Argumenty i Fakty: Overcoming the "Kashtanka complex". Why do we get used to writing with mistakes?

Argumenty i Fakty turned to Mikhail Koryshev, Candidate of Philology and Dean of the Faculty of Philology at St Petersburg University, for insights into these and other questions.

There are words that, while not frequently used, stand out prominently. These terms often emerge within specific communities to characterise an era or a particular time period, gaining popularity, especially among young people. However, their moment in the spotlight is typically brief. Many of these words are like fleeting foam on the surface of our linguistic landscape — they quickly reach their peak of popularity and then fade into obscurity. I believe this is one of such instances.

Language will "digest" everything

Other shortlisted terms are also quite striking: "нормис" (from the English "normie"); "пов" (from the English abbreviation "POV" for "point of view"), "инсайт" (from the English "insight"), and "нарратив" (from the English "narrative"). Why do you think there are so many borrowed words in our language? Can this trend harm the "great and mighty" Russian language?

Loanwords pose no significant threat. Our language and society will gradually "digest" and assimilate them. Hence, talks of a crisis are premature. The Russian language is wise and resilient — it will handle it. For instance, during the reign of Peter the Great, our vocabulary incorporated dozens of words related to maritime affairs and trade, such as: "командир" (from the German "Commandier"); "матрос" (from the Dutch "matroos"); and "агент" (from the German "agent"). Today, these words are integral to our language. If we leaf through the novels of Leo Tolstoy, we will see that characters often speak French for pages at a time, and their Russian phrases are not always grammatically perfect. Yet, this had little impact on the integrity and beauty of the Russian language.

It is quite another matter when linguistic "stand-in" terms like "carsharing" instead of "car rental" emerge. These are often unnecessary and can be confusing. Currently, my colleagues and I are developing a series of reference books aimed at addressing these issues. Our goal is to provide guidance on when a borrowed word is superfluous and when it is justified.

Not long ago, you mentioned that the literacy of the population is increasing. What evidence supports this assertion? And what does it truly mean to be a literate person?

Literacy is not just good spelling and punctuation; it also involves the ability to effectively use the expressive tools of language in various situations and to conduct one’s "speech orchestra" skilfully. In this regard, it has become more enjoyable to listen to public speakers addressing audiences. Today, many public figures, even when speaking off the cuff, do so imaginatively and avoid the clichés often associated with shallow thinking. I also find it pleasing to listen to our students, although there was a time when it seemed all hope was lost. It was disheartening to see an intelligent audience struggle to produce coherent arguments or logically structured texts, instead offering mere "clumps" of words. As my favourite teacher used to say, they suffered from the "Kashtanka complex" — understanding everything and knowing the words but unable to express themselves clearly.

From Russian into Russian

Is the situation improving?

Yes, the situation has significantly improved, and for this, we must express our gratitude to the family and school. Schools have intensified Russian language teaching, and the essay has become a mandatory task for all high school students taking the Unified State Exam in Russian. Students write essays while they are preparing for the exam in winter and then as part of the Unified Exam in May. It is also great to see that adults in families are reading more with children at home. This is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, such interactions create a special atmosphere and bridge generations. Secondly, a person’s behaviours and habits are shaped at a young age. When children are exposed to well-written, rich texts, they learn to speak coherently. This skill does not develop on its own; it must be taught and cultivated.

In Russian, "вайб" refers to a special state or atmosphere, while "скуф" is a derogatory term for a disillusioned, scruffy, and perpetually dissatisfied man over 35.

By the way, my professional interests also lead me to observe linguistic trends in Europe and the USA. While in the late 1990s, these nations were more attentive to their language than we were, the trajectories have since shifted. In our country, the era of linguistic obscurity is waning. Conversely, overseas, there is an increasing use of vague expressions and an impoverishment of vocabulary in public discourse.

In our country, the speech of officials is often incomprehensible, and official documents frequently require translation "from Russian into Russian". What causes this phenomenon?

Indeed, there are challenges, but these issues are not unique to Russia. Globally, legislative acts are often written in complex language because the subject matter itself is complicated. However, changes are already underway. For instance, St Petersburg University is frequently approached by representatives from the police, fiscal authorities, and other institutions. They seek guidance on avoiding cumbersome phrases and making official documents more comprehensible to the public. For this, they request that we organise special masterclasses and advanced training courses in the Russian language. And we always do our best to meet their needs.

I must note that law enforcement officers today speak Russian much better than they did 10-15 years ago. This improvement is not coincidental but the result of experts’ efforts to develop "skills from knowledge". Modern journalists have become more attentive to language, and employees of the Smolny Institute now participate in the annual educational event held in Russia, known as Total Dictation.

I hope that the online platform, which will consolidate all the achievements of our Russian language specialists, will also contribute to enhancing the literacy of the population. This platform will be a unique tool, allowing people to consult various reference sources and verify pronunciation, spelling, word stress, and grammatical features of words from the comfort of their homes. This comprehensive reference resource is already in development and is expected to become publicly available in 2025.

Fear of silence

The Internet does offer tremendous opportunities; yet, gadgets and new technologies can also negatively impact language. How do these new technologies influence our everyday communication and overall speech culture?

In this regard, our language needs support, as communication within the virtual world is very particular. There is often no time to carefully choose words, and correspondence on social media fosters a false sense of security that the other person will understand everything. Consequently, when we step away from the virtual world, we experience difficulties. We become accustomed to writing with errors, expressing emotions differently, speaking rapidly and glibly, and constantly engaging in and commenting on various topics. Punctuation becomes haphazard, appearing randomly without clear purpose. Have you noticed that we have developed a fear of silence? We crave constant noise — in our ears and around us. We have forgotten how to be alone with our thoughts, to reflect on our actions and our plans for the future. Thus, these new forms of communication negatively impact the Russian language.

Currently, Russia is under sanctions. To what extent do these restrictions affect the popularity of the Russian language in the world?

De facto, the restrictions have little influence on the popularity of the Russian language. Interest in Russian is continually growing, even in countries that were previously on "the periphery of consciousness," such as India and African nations. For instance, we now have students from India who speak Russian without any accent. Furthermore, Russian remains one of the six official languages of the United Nations and plays a significant role in politics and diplomacy.

At St Petersburg University, competition for places to study at the Faculty of Philology remains consistently high. None of the languages and cultures that we study and teach has seen a decline in interest due to recent events — there is strong demand for every academic programme that we offer. Young people are actively engaged in studying linguistic issues because they recognise their importance. Interest in Russia is steadily growing, as our culture offers values that resonate with the global community. I am therefore confident that the Russian language will be preserved and continue to thrive.

Why is profanity so prevalent in the streets? It appears that this is how people talk now.

There is a complex set of causes behind this phenomenon. On the one hand, emotions are heightened, and people often struggle to manage them, using profanity as a way to vent. Also, the Internet, where people spend hours at a time, allows for more uninhibited expression because interlocutors are separated by a screen. It is no coincidence that the use of strong language on social media increased by 17% last year. On the other hand, profanity can also indicate a kind of "speechlessness" — when people struggle to find the words that would vividly and meaningfully express their honest, raw emotions about a particular situation.