The Russian Language in Soviet Russia in the 1920-30-s

Abstract

The present inquiry addresses the problem of functional, stylistic and other changes in the Russian language in post-revolutionary Russia. This phenomenon known as “the Soviet language” is argued to have been a specific tool in building the new Soviet state with all its political, cultural and educational institutions. The research is based on comparative analysis method. The authors analyze the aims and results of the Soviet government policies applied to the state key institutions as well as the interdependence and interaction between the Soviet ideology and the language transformation. The investigation touches upon the historic background of political, economic and cultural changes after the Russian revolution of 1917. The main channels of ideological intervention are proved to have been school education, mass (proletarian) culture, mass media, penetration into the everyday life of the Soviet people. The findings reveal that the Soviet Russian language developed into one of the main Soviet propaganda tools due to the wide use of abbreviations, place names and clichés that turned it into a crucial factor in establishing “the right thinking” of the Soviet citizens.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p112