The Third Skvortsov Readings

Abstract

On December 17, 2021, MGIMO University held the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the memory of Lev Ivanovich Skvortsov, outstanding linguist, lexicographer, Doctor of Philology, professor, author of many dictionaries and books on the culture of Russian spoken language. In the opening speech, his son Yaroslav Skvortsov, the Dean of the Faculty of International Journalism of MGIMO University, organizer and the permanent host of the Readings noted that the topic Do we speak Russian Correctly? Dynamics of Language Norms is also the title of Lev I. Skvortsov’s book, published 40 years ago and still topical. The Russian language still faces an influx of borrowed words, idioms and is prone to stylistic transformations induced by the media. Linguists, language teachers, journalists, and economists — all those interested in the conservation and development of 

the Russian language — came to the Suzdal Kremlin to discuss the current trends in language use and language teaching. The participants presented their ideas and research on various topics: Media variant of the language: from the usage to the norm (N. I. Klushina), Speech of YouTubers (E. V. Bykova), The concept of literacy in the Internet folklore (G. G. Slyshkin), Business slang in 2004 and today (Pogrebnyak E. V.) and others. By tradition, many departments of MGIMO University were presented at the conference. Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Concept: Philosophy, Religion, Culture, MGIMO Professor, Head of the Department of World Literature and Culture, writer Yury Pavlovich Simonov (Viazemsky) delivered a guest of honor speech. He remembered the deeds and ideals of Lev Ivanovich and urged everybody to find inspiration in the beauty of Russian nature that can only be described in the beautiful Russian language. This idea resonated with the director of Vladimir-Suzdal Reserve Museum S. E. Rybakov: Suzdal is the center of Russianness and is the right place to discuss its language. In the changing world, L. I. Skvortsov’s work reminds us of the importance of inspecting and rethinking norms that are to be adequate rather than rigid.