December 17, 2015 5 Reasons Silver is Precious As a metal, Silver means second place; as a period of poetic production in Russia, the Silver Age is unparalleled. The years 1890-1925 (give or take) stand out for the explosion of poetic voices, forms, and innovations. With help from the recently published Russian Silver Age Poetry, we explore what sets that period apart. Art Culture History Language Literature Russia File
December 10, 2015 A Survey of Russian Humor (and it rhymes!) There's plenty of talk about how Russia is dark and dismal, its writers pathologically depressed, and the general mood among the populace about as cheery as a Siberian winter. These stereotypes give short shrift to Russian humor... Culture History Humor Language Literature Russia File
May 01, 2015 Euphe-Putin-isms The things people say these days when they don't say anything can be rather illuminating. Language
February 06, 2014 A Baker's Dozen of Translation and Language Resources Whether you are a budding translator of Russian-English texts, are reading Russian literature in the original, or just want to improve your Russian, there are countless resources waiting for you on the internet. Here's our list of the best... Language Reference Russia File
January 10, 2014 Why Don't Russians Smile? It is a common trope that Russians never smile. Which of course is interpreted to mean they are unfriendly, gloomy, sullen – positively Dostoyevskian. This, of course, is a complete misreading of body language and cultural norms. Culture Humor Language Russia File
November 01, 2013 Verbs Take a Holiday A look at a four verbs that have had their meanings warped in recent years. Useful stuff to know so that you don't inadvertently order a hit when at the restaurant... Language
October 10, 2013 Spelling Reform: Who Gets the Credit? Soviet sources praise the Bolsheviks for simplifying Russian spelling in 1918. Who was the real author of the spelling reform, and what was the Bolsheviks' actual role in making it work? History Language Literature Russia File
September 30, 2013 Happy Translation Day In honor of International Translation Day (September 30), we demonstrate rather graphically the value of having a good, human translator. Humor Language Russia File
November 01, 2012 Friend or Foe? A consideration of the language of enemies and whether Russia is, as Mitt Romney has averred, the US's chief geopolitical foe. Language
November 01, 2012 Baikonur This issue's Uchites insert launches off from our feature article on Baikonur. Language
September 01, 2012 Survival Greek A recent trip to Greece got columnist Mikhail Ivanov thinking about that country's language and its incursions into Russia's mother tongue. Language
May 01, 2012 Just Between Us A consideration of less than politesse descriptions of the other sex - what men say about women and what women say about men, when they are each speaking to those of their own gender... Language
