On Distinctive Style of Lev Shcherba

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the anniversary of Lev Shcherba, a famous linguist whose contribution to the development of Russian linguistics cannot be overemphasized. The year 2020 marks 140 years since his birth. This article attempts to demonstrate the applied aspects of the scholar’s work. While a lot of works have been written on various theoretical ideas suggested and/or elaborated by L. Shcherba, less attention has been paid to the specific character of his scientific creativity. Practical importance of L. Shcherba’s works for stylistics, phonetics, lexicography and grammar is underpinned. Special focus is made on the publication of a symposia series named “Russian Speech”. This series came about largely owing to L. Shcherba’s efforts. He became its perpetual editor. That was where he published a number of his crucial works. Also, Shcherba’s views on teaching foreign languages in the Soviet Union are analysed. It is noted that L. Shcherba strived to put forward effective recommendations taking into account all the obstacles in learning a foreign language that existed in the USSR. It is hard to overestimate Shcherba’s contribution to Russian linguistics as an organizer, a teacher, and a scientific advisor who managed to unify talented disciples that did their best to keep on elaborating the ideas of I. A. Baudouin de Courtenay whose most outstanding follower L. Shcherba was. His scientific and pedagogical heritage is inseparable from the traditions of Russian linguistics.

Keywords: Lev Shcherba, Russian language, French phonetics, bilingual lexicography, Leningrad phonological school, Russian stylistics, verse analysis, foreign and French language teaching.