English in Russia Bibliography

The bibliographies below include, to our best knowledge, the major works on English in Russia published in international journals (in English), as well as publications of Russian linguists addressing such issues as language contact and varieties of English. The majority of these publications are written in Russian and published in university press journals or conference proceedings.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ENGLISH IN RUSSIA (2009)

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS (2009).(written In Russian).
 
Click to watch the ENGLISH AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE LECTURE 
 
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/eil/lecture-2011.php
 
In this lecture, Professor Sharifian presents an overview of the 
paradigm of English as an International Language (EIL). Starting with a 
brief historical account of the development of the paradigm and a 
demographic account of the spread and the use of the English 
language around the globe, he elaborates on the themes that have 
emerged as the key topics within the field. These include 
renationalization of English, use of English as a lingua franca, politics 
of EIL, identity and EIL, attitude towards EIL, ownership of English, 
teaching EIL, proficiency in EIL, and native-speakerism. At the end of 
the lecture, Professor Kirkpatrick will present a commentary on the EIL 
Lecture.  
(The Lecture's URL was originally posted by Sandra Kelly on the LINGUIST List)

Recent publications exploring the presence of English in Russia

Lawrick, Elena. (2011). English in Russian Academe: Uses and Perceived Significance.
Ph.D. Dissertation, Purdue University.

Abstract: This dissertation study provides a comprehensive account of the presence of English in Russian academe. Taking the analysis of the environment in which Russian academics function professionally as a point of reference, this study sought to find out, firstly, how and to what extent English is used among Russian academics, and, secondly, what their perceptions are regarding the significance that producing scholarship in English has for maintaining and/or advancing an academic career in Russia. The study is contextualized in the sector of Russian academe that is most strongly affected by the current global agenda of Russian political leadership: research universities. The study instruments include document examination, survey, and interviews with Russian academics. First, the complexities of recent developments in Russian academe were analyzed. Second, the survey of academics (n=461) across a range of disciplines was conducted in 22 public research universities. The survey was followed with in-depth semi-structured interviews with five academics representing such disciplines as philosophy, sociology, medicine, business management, and English language teaching. The major findings suggest that, for the majority of participants, English has become an active linguistic tool much needed for efficient functioning in academe. Russian scholars use English to produce and disseminate their scholarship, engage in international collaborative projects, teach, and communicate with colleagues. While the use of English was found across all contexts, the use in scholarly discourse (e.g., conference presentations, publications, and international research-related collaboration) surpassed the use in academic discourse (e.g., teaching and interpersonal professional communication). Furthermore, it was found that the perception of significance of producing scholarship in English is growing across all disciplines, which indicates a competitive relationship between Russian and English for functioning as a preferred linguistic medium of scholarly production. However, the findings also suggest that while the value attributed to scholarship written in English increases, Russian retains its dominant position, with academics being encouraged to produce scholarship in both languages: Russian and English. The study concludes with a discussion of implications for further research.

Alexeeva, Inessa. (2010). English as a Global Lingua Franca: Presence, Varieties, and Attitudes in a Provincial Russian City. M.A. Thesis, University of Portsmouth.

Abstract: The English language is considered to have wide penetration in Russia. However, few data exist to quantify the presence, variety of English used and attitudes towards English in Russia. None refer to a regional city; the Russian population being largely urbanised. This study can help fill this knowledge gap for those foreign and Russian linguists interested in World Englishes. Largely the study provides empirical data that appears lacking. The study was carried out in 2010 in Tver, a regional city within European Russia. It involved three strands of the field work, an interview–based cross-sectional sample of the adult population, a series of interviews with English teachers in the pedagogical sector and a self-administered questionnaire within a Tver housing block. The findings showed that English was the dominant (80 % or more) choice as the compulsory foreign language for secondary and tertiary students. Twenty-nine percent of the interviewed, non-student adult population reported learning English at the time of the study. Learning English was spread across occupational codes and also pensioners, although those in entrepreneurial and professional spheres had the highest prevalence. Predominantly British English was described as taught within state educational system. Interestingly, Russian English was recognised by both adult learners and teachers .Many of the latter considered it as the end product for the majority of learners, but opinions ranged between being a nativised entity or still British English but of a lower quality. Attitudes to English were largely positive, albeit with a small percentage of negativity. English appears to be the most important foreign language in Tver.  The British variety is predominant, but Russian English exists and is growing. Overall the study suggests evidence of deep penetration of English, its acceptance reflected by positive attitudes, and a maturing position of English in urban Russia.  However, the study raises a number of questions including the mismatch between available provision by state and private linguistic institutions and the number of adult learners.
Georgieva, M. (2010). EFL: From ‘You Sound Like Dickens’ to International English. In M. Saxena & T. Omoniyi (Eds.), Contending with Globalization in World Englishes (pp. 113-136). Bristol: Multilingual Matters. - Although this chapter addresses a change in ELT in Bulgaria, it is highly relevant to the sociolinguistics of English in Russia.

Proshina, Zoya. (2010). Slavic Englishes: Education or culture? In A. Kirkpatrick (Ed.). The Routledge Handbook of World Englishes (pp.299-315). New York, NY: Routledge.

Ривлина, Аlexandra. О явлении «глокализации» в семантическом развитии англоязычных заимствований / А.А. Ривлина // Россия и Запад: диалог культур. Сб. статей XIII международной конференции. 26 – 28 ноября 2009 г. Вып. 15. Ч. I. – М.: МГУ, 2010. – С. 299-308.[Rivlina, Alexandra. (2010). The notion of glocalization in the semantic adaption of English borrowings.]