The Use, Functions, and Spread of German in Eighteenth‐Century Russia. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DAHMEN, KRISTINE
• Is Part Of: Russian review. Volume 74:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Soviet Union -- Periodicals; Russia -- Periodicals; Russia (Federation) -- Periodicals; 947
• DOI: 10.1111/russ.10754
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-0341

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>In the eighteenth century, Russians who wanted to be successful in politics, administration, business or science had to learn the German language. For several decades German was the most studied foreign language in Russia. How can we explain this fact? In the course of the modernization of Russia initiated by Peter the Great, thousands of German specialists came to St Petersburg, Moscow and other major Russian cities. Important areas such as politics, life at the royal court, administration, military matters, trade and especially science and the education system therefore became bilingual. In order to illustrate the importance of German in eighteenth‐century Russia this article shows in which social domains German was used and makes clear who found it useful or even essential to learn German and why. Particular attention will be paid to the domain of science, learning and education, where German probably had its most lasting impact. As for the use of German as a spoken language, its role as a medium of instruction in educational institutions will be examined. The article will also deal with German as a subject of study in Russian schools. It will consider how many pupils learned German – or French or Latin – and why they chose a specific foreign language. Numerous primary sources such as curricula, time‐tables, school reports, teachers' and learners' assessments, school enrolment figures and teachers' registers and textbooks are used in order to provide a statistical basis for conclusions about the position of foreign languages at specific Russian educational institutions.</p> </abstract>