How technology is changing language: meeting of the Literary Club at the National Centre RUSSIA

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A meeting dedicated to Russian Language Day and the legacy of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin took place on June 5 as part of the Literary Club "What to Read?!" at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event was hosted by Alexei Chesnakov, Head of the Academic Council of the Centre for Political Conjuncture, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, and author of the Telegram channel "Chesnakov.Library."

Participants discussed the cultural, social, political and other aspects of language development, as well as its transformation in the context of digitalisation.

"The main problems facing the language today are linked to the development of technology and the popularity of online communication. These include simplified syntax, destabilised spelling, and declining linguistic responsibility. Messengers are replacing the human voice — we hear beautiful Russian speech less and less, we do not adjust to sounds, but try to express emotions using little ‘letters’ and emojis," said Alexei Chesnakov.

Special attention was paid to the study of Pushkin's role in the formation of the Russian literary language.

"Of course, Pushkin did not invent the Russian language. But he was the person who managed to turn new linguistic norms into achievements that became exemplary, transforming spoken language into a literary and standardised one. Thanks to him, society realised that it was possible to speak beautifully not only in French," said Alexei Chesnakov. 

The evening’s special guest was Russian educator, entrepreneur, publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of the "Children’s Encyclopedia Avanta+", public figure, and laureate of the Presidential Prize in Education and the "Znanie" award, Maria Aksyonova. She stressed the importance of constantly gaining new knowledge about language and broadening one’s horizons — even for those with extraordinary abilities.

"There is no one who hasn’t made mistakes — even Pushkin made them, but he corrected them and constantly refined his style. The more we improve ourselves, our language, our speech skills, the more successful we are in all areas of life. Even if we, for example, want to develop a business and become wealthy, it is not enough to study economics — we also need to elevate our cultural level and broaden our horizons," Maria Aksyonova emphasised.

Alexei Chesnakov and Maria Aksyonova also hosted a quiz for the audience. Adults and children investigated the origins of idioms, searched for synonyms and antonyms for rarely used words, and even corrected mistakes in manuscripts. The most active participants of this intellectual challenge received books on the Russian language and Pushkin by contemporary authors as gifts.

At the end of the meeting, the experts answered questions from the audience and offered advice on how to develop an elegant writing style and enrich one’s vocabulary. 

"Listen to good, articulate TV and radio presenters, read books — classics, contemporary authors, and non-fiction — and practise presenting your work in such a way that your story is clear and engaging even to those who are not professionals in your field. This takes time and effort, but the results will be rewarding," promised Maria Aksyonova.

Alexei Chesnakov emphasised that reading poetry is essential for cultivating expressive and refined speech.

"For language, a poet often means more than a prose writer. Many might be offended or misunderstand this, but it is extremely important, because reading poetry brings a sense of rhythm, measure and word usage. Secondly, read the classics — not only Russian, but also, for example, ancient Greek tragedies. And of course, study the language continuously, because it is a living organism," concluded Alexei Chesnakov.

The club "What to Read?!", created at the National Centre RUSSIA, is an intellectual platform for discussing literary legacy, exchanging ideas and sharing experience. It focuses on promoting a culture of reading, encouraging meaningful writing and expanding the space for public dialogue.

Anyone may join the club’s events and take part in many other educational and cultural programmes at the National Centre RUSSIA free of charge by registering in advance on the website russia.ru. Current event information is available in the "Events" section.