This essay examines American awareness of Soviet literature and writers and vice versa and discusses problems involved in making Soviet literature available to Americans. Highlights include accessibility through public and private libraries and establishing and publicizing a Soviet writings library collection. Some Soviet publications and…

A special issue devoted to A.S. Puskin, this volume opens with an essay on Puskin's treatment of the theme "Freedom and Law" and proceeds with essays on some of his individual works. These are followed by a bibliography section, an English translation of his "Poltava", and a book review section. (MES)

Examples illustrate that there are possible independent meanings of the imperfective, possessing stronger modality than the perfective in the Russian verb system. This is examined in past tense, infinitive, and imperative structures. (PMJ)

Discusses paronyms, with reference to translation, and related forms such as synonyms, polysemes, and false cognates. (AM)

It is argued that any attempt to explicate the notion of lying can proceed only on a prior understanding of the notion of truth. Two Russian words for "truth" and two for "lie" are examined, and various dimensions of meanings of the pairs are discussed. (17 references) (LB)

Questions related to the teaching of Russian and Soviet literature in the second language programs in India are explored, particularly, the amount of time to be devoted to the study of literature, an appropriate method, and the most appropriate time to introduce it. Russian has been taught in India for only 30 years and only recently have…

Examines some of the early uses of instrumental nouns unaccompanied by prepositions and considers the various meanings they conveyed, in order to show the kinds of changes they have undergone. A number of nominal forms have been adverbialized, and some have been replaced by prepositional phrases or other grammatical constructions. (SL)

Suggests that conflicts in early Soviet literature over reader's identity and function presages many issues in critical understanding of audiences, especially as reflected in the antithetical Frankfurt and Birmingham School positions. Argues that how the mass reader was invoked, defined, and appropriated for institutional needs in the Soviet…

Discusses incorporating current events articles from "Pravda" into Russian language classes in the U.S. as a successful means of attracting students to Russian language programs. In addition, the timely and controversial nature of many of these articles promote stimulating conversational exchanges in the classroom. (SL)

Describes the "study tour of the Soviet Union," for several years a feature of the three-week interim term at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Discusses tour organization, related orientation activities and itineraries, dwelling at length on problems encountered, especially recent last-minute denials of visa to group leaders. (MES)

Analyzes the purpose of metaphor, distinguishing five different types, proposes terms that describe its components, and lists seven procedures for its translation. It is claimed that metaphor is at the center of all problems of translation theory, semantics, and linguistics. (MES)

This article presents a number of methods, including context-related activities, board games, and filler exercises, developed in the Russian classroom, designed for stimulating vocabulary learning and retention. (43 references) (JL)

Argues for refinement in the traditional approach to transfer in second language acquisition (SLA), where transfer is generally investigated as the unidirectional influence of native (or other language) knowledge on acquisition and use of a second language. Shows transfer can be bidirectional, influencing an individual's use of both the first and…

Russia has been in a constant state of reforms since 1985. The purpose of the reforms was supposed to be that of improving the production and non-production spheres of society. In actuality, things are a bit different. The losses in the economy in the years of the reforms have turned out to be greater than during the Great Patriotic War. At that…

Questions the relevance of the traditional structural/grammatical approach to Russian course design. Suggests instead a functional notional approach and provides an overview of its rationale and principles. (EKN)