The specifics of modern St. Petersburg slang and the degree of its influence on the colloquial vocabulary of the Russian language are slightly exaggerated. At one time, the influence was more significant, and the inhabitants of St. Petersburg set the tone for 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 Petersburg version of the word "Petersburg". In Moscow they say "Petersburg".
And yet it's not a saying…
Such a verdict was made by linguists and linguists about 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 divergence (more on that below).
Despite the serious terminology in describing the discrepancies, the Moscow and St. Petersburg variants of the Russian language fit well into the language norm. They are understandable to all Russian speakers.
As forPetersburg linguistic features, then the difference between them and the normative Russian language is not so great. A typical dictionary of St. 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 understand the origin and history of occurrence. Because the Russian language, and with it the St. Petersburg slang, is constantly changing.
Orthoepic Moscow-Petersburg differences
First you need to understand the beautiful term "orthoepy". These are the rules that came into the literary language from oral speech. The Moscow-Petersburg difference lies mainly in orthoepy, these are moderate orthoepic discrepancies. Most often, stress in words differs. The pronunciation is also different.
Linguistic resources contain many descriptions of the special pronunciation of word endings or unstressed syllables, by which one can identify native Petersburgers or Muscovites of the older generation. Most likely, these features have been erased and do not have circulation among the inhabitants of the two cities. Yes, and this is accompanied by reservations that “chorinky” instead of “black” or “court” instead of “here” can only be heard by a sensitive professional ear in the speech of older generations, if only you are very lucky.
Not very Russian letter "e"
It's different with the letter "e", which turned out to be the main participant in the most interesting sociological phenomenon. The usual role of this not very Russian letter is to stand in borrowed words, all kinds of Anglicisms and Germanisms. The use of the letter "e" in oral speech made this speech more "foreign", which meant at one timehigh status and metropolitan chic.
Old Petersburgers liked to flaunt "cream" 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 got used to "pioneers" and "rails", Russification reshaped the modern pronunciation into pioneers, rails, overcoats, museums, etc. The "e" in the pronunciation began to speak not of advancement, but of old-fashionedness.
History of Petersburg linguistic nuances
It would be strange if there were no such nuances. St. Petersburg is a city that falls outside of any rules and stereotypes. The manner, time and speed of his 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 from different times is also an excellent resource for any anthropological research, including the language issue. The fact is that Petersburgers for a long time were "not very Russian" and not very natural population.
The metropolitan elite was formed from managers and specialists from abroad and Russian regions. It could be divided into four conditional groups:
- official class;
- officer corps;
- merchants;
- Petersburg Germans.
Language diversity
All this extremely colorfulthe public was interested in career growth, and one of the most important conditions for this was knowledge of the Russian language. Literate speech and writing have become a sign of high status and education.
Who and where to study Russian? In the 18th century, with all the diversity of Russian dialects, preference was still given to the Moscow version. Lomonosov also wrote in his famous "Russian Grammar":
The Moscow dialect is not only for the importance of the capital city, but for its excellent beauty it is rightly preferred by others.
But the difference between oral speech and what was read from the written was huge. Two Russian-language standards have been formed: spoken and written.
Formation of the language of Petersburgers
There was, of course, more trust in the written version of the language. But fiction or the epistolary genre in Russian was still in its infancy at that time. Mostly various documents were written: by that time, the clerical turnover had reached a solid size.
As a result, the speech of Petersburgers began to gravitate toward the written version. I would like to say “literary”, but no, it was more of a literary and clerical Russian language.
A clear pronunciation of letters appeared, oral speech was largely dependent on spelling. The difference with the Moscow dialect became noticeable. Muscovites were more conservative, they had difficulty accepting rapid reforms and changes. In their speech, there were many real archaisms that had long disappeared from the vocabulary of Petersburgers. If in St. Petersburg, for example, they used the word “why”, then the Moscow nobility had “why” for a long time.
Homeland of office workers
There are sad pages in the history of St. Petersburg slang. They are connected with the legendary clerical distortions of the Russian language. It all started with Petersburg official manners in conversation.
It is clear that the language of formal documents has its own rules and peculiarities. This has always been the case with all languages, not only Russian. But when these features extend to everyday and colloquial speech, it becomes sad. As a result, the clerk joined the normative Russian language. Petersburgers, and then everyone else, have forgotten how to speak in the stands in a normal human language. This was especially evident in the Soviet period.
