Global Reach of the Russian Language

There are an estimated 150 million native speakers of Russian and a further 260 million speak it as a second language.  The Russian language boasts an enormous network of speakers spread over the globe. Outside Russia, Russian is also commonly spoken in the countries of the former Soviet Union and parts of Eastern Europe.

Is Russian a Difficult Language to Learn?

Many people find Russian to be a difficult language to learn. This is attributed to its complicated grammar, first of all, and specific alphabet – Cyrillic. It has six cases in its grammar, making it even more complicated. The rich phonetics also makes it a problem for many who are learning pronunciation. Until one attains fluency, resorting to Russian translation services may be appropriate.

Languages Similar to Russian

Russian belongs to the Slavic language family, and it shows quite many features common to other Slavic languages:

• Ukrainian: This is also an East Slavic language, very close to Russian, with a large number of common words and almost similar grammar, though there are phonetic and lexical differences.
• Belarusian: Another representative of the East Slavic languages is Belarusian. It has much in common with Russian both in vocabulary and grammar.
• Bulgarian: This is a South Slavic language and partially resembles Russian in vocabulary and structure but still retains some other letters from the Cyrillic alphabet. Serbian and Croatian: Also South Slavic, these languages have some grammatical and lexical similarities with Russian but are usually written using a Latin alphabet with other distinct phonetic differences. Czech and Slovak: These are West Slavic languages, sharing an earlier root with Russian but having fewer direct similarities.
• Polish: Another Slavic language of the West Slavic dialect, Polish, has some features of Russian; however, it uses the Latin alphabet and also has quite a different phonetic structure.

Because they are of the same Slavic family, these languages present similar rules of grammar, word roots, and structures; however, each language has its own phonetic and writing systems.

Common Uses of the Russian Language

Russian finds application in many different spheres—the scientific, technical, literature, business, and diplomatic branches. It is an educational language in very many nations that were part of the Soviet Union and one of the official languages of the United Nations. Special value is attached to the Russian language as an international means of communication in international relations, arts, and in the Academy.

Countries Where Russian is an Official Language

Russian is an official language in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Besides, it enjoys a wide teaching base in various educational institutions and is applied by the diplomatic services, print media, and electronic means in all these countries.

Where Russian is Spoken Outside Russia

Outside Russia, a large body of Russian-speaking people is found to stay inside the former Soviet Union territories and in Israel with its huge community of immigrants from Russia.

• Ukraine
• Latvia
• Estonia
• Lithuania

The Place of the Russian Language in World Culture

Russia takes a very significant place in world culture, especially literature and music. Such famous writers as Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov have brought a great deal to world literature. Also, classical music and ballet of Russia have become extremely famous worldwide.

How Many People Will Speak Russian in Ten Years?

Demographic trends and the regional significance of the language will strengthen the number of Russian speakers over the next decade. Migration patterns, along with the international relations of Russia, could impact these figures.

Benefits for a Person to Learn the Russian Language

The learning of Russian advantages in various ways:

1. Communication: Russian is among the most spoken languages in the world, and, as such, communication is enhanced in a vast region.
2. Opportunities: Knowing Russian will give one the opportunity and ability to travel, work, or study in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
3. Intercultural Permeation: During the process of learning Russian, one could access the great works of world literature, the original works of Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov.
4. Career Advantages: Knowledge of Russian is helpful in international trade, diplomacy, and energy business.
5. Cognitive Gains: Studying Russian brings about mental flexibility and greater problem-solving skills and, therefore, enhances one’s cognitive abilities in general.

Why Russian is Important in Business

The Russian language will, therefore, be of strategic advantage in the business world, more so for those companies willing to trade with the Russian Federation and other Russian-speaking countries. This will help them a lot in negotiating any trade with such a country. Knowing Russian is an essential key to gaining entry into the market and the culture. Since the Russian language is used across a huge geographical area, it demands business documents, user guides, and website translations.

Interesting Facts About Russian and Russia

• World’s Biggest Country: Russia is the land’s biggest country, with more than 17 million square kilometers within its fold.
• Considerable Population: Russian is spoken by around 258 million people worldwide.
• Trans-Siberian Railway: With a total length of about 9,289 km from Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway is the world’s longest railway.
• Matryoshka Dolls: These traditional dolls are now an important cultural trademark.
• Cold Climate: Russia is home to some of the coldest places on earth, like Oymyakon, Siberia, where the temperatures reach -71.2°C.
• Giant Bell and Cannon: Inside Moscow’s Kremlin is the Tsar Bell, the largest existing bell in the world, measuring 6.1 meters in diameter, approximately 20 feet in diameter. Among the largest howitzers in the whole wide world is the Tsar Cannon.
• Bolshoi Theatre: The Bolshoi Theatre was founded in Moscow in the year 1776 and is among the biggest opera and ballet theatres in the world.
• Cyrillic Alphabet: Russian is written in Cyrillic, an alphabet of 33 letters in use by most of the Slavic languages.
• Space Exploration: Russians have been the head in the realm of space research. Yuri Gagarin was the first human launched into space in the year 1961.
• Literary Giants: Russian literature includes great contributions to world literature. Famous authors include Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Nabokov.
• Cuisine: Russian cuisine contains several traditional dishes, such as borscht, pelmeni, blini, and kvass.
• Unique Architecture: Russian architecture boasts very distinct structures, as can be attested by the colorful domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral.

How to Learn Russian

One can learn Russian by attending language courses and further comfortingly using online facilities for language learning and constant practice. Learning aids like language learning apps, books, and exchange programs would be extremely helpful. Getting immersed in a Russian-speaking country does work.