Functional aspect of the Russian Sign Language: defining a research approach

Abstract
The article is concerned with a topical for modern Russian linguistics issue - considering adequate approaches to study functional aspect of the Russian Sign language. The article analyses in detail possibilities of using for this purpose the sociolinguistic approach developed in the 1970s by Valentin A. Avrorin for the study of the functional aspect of the Russian language. Preliminary conclusions are made about the functional features of the Russian Sign language. Problems and prospects of research are outlined.

Keywords: Russian Sign language; the Russian language; functional aspect of language