The specifics of modern St. Petersburg slang and the degree of its influence on the spoken vocabulary of the Russian language is slightly exaggerated. At one time, the influence was more significant, and residents of St. Petersburg set the tone in the business and literary norms of the Russian language. Now, perhaps, there was a shade ...
Let's start with a little clarification: the article uses the St. Petersburg version of the word "St. Petersburg". In Moscow they say "Petersburg".
And yet this is not a word ...
This verdict was made by linguists and linguists regarding the peculiarities of the Russian language among Petersburgers.
The speech difference between the inhabitants of Moscow and St. Petersburg was formed historically and spontaneously. From the point of view of professional linguistics, it is expressed in different intonations, vocabulary, and orthoepic discrepancy (about it below).
Despite the serious terminology in the description of the discrepancies, the Moscow and St. Petersburg versions of the Russian language fit into the language norm. They are understandable to all Russian speakers.
As for the St. Petersburg language features, the difference between them and the normative Russian language is not so great. The typical vocabulary of Petersburg slang is not enough to call this slang a dialect. Like Moscow, by the way.
But it is enough to deal with it and to understand the origin and history of occurrence. Because the Russian language, and with it the St. Petersburg slang, is constantly changing.
Orthoepic Moscow-St. Petersburg differences
First you need to deal with the beautiful term "orthoepy". These are the rules that came into the literary language from spoken language. The Moscow-St. Petersburg difference is mainly in orthoepy, these are moderate orthoepic discrepancies. Most often, the stresses in the words are distinguished. The pronunciation is also different.
Linguistic resources contain many descriptions of the special pronunciation of word endings or unstressed syllables, which can be used to identify the native Petersburgers or Muscovites of the older generation. Most likely, these features have disappeared and do not have circulation among residents of two cities. Yes, and this is accompanied by reservations that âChorinkyâ instead of âblackâ or âcourtâ instead of âhereâ can be heard only with a sensitive professional ear in the speech of older generations, if you are very lucky.
Not very Russian letter "e"
Another thing is the letter "e", which turned out to be the main participant in an interesting sociological phenomenon. The usual role of this not very Russian letter is to stand in borrowed words, all kinds of Englishisms and Germanisms. The use of the letter âeâ in oral speech made this speech more âforeignâ, which in its time meant high status and metropolitan chic.
Old Petersburgers liked to flaunt "cram" or "plywood" instead of cream and plywood in Russian. Here they were absolute leaders.
One of the remarkable properties of the Russian language is its ability to quickly Russify foreign words. Therefore, as soon as conservative Muscovites mastered the âpioneersâ and ârailsâ, Russification redrawed the modern pronunciation to pioneers, rails, overcoats, museums, and others. âEâ in the pronunciation began to speak not about advancement, but about old-fashioned.
History of St. Petersburg Linguistic Nuances
It would be strange if there were no such nuances. St. Petersburg is a city that falls out of any rules and stereotypes. The way, time and speed of its birth explains everything else. The architecture of St. Petersburg can easily become a visual aid for studying styles in art and technologies in construction.
The urban population of St. Petersburg at different times is also an excellent resource for any anthropological research, including the language issue. The fact is that for a long time Petersburgers were ânot very Russianâ and not very natural.
The metropolitan elite was formed from managers and specialists from abroad and Russian regions. It could be divided into four conditional groups:
- official estate;
- officer corps;
- merchants;
- Petersburg Germans.
Linguistic diversity
All this extremely motley audience was interested in career growth, and one of the most important conditions for this was the knowledge of the Russian language. Literate speech and writing have become a sign of high status and education.
Who and where to learn the Russian language? In the XVIII century, with all the variety of Russian dialects, preference was still given to the Moscow version. Even Lomonosov wrote in his famous âRussian Grammarâ:
The Moscow dialect is not only for the importance of the capital city, but for its excellent beauty it is justly preferred to others.
But the difference between speaking and what was read was huge. Two Russian-language standards were formed: conversational and written.
The formation of the language of St. Petersburg
There was, of course, more to the written version of the language of trust. But fiction or the epistolary genre in the Russian language was still in its infancy. Mostly various documents were written: the clerical circulation had reached a solid size by that time.
As a result, the speech of Petersburgers began to gravitate to the written version. I would like to say "to literary", but no, it was more of a literary and clerical Russian language.
There was a clear reprimand of letters, spoken language was heavily dependent on spelling. The difference with the Moscow dialect became noticeable. Muscovites were more conservative, they hardly perceived rapid reforms and changes. Many real archaisms remained in their speech, which had long since disappeared from the vocabulary of Petersburgers. If in St. Petersburg, for example, the word âwhyâ was used, then the Moscow nobility had a long time to go.
Homeland Office
There are sad pages in the history of St. Petersburg slang. They are associated with the legendary clerical distortions of the Russian language. It all started with the St. Petersburg bureaucratic manners in conversation.
It is clear that the language of formal documents has its own rules and features. It has always been so with all languages, not only Russian. But when these features extend to everyday and colloquial speech, it becomes sad. As a result, the chancellery joined the regulatory Russian language. Petersburgers, and after all the rest, have forgotten how to speak in the stands in a human normal language. This was especially pronounced in the Soviet period.
The clerk is mortally afraid of verbs: instead of âhelpâ, âhelpâ is used. Because of this fear, there is an endless stringing of cases, especially the genitive. Active momentum was supplanted by passive ...