The clerk is mortally afraid of verbs: instead of “help”, “help” is used. Because of this fear, there is an endless stringing of cases, especially the genitive. Active turns were replaced by passive ones…
“Currently, there is a shortage of teaching staff” - it seems that it does not sound St. Petersburg. But it all started there. St. Petersburg slang…
Khabarik, curb and chicken
The curb (border) can be called the absolute champion in the St. Petersburg vocabulary, everyone knows about it. Silver and bronze are divided by popularity into khabariki (cigarette butts), kura (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 as examples in numerous typical dictionaries of St. Petersburg slang.
“Petersburg words that you won’t hear from Muscovites” - roughly in this spirit, dictionaries and lists begin in sources relating to Peter’s slang. There are no more than twenty of these “words”, there are always “bun” (baton), “front door” (entrance), “stall” (kiosk), etc. They cannot be called frequently used. These are household terms of not the highest significance in life. Finding full options is not difficult, a lot has been written about St. Petersburg slang.
But there is one "but". The traditional vocabulary of St. Petersburg slang is becoming obsolete before our eyes. Words from it cannot be heard not only from Muscovites. From the inhabitants of today's St. Petersburg, you also rarely hear them.
Aprashka, Tavrik, Kulek and Mukha: St. Petersburg microtoponymy
Things are quite 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 is that "Katka" is the famous monument to Catherine II on Ostrovsky Square, and no one can change this. There is no humiliating subtext in "Katka" at all. 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 "Aprashka" brilliantly identifies the current Apraksin yard. That he used to be respectableshopping center. Now it is a market for cheap consumer goods - Aprashka. Accurate and poignant.
The Old Tauride Garden was awarded the affectionate "Tavrika". City universities and academies are also doing well with humor and love from the residents. The University of Culture and Arts became "Kulk", the Vera Mukhina Art Academy - simply "Fly". 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 “Dictionary of a 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 "Tavrikas" are collected in one place with explanations of different times. The dictionary contains real dictionary entries. The magnificent term "folklore units" is fully revealed in the dictionary: you will find aphorisms, student teases, slogans, sayings and even posters with graffiti. You will see all the typical St. Petersburg slang of the old and new times.
"Language gems amaze with their brilliance and life-giving spirit" - a phrase from the Dictionary of a Petersburger. Very true.
What's with St. Petersburg youth slang?
Such slang does not exist in nature, it is a myth. There is a youth But without St. Petersburg specifics. 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 "in St. Petersburg" has developed a long time ago, due to the peculiarities of the sociological strata of the then urban population. Now these features do not exist, especially among young people.
Modern youth slang is dynamic in nature, it is a remarkable phenomenon in today's linguistics. But this is not a specific youth slang in St. Petersburg. It is one for all, all-Russian, with two megacities leading: Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Modern Russian language and Petersburg influence
If someone begins to assure you that he will instantly identify a real Petersburger by his pronunciation, do not believe him. The image of a modern resident of St. Petersburg has become multifaceted, it integrates numerous layers of visitors, old-timers and migrants from the countries of the former USSR. The latter, by the way, are making an increasing contribution to the formation of new language norms, this is another very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The average resident of Moscow and St. Petersburg no longer speaks "bulosh". The curb with a batlon is still kept in everyday St. Petersburg vocabulary, but not for everyone and not always. A good-natured monument was erected to the curb.
If you are told fairy tales about heated debates about the recipe and the correct name of Moscow shawarma and St. Petersburg shawarma, don't believe it either. Shawarma in Moscow, Shawarma in St. Petersburg. No intrigue or romance. Today's St. Petersburg slang does not differ from Moscow, excuse me.
Say thatthere is nothing left of the St. Petersburg nuances in the Russian language, it will also be incorrect. It would probably be more correct to call this slang a shade. Which is distinguished by a high level of literacy and the logic of constructing phrases.
Summary, or the Great Linguistic Globalization
Muscovites and Petersburgers continue to set the tone in the formation of new norms of the modern Russian language. This applies both to youth slang and new, for example, terminology for revolutionary technological breakthroughs.
The language of advanced Moscow-Petersburg youth is an interesting phenomenon. But it can no longer be called purely St. Petersburg. It is understandable: history and sociology continue to work, these processes never stop.
People have become very mobile. Communication provides fantastic opportunities for communication. Texts are changing, even Russian literature is being modified. And that's great news for the Russian language, including its amazing "Petersburg tinge."
St. Petersburg will survive the loss of its linguistic specificity, this is such a city. He does not hold uniqueness. Historical changes too. Everything is on its way.
