As residents of any other locality, indigenous Muscovites, of course, have their own characteristic dialect, that is, their accent only, their pronunciation and features of conveying words and phrases to the interlocutor. According to these features, as well as the intonation of the old-timer of the capital, you can always distinguish from a visitor. The validity of this statement is noted not only by Russians, but even by tourists who have arrived from abroad. Moreover, Moscow dialect has long turned into the basis for literary speech. But how did it appear, and why did it happen that the metropolitan pronunciation became in Russian a symbol of culture and a role model? We have to figure out the history of the formation of Moscow speech, as well as its main distinguishing features.
"Akane" in Russian
In different regions of our vast country, it is customary to pronounce words that have an unstressed vowel “o” in different ways. For example, in the capital, as you know, people from childhood used to say “harasho”, “barada”, “malako”, “sabaka”, “karova”, “vada”. The old-timers of Tambov, Voronezh, Smolensk, Lipetsk, Kaluga and some other areas also pronounce these words. While the inhabitants of the northern regions, for example, the Arkhangelsk, Kostroma, Novgorod regions pronounce these words the way they are written, namely: “good”, “beard”, “milk”, “dog”, “cow”, “ water". And in this way of talking in them, you can also highlight the natives of a particular area.
Since when did it happen
The “Akat” style, as it is supposed, once came to our capital from the south, and was adopted by the inhabitants of the locality we know. Similar features of Moscow dialect have existed for several centuries, more precisely somewhere from the end of the XIV century. And confirmation of this can be found even in Old Russian chronicles and later written sources.
But the Novgorod principality, located almost five hundred kilometers from Moscow, was proud of its independence, and therefore the speech of the southerners to adopt the old-timers of those places was considered below their dignity. Since that period, and still between the “surrounding” northerners and the “hitting” population of Russia, there is a “speech” border, and it runs south of Novgorod about one and a half hundred kilometers.
From Ivan the Terrible to Lomonosov
From the fourteenth century, Russian statehood began to take shape, uniting around the Moscow principality, which gradually began to rise above others due to regional, military, economic and political achievements. The "Akat" manner originated in this territory at this time. However, it was not at that time that she finally took root and became a hallmark of Moscow dialect. In those days, far from everything was explained so. Even Ivan the Terrible "okal", as well as his boyar environment. So did their followers.
And only much later, in the XVIII century, when Russian literature began to develop at an impressive pace, did a real speech fracture occur. The contents of famous books were transmitted not only in manuscripts and printed publications, but also in colloquial, oral form. All this laid the foundations for the pronunciation typical of this dialect. Moscow turned out to be the center of true culture, and the “hiccups” spread quite widely, not only within these lands, but also much further. Thus, the foundations were laid for what is now commonly called the Moscow pronunciation. A significant role in this was played by plays and theatrical art.
In those days, the great Lomonosov wrote:
The Moscow dialect is not only for the importance of the capital city, but for its excellent beauty it is justly preferred to others, and the pronunciation of the letter “o” without stress, like “a”, is much more pleasant ...
Post-October period
A century ago, grandiose changes took place in Russia. Accordingly, the composition of the population, social foundations, and language have changed. The number of theaters, clubs, and educational institutions has increased. There was a radio, and then television. At the same time, the old norms of Moscow dialect turned into a symbol of an ideal literate language, a kind of its literary standard. Similar vocalism could be heard in radio broadcasts, television shows and movies.
Other characteristic features of literary pronunciation include hiccups. The Moscow accent suggests a slurred pronunciation of the vowel "e", so that it becomes similar to "and." For example, “spring” is reproduced as a cross between the way this word is spelled and “visna”.
Old Moscow pronunciation
The literary language is constantly evolving, and its norms are changing. For example, the grandfathers and grandmothers of modern Muscovites used to say “sweetie” instead of “sweetie”. Accordingly, "smartie" sounded like "smartie." All words of this type underwent a similar transformation. This was considered an indicator of excellent education and good taste.
The presented manner of speaking is still possible to hear today in theatrical productions based on plays of those times. And, of course, the most vivid traces of Old Moscow speech are preserved in literary works of the indicated era. This and similar phenomena are commonly called conservatism. The withering away of linguistic norms and their replacement with others should be considered a natural process that cannot be stopped. Yes, and this should not be done.
Old Moscow and St. Petersburg dialects
The speech of Petersburgers, as well as Muscovites, has always been considered a reference model. As linguists say, these two dialects differ only slightly. So few that there is no particular reason to oppose them to each other. However, there are still differences in the speech of Muscovites and Petersburgers, although in our time they are gradually erased. Therefore, only some of the most characteristic of those that took place in the last century should be considered.
The Staromoskovsky way of pronouncing the words was supposed to say: fried eggs, bullous. While in the cultural capital it was always customary to transmit “h”: scrambled eggs, bakery. But today in Moscow it’s not at all accepted to say that.
Staromoskovskoy stage speech also demanded to deliver: boards, yeast, reins instead of a solid "in" in such words as rain, yeast, reins. Half a century ago, no one in Moscow was surprised at the habit, instead of: “top”, “Thursday” or “first”, to reproduce something like: top, four, first. Which, again, is now completely done.
Modern Muscovites
This century erases many facets and destroys obstacles between people who existed before. Nowadays, the capital is filled to capacity with visitors from other regions and countries, which could not but affect the speech. It has changed, as has the recently adopted pronunciation, as well as the manner of speaking. The speech is supplemented by many words borrowed from foreign languages, especially from international English. The Internet plays a significant role in its development. And therefore, perhaps, soon it will not make sense to separate the manner of speaking in the capital from any other.
What do the native Muscovites of today say? Many of them even argue that the habit of “hacking” was brought to them by immigrants from other regions, or this is a tribute to the culture of the Soviet period. The visitors themselves argue that Muscovites speak slowly, even frankly slowly, while the vowels in the words used stretch to the limit. And this is undoubtedly strange, given the crazy rhythm of this city.
Youth slang
Each new generation has always become more or less revolutionary, supplementing in its own words the traditional language. The youth of our time is no exception. The widespread slang of this part of the population is greatly facilitated by the popular sources of information of today. And slang, which is used by young people of the 21st century, already sounds from the handsets of mobile phones, in abundance it can be seen on forums and on social networks. Similar words are used in films, in songs, in modern literature.
The speech of Moscow youth was greatly supplemented by computer slang. An example of this is the following concepts: keyboard - keyboard, own opinion - IMHO. An image on the Internet next to a user name is usually called an avatar. And other such examples are more than enough.
Why do we need speech etiquette
There is no doubt that society, as it develops, is constantly changing. And this is a necessary and fruitful process. However, the legacy of civilization, its cultural layer, is also important. After all, a society that forgets its past achievements is not able to fully develop. One of the symbols of culture and a model of speech etiquette is the correct Moscow speech. It is now necessary for a fruitful exchange of information between highly intellectual representatives of human civilization.
Why do we need speech etiquette? In order to conduct a pleasant conversation, as was customary at all times, to impress those around who are well-educated, cultured people. And this is important not only for the elevation of one's self, but also for the successful conduct of business, career advancement.