âAt present, there is a shortage of teaching staffâ - it seems that it does not sound like Petersburg. But it all started there. Slang St. Petersburg ...
Khabarik, curb and chicken
The curb (border) can be called the absolute champion in St. Petersburg vocabulary, everyone knows about him. Silver and bronze are popularly shared by Khabariks (cigarette butts), chickens (chicken) and batlon (turtleneck). Popularity here is indicated not as the frequency of using jargon in everyday speech, but in the frequency of their citation in examples in numerous typical dictionaries of St. Petersburg slang.
âPetersburg words that you wonât hear from Muscovitesâ - something like that begins with dictionaries and lists in sources related to Peterâs slang. These âwordsâ are no more than twenty, there are always ârollsâ (loaf), âceremonialâ (entrance), âstallâ (kiosk), etc. They can not be called often used. These are household terms of not the highest importance in life. Finding the full options is not difficult, a lot has been written about St. Petersburg slang.
But there is one "but." The traditional dictionary of St. Petersburg slang is becoming obsolete before our eyes. Words from it cannot be heard not only from Muscovites. From residents of today's St. Petersburg, you too rarely hear them.
Aprashka, Tavrik, Kulek and Mukha: St. Petersburg microtoponymy
Things are completely different with St. Petersburg "geographical" folklore. Of course, the local names of historical sights and architectural masterpieces are the most important part of St. Petersburg slang.
There is an opinion that no one has the right to give derogatory nicknames to St. Petersburg monuments, squares and houses. But the strength of urban folklore lies in the fact that Katka is a famous monument to Catherine II on Ostrovsky Square, and no one can change this. There is no derogatory subtext in Katka. This is pride, love and a St. Petersburg sense of humor. Petersburgers have every right to express their attitude to the monuments, and to those in whose honor they were erected.
But âAprashkaâ brilliantly identifies the current Apraksin Yard. It used to be a respectable shopping center. Now it is the market of cheap consumer goods - Aprashka. Accurately and caustic.
The old Tauride Garden was awarded the affectionate "Taurica". City universities and academies with humor and love from the residents are also doing well. The University of Culture and Arts became âKulkâ, the Vera Mukhina Art Academy - simply âMukhaâ. The geographical collection of St. Petersburg informal names is still alive and in excellent condition.
Where to find St. Petersburg folklore
This is a magnificent collection of N. Sindalovsky called âDictionary of the Petersburger. Lexicon of the Northern Capital. " It is perhaps the most complete collection of St. Petersburg slang and phrases, sayings and names characteristic of the Russian language in urban performance.
All "Tauris" are collected in one place with explanations of different times. The dictionary contains real dictionary entries. The magnificent term âfolklore unitsâ is fully revealed in the dictionary: you will find aphorisms, student teasers, slogans, sayings and even graffiti posters. You will see all the typical St. Petersburg slang of the old and new times.
âLanguage gems amaze with their brilliance and life-giving spiritâ - a phrase from the âDictionary of St. Petersburgâ. Very true said.
What about St. Petersburg youth slang?
There is no such slang in nature, it is a myth. There is a youth. But without the specifics of St. Petersburg. It is common for advanced Russian youth in both cities - Moscow and St. Petersburg. This state of affairs is quite logical and has a historical explanation.
We have already found out that the specificity of the Russian language âin St. Petersburgâ has developed long ago, in connection with the peculiarities of the sociological layers of the then urban population. Now these features are not, especially among young people.
Modern youth slang is dynamic in nature, it is a wonderful phenomenon in today's linguistics. But this is not a specific youth slang of St. Petersburg. He is one at all, all-Russian with the leadership of two megacities: Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Modern Russian language and St. Petersburg influence
If someone begins to assure you that he will instantly identify a real Petersburger by his reprimand, do not believe him. The image of a modern resident of St. Petersburg has become multifaceted, it integrates numerous layers from visitors, old-timers and immigrants from the countries of the former USSR. The latter, by the way, are making an ever greater contribution to the formation of new linguistic norms, this is another interesting cultural phenomenon.
The average resident of Moscow and St. Petersburg does not say âbullishâ. The curb with a stick in everyday St. Petersburg vocabulary still holds, but not at all and not always. A curious monument was erected on the curb.
If you are told tales of heated debate about the recipe and the correct name of Moscow shawarma and St. Petersburg shawarma, do not believe it either. In Moscow, shawarma, in St. Petersburg shawarma. Without intrigue and romance. Today's St. Petersburg slang does not differ from Moscow, excuse me.
Saying that nothing is left of the Petersburg nuances in the Russian language will also be wrong. More correct, probably, will call this slang a shade. Which is characterized by a high level of literacy and the logic of building phrases.
Summary, or Great Linguistic Globalization
Muscovites and Petersburgers continue to set the tone in the formation of new norms of the modern Russian language. This applies to youth slang, as well as to new, for example, terminology for revolutionary technological breakthroughs.
The language of advanced Moscow-St. Petersburg youth is an interesting phenomenon. But itâs impossible to call it purely St. Petersburg. It is understandable: history and sociology continue to work, these processes never stop.
People have become very mobile. Communications provide fantastic opportunities for communication. Texts are changing, even Russian literature is being modified. And this is great news for the Russian language, including its amazing "Petersburg shade."
St. Petersburg will survive the loss of its linguistic specificity, such a city. Uniqueness he does not hold. Historical change too. Everything goes on as usual.