St Petersburg University Representative Office in Moldova hosts lecture on Internet slang and its linguistic impact
St Petersburg University continues to organise educational events aimed at promoting the Russian language abroad. The "Living Russian Language: Updates in the Russian Language vocabulary" lecture held at SPbU Representative Office in Moldova was one of these events. Kira Shchukina, PhD in Philology and Associate Professor at SPbU (Department of Russian as a Foreign Language and Methods of Teaching it), spoke about current changes in the vocabulary of the Russian language.
The lecture focused on Internet slang — special form of language widely used by people in social media, chats and messengers. Professor explained that Internet slang is a dynamic vocabulary stratum that reflects the cultural characteristics and mindset of young people. This slang has become an important communication medium in modern society, allowing users to express their thoughts quickly and efficiently while significantly reducing the time needed to exchange information. Kira Shchukina emphasised that Internet slang is an important component of modern culture and pointed out the difficulties in understanding it for those who are unfamiliar with this lexicon.
April 2025 will mark the first anniversary of the establishment of SPbU Representative Office based at Slavic University in Moldova.
Internet slang is constantly evolving, and for successful online communication, it is important not only to understand which words are neutral or colloquial but also to stay updated on new linguistic trends. The lecturer paid special attention to the influence of feminised nouns and diminutive words on modern Russian speech, as well as their role in reflecting shifts in societal perceptions. The lecturer explained how these words are integrated in everyday language, including Internet slang. In particular, she noted the growing popularity of feminised nouns used to denote professions and positions in the feminine form, such as "direktorka" (female director), "programmistka" (female programmer), or "pedagoginya" (female teacher). Such changes reflect new cultural and social trends. The expert also highlighted the importance of diminutive words in online communication. When communicating on the Internet, it is important to convey emotions and states quickly and effectively, that is why the use of diminutive forms becomes a convenient way to get understood and establish rapport.
The lecture was held in an interactive format. Professor Shchukina actively engaged with the audience, answered questions, and explained the practical use of internet slang in various situations. Participants of the lecture were able not only to learn more about the theoretical aspects of the Russian language development, but also to discuss specific examples of using new words and expressions in everyday life. The lecturer also offered to do several exercises on recognising internet slang.
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