Wife (to the 130th Anniversary Since the Scientist's Birth)
Abstract
The article analyzes archival materials about the life and work of V. V. Vinogradov during the Vyatka exile of 1934–1936. Attention is drawn to the relief and richness of the philological issues of the letters, contrasting with the description of everyday life. An important place in the epistolary is occupied by the precedent name of Pushkin. Many events and individuals related to the scientist's work are evaluated. It is emphasized that V. V. Vinogradov's wife, N. M. Malysheva, who supported the scientist during his exile, occupied a special place in his correspondence. The author shows how V. V. Vinogradov overcame domestic troubles, giving himself up to philological plans and immersing himself in reading Russian and world classics ("I read all Turgenev's plays"). It is noted that the image of V. V. Vinogradov as reader is one of the most picturesque from the point of view of characterization of his linguistic personality. The author emphasizes the encyclopedic knowledge of V. V. Vinogradov, his passion for scientific research in the following spheres: Pushkin studies, Gogol's language, "literary phraseology", a textbook on modern Russian literary language, Lev Tolstoy, Saltykov-Shchedrin, research on linguistics, newspaper journalism, etc. Letters show the features of the linguistic personality of the unbroken scientist: exceptional diligence ("...I work very hard. Even to the point of exhaustion"), attention to details, sharp, critical mind, cognitive thinking, aphorism, self-irony. His linguistic and philosophical meditations, observations on the events that took place in the scientific community and on himself are a mirror of the worldview and value attitudes of a talented person who is an exponent of high truth in contrast to the momentary context of reality. The letters provide rich material for compiling a psycholinguistic portrait of V. V. Vinogradov. They allow us to reconstruct previously unknown facts from his biography and include them in the context of the annals of Russian science.
Russian speech. 2025;(5):113-127
113-127