YEAR OF RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
YEAR OF RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
- "Russian language - the first language of communication in space"
is the motto of an international linguistic exhibition which will open
in Paris in January to officially proclaim the beginning of Year of Russian
Language abroad. Russia, the exhibition's guest of honour, is getting ready
to prove the motto by organizing a direct link with the International Space
Station. Russian cosmonauts working on board will be talking with laureates
of the Russian language competition in France.
- Russian, a native tongue to 288 million nationalities, is one of the
six working languages in the UN. President of the American Councils for
International Education Dan Davidson says Russian has acquired a good position
among the world's spoken languages due to the impact of Russian culture,
the achievements of Russian science and technology and the Russian history.
And, the scientist says, the high status of Russian is also due to the
political status of Russia, which has always be recognized as a super power
in energy, science and education.
- Yuri Prokhorov is the Rector of the Moscow Pushkin Institute of Russian
Language:
- "I think the sustained interest in the Russian language stems
from Russia's relations with other countries. The more stable economic
situation in Russia is attracting specialists in business and other spheres
who need to communicate in Russian. More open entry to the country has
increased the number of tourists, who naturally develop an interest in
Russian too. And easier entry to other countries by Russian tourists has
prompted them to start learning Russian as well. The growing interest in
Russian is closely connected with present-day realities".
- Year of Russian Language will feature more than 800 events in 76 countries
which will be organized by the Russian Center for International and Cultural
Cooperation. The Paris exhibition, for one, will feature the presentation
of the book "Why Should We Learn Russian". The Russian Foreign
Center is planning to considerably expand the network of Russian language
courses this year. Nine thousand people are currently attending Russian
courses at the Center and the most interest in Russian is registered among
the French and the Egyptians. Some of these learners may well end up among
the winners of several dozen Russian language competitions to be held throughout
the year. The laureates will be awarded a trip to Russia.
- Naturally, the program of Russian Language Year provides for serious
and hopefully, effective projects to promote Russian on the post-Soviet
space. Russian stays a language of communication for millions of people,
who want to know it for cultural advancement or for more down-to-earth
purposes, like coming to work in Russia.
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