Shift of Functions of the English Language in the Context of Today’s Russia

Abstract

The chapter discusses the attitudinal and functional status of Russian English (Proshina ZG, Eddy AA (eds). Russian English: History, functions, and features. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2016) as an Expanding Circle variety. The discussion starts with characterizing the specifics of varieties of the Expanding Circle, highlighting the common features and differences with varieties of the other two types of circles—Inner and Outer – as outlined by Kachru (Standards, codification and sociolinguistic realism. The English language in the Outer Circle. In: Quirk R, Widdowson HG (eds) English in the world: Teaching and learning the language and literatures. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 11–30, 1985). It is argued that at the basis of any variety lies its ability to express the culture and mentality of its speakers, the difference being in the type of recognized norms, impact of native linguistic and cultural features on English, and the scope of functions a variety of English carries out in the community. Varieties of English in the Expanding Circle manifest great dynamics in developing their functions, which is illustrated by Russian English, as English used by people brought up within the Russian culture. Used mostly for overseas intercultural communication, English in Russia has recently expanded its functional load. Its domestic functions can be observed now in education, business, sales and advertisement, science, music, literature, and even administration. Today’s Russian English functions include instrumental, informative, creative, regulative, and symbolic ones. This is a short-time dynamic that is increasingly witnessed by the most recent two generations of Russian people. The reasons for the expanding functions of Russian English can be accounted for by globalization and increase in intercultural communication practice, by the enhanced prestige of English, and by increased translanguaging experience resulting in code-switching and mutual influence of the Russian and English languages.