Ukrainisms in Russian: Problems of Definition, Origins of Adoption in the 19th Century

Abstract

Despite the large number of works devoted to the study of Ukrainisms, there are still different approaches in linguistics to establishing the framework of this concept. Common to them is the affiliation of the considered lexemes to the Ukrainian language, recorded in codified publications. At the same time, in the process of functioning, the Ukrainian language has not only absorbed, but also adapted foreign language vocabulary of various origins, so the question of what is included in the concept of “Ukrainism” is still relevant. The article describes the reasons for the entry of Ukrainisms into the Russian language, especially before the first half of the 19th century, and examines the criteria for their identification, taking into account the etymology and degree of adaptation. The Russian and Ukrainian languages’ mutual enrichment of vocabulary was due not only to their genetic similarity and geographical location, but also to specific socio-historical and cultural factors – the increased interest of Russian society in Little Russia, its way of life, history and culture at the turn of the 19th century. Works on Ukrainian themes began to appear in Russian fiction of that time, however, N. V. Gogol brought Russian society to a new level of perception of Little Russia in general and the Ukrainian language in particular, reflecting in his works the poetic originality not only of everyday life, lifestyle, sparkling humor of the Ukrainian people, but also the specific features of the Ukrainian vocabulary, which he actively used.

Received: 12.08.2024.
Revised: 08.12.2024.
Accepted: 18.03.2025.

Citation
Wang Jingshu. Ukrainisms in Russian: Problems of Definition, Origins of Adoption in the 19th Century // Slavic Almanac. 2025. No 1–2. P. 262–280 (in Russian). DOI: 10.31168/2073-5731.2025.1-2.11