Russian Speech in the Spiritual Life of Muslim Society South Caucasus: Historical and Sociological Analysis
Authors:   Mingachevir State University (Azerbaijan), Mammadova Rahila M. 
Published: March 2023

Purpose and objectives of the study. The article is devoted to the history of the spread of Russian speech in the nearby spaces of the Russian cultural and linguistic area, in particular in the South Caucasus, as well as its educational and communicative role in the creation of a universal information system and lexical base, in enriching the speech culture of peoples who speak non-Slavic languages. Research methods. As a research method, a monographic approach was chosen based on the analysis of historical materials on the settlement of Russian speakers in the South Caucasus. Factual materials are systematized and classified by social spheres; the main factors that influenced the nature and content of the language policy and practice of using the Russian language in the region are identified. Research results. Russian speech is considered as a means of unifying the verbal potential of different peoples of the South Caucasus, even in some way as a specific, local "lingua franca" in interethnic communication within the linguistic pluralism of the population of the South Caucasus. The extraordinary educational mission of Russian speech and its place in the transformation of European scientific, cultural and general educational values to the peoples of the South Caucasus in the 19th–20th centuries are the main motives of the article. The fact of modification of the language resources of the Russian language in the conditions of multilingualism of the peoples of the South Caucasus is noted. Morphological, syntactic and semantic changes in the vocabulary of the Russian language in the region under the influence of everyday language practice are revealed. The features of the mutual influence of Russian and local languages, the main factors and consequences of this influence are revealed. Another key point is the modern role and significance of Russian speech in the everyday, socio-economic and scientific-cultural life of the national states of the South Caucasus, in particular the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thus, the Russian language has acquired a certain political and cultural significance for the people of Azerbaijan, and the cultural and historical foundations that have been formed over a fairly long period of time provide an opportunity for the further, consistent development of former linguistic ties. An opportunity was obtained to establish ties with the Russian linguistic area, to develop spiritual relations. On the territory of Azerbaijan there were significant settlements of Russian settlers, with whom local residents established broad economic and cultural ties. Their dialects were very diverse. They influenced the vocabulary of the Russian language. The historical events that have taken place have determined the importance of Russian culture as a factor in interethnic interaction in the South Caucasus. It was the Russian language that became a means of interethnic communication, within the framework of which the development of education took place, and in general enlightenment. Thus, the Muslim population of the South Caucasus was involved in Russian political and cultural processes. There was a kind of linguo-ethno-cultural dialogue in a multi-ethnic environment. Thus, in the period under study, through the Russian language, the process of introducing the Muslim population of the South Caucasus to the global cultural processes took place