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Instructor Class Description

Time Schedule:

James E. Augerot
RUSS 451
Seattle Campus

Structure of Russian

Descriptive analysis of contemporary standard Russian. Detailed phonetic transcription, discussion of major Great Russian dialects as well as variations in popular speech, examination of common roots and productive derivational elements in Russian words, and elementary principles of syntax. Prerequisite: either RUSS 303 or RUSS 350. Offered: A.

Class description

This course may serve as an introduction to Slavic linguistics. Materials for the class will be available at Rams Copy on the Ave. There is another description of the course at http://www.faculty.washington.edu/bigjim/Russ451/index.shtml

Student learning goals

Discuss the sounds and the system of sounds of the Russian language including social and geographic variation.

Understand the basic building blocks of Russian words and the system of morphophonemics that tie them together.

Understand the sources of the Cyrillic alphabet and its modern development.

Have a general idea of the source of modern Russian vocabulary.

General method of instruction

Lecture/discussion with student presentations of their research reports on some aspect of the structure of the Russian language. Reading and discussion of several articles on the structure of Russian.

Recommended preparation

Students are expected to have significant experience with at least one Slavic language and facility with the Cyrillic alphabet.

Class assignments and grading

Grades are assigned on the basis of a mid-term, a final, a 6-9 page report on an aspect of the structure of Russian and a 15 minute oral presentation of that report with a handout.


The information above is intended to be helpful in choosing courses. Because the instructor may further develop his/her plans for this course, its characteristics are subject to change without notice. In most cases, the official course syllabus will be distributed on the first day of class.
Last Update by James E. Augerot
Date: 11/19/2007