Moscow dialect (Moscow pronunciation, Moscow accent): features and examples

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

Like residents of any other locality, native Muscovites, of course, have their own characteristic dialect, that is, their own accent, their own pronunciation and peculiarities of conveying words and phrases to the interlocutor. According to the indicated features, as well as intonation, an old-timer of the capital can always be distinguished from a visitor. The validity of this statement is noted not only by Russians, but even by tourists who have arrived from abroad. Moreover, the Moscow dialect has long become the basis for literary speech. But how did it appear, and why did it happen that the capital pronunciation became a symbol of culture and a role model in the Russian language? We have to figure out the history of the formation of Moscow speech, as well as its main distinctive features.

"Akanye" in Russian

In different regions of our vast country, it is customary to pronounce words that have an unstressed vowel “o” in different ways. For example, in the capital, as you know, people from childhood are used to saying “harasho”, “barada”, “malako”, “sabaka”, “karova”, “vada”. The old-timers of Tambov, Voronezh, Smolensk, Lipetsk, Kaluga and some other regions pronounce these words in the same way. While residents of the northern regions, for example, the Arkhangelsk, Kostroma, Novgorod regions, pronounce these words as they are written, namely: “good”, “beard”, “milk”, “dog”, “cow”, “water . And according to this manner of talking in them, one can also distinguish the natives of a certain area.

Since when did this happen

The manner of "akat" is supposed to have come to our capital from the south, and was adopted by the inhabitants of the area known to us. Similar features of the Moscow dialect have existed for several centuries, more precisely, somewhere since the end of the 14th century. And confirmation of this can be found in the ancient Russian chronicles and later written sources.

But the Novgorod principality, located almost five hundred kilometers from Moscow, was proud of its independence, and therefore the old-timers of those places considered it below their dignity to adopt the speech of the southerners. Starting from that period and until now, there has been a “speech” border between the “okaying” northerners and the “poking” population of Russia, and it runs south of Novgorod for about one and a half hundred kilometers.

From Ivan the Terrible to Lomonosov

Since the 14th century, Russian statehood began to form, uniting around the Moscow principality, which gradually began to rise above others thanks to regional, military, economic and political achievements. The manner of "akat" originated in this territoryexactly at this time. However, it was not yet at that time that it finally took root and became a hallmark of the Moscow dialect. In those days, not everyone spoke like that. Even Ivan the Terrible "okal", as well as his boyar entourage. So did their followers.

And only much later, in the 18th century, when Russian literature began to develop at an impressive pace, did a real speech break occur. The contents of famous books were transmitted not only in manuscripts and printed editions, but also in colloquial, oral form. All this laid the foundations for the pronunciation characteristic of this dialect. Moscow turned out to be the center of true culture, and the “akanye” spread quite widely not only within these lands, but also much further. Thus, the foundations of what is now commonly called the Moscow pronunciation were laid. Plays and theatrical art played a significant role in this.

In those days the great Lomonosov wrote:

The Moscow dialect is not only for the importance of the capital city, but for its excellent beauty it is rightly preferred by others, and especially the pronunciation of the letter “o” without stress, like “a”, is much more pleasant…

Post-October period

A century ago, grandiose changes took place in Russia. Accordingly, the composition of the population, social foundations, and language also changed. The number of theaters, clubs, educational institutions has increased. Radio appeared, and then television. At the same time, the old norms of the Moscow dialect turned into a symbol of an ideal literate language, a kind of itsliterary standard. Similar vocalism could be heard on radio, TV shows and movies.

Among other characteristic features of literary pronunciation are hiccups. The Moscow accent suggests the slurred pronunciation of the vowel "e" in such a way that it becomes similar to "i". For example, "spring" is reproduced as something between the way this word is spelled and "wisna".

Old Moscow pronunciation

Literary language is constantly evolving, and its norms are also changing. For example, the grandparents of modern Muscovites said instead of "sweet" - "sweet". Accordingly, "smart" sounded like "smart". All words of this type were subjected to a similar transformation. This was considered an indicator of excellent education and good manners.

The presented manner of speaking can still be heard today in theatrical productions based on the plays of those times. And, of course, the most striking traces of the Old Moscow speech are stored in the literary works of this era. This and similar phenomena are called conservatism. The withering away of linguistic norms and their replacement by others should be considered a natural process that cannot be stopped. And you shouldn't.

Old Moscow and St. Petersburg dialects

The speech of Petersburgers, as well as Muscovites, has always been considered a model to follow. As linguists say, these two dialects differ very slightly. So little thatthere is no particular reason to oppose them to each other. However, there are still differences in the speech of Muscovites and Petersburgers, although in our time they are gradually being erased. Therefore, we should consider only some of the most characteristic of those that took place in the last century.

The old Moscow way of pronouncing words was supposed to say: scrambled eggs, buloshnaya. While in the cultural capital it was always customary to pass "h": scrambled eggs, bakery. But today in Moscow it is not at all customary to say so.

Old Moscow stage speech also demanded to pronounce: doshsch, yeast, reins instead of a solid “zh” in such words as rain, yeast, reins. Half a century ago, no one in Moscow was surprised at the habit instead of: “top”, “Thursday” or “first” to reproduce something like: top, four top, first. Which, again, is not done at all now.

Modern Muscovites

The current age erases many boundaries and destroys the barriers between people that existed before. Nowadays, the capital is filled to overflowing with visitors from other regions and countries, which could not but affect the speech. She has changed, as well as the recently adopted pronunciation, as well as the manner of speaking. The speech is supplemented by many borrowed words from foreign languages, especially from international English. The Internet also plays a significant role in its development. Therefore, it may soon make no sense to separate the manner of speaking in the capital from any other.

What do native Muscovites say today? Many ofthey even claim that the habit of "akat" was brought to them by immigrants from other regions, or this is a tribute to the culture of the Soviet period. The visitors themselves claim that Muscovites express themselves slowly, even frankly slowly, while the vowels in the words they use are stretched to the limit. And this is undoubtedly strange, given the crazy rhythm of this city.

Youth slang

Each new generation has always become more or less revolutionary, adding its own words to the traditional language. The youth of our time is no exception. The widespread slang of this part of the population is greatly facilitated by today's popular sources of information. And the slang that the youth of the 21st century uses is already heard from the handsets of mobile phones, and can be seen in abundance on forums and social networks. Similar words are used in films, songs, modern literature.

The speech of the Moscow youth was greatly supplemented by computer slang. The following concepts can serve as an example of this: keyboard - keyboard, own opinion - IMHO. An image on the Internet next to a username is commonly called an avatar. And there are more than enough other such examples.

Why do we need speech etiquette

Undoubtedly, society is constantly changing as it develops. And this is a necessary and fruitful process. However, the heritage of civilization, its cultural layer is also important. After all, a society that forgets its previous achievements is not able to fully develop. One of the symbols of culture and a model of speech etiquette is the correct Moscow speech. It is still necessary for a fruitful exchange of information between highly intelligent representatives of human civilization.

Why do we need speech etiquette? To conduct a pleasant conversation, as was customary at all times, to impress others as well-bred, cultured people. And this is important not only for the elevation of one's own "I", but also for the successful conduct of business, career advancement.