In a move to combat the growing influence of Western culture, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a language amendment law that bans the use of non-Russian language words in the language of official business in Russia. This means that words like ‘blogger’, ‘meeting’, ‘talk show’, and ‘face-control’ are no longer allowed to be used in official documents and communication.
The amendment law specifies that only words and expressions of the Russian language should be used in official work, and foreign origin words should only be used when no Russian language word is available in their place. While some Russians welcome this move to preserve their language and culture, others are concerned about the impact it may have on international communication and cooperation.
English words such as ‘cottage’, ‘house’, and ‘forest’ already have Russian language alternatives, but they are still becoming popular. Among the youth, words like ‘blogger’, ‘meeting’, ‘talk show’, and ‘face-control’ have become particularly popular.
President Putin’s decision to ban non-Russian language words in official work reflects his belief that the country needs to be saved from the influence of Western culture. However, it remains to be seen how this will affect Russia’s international relations and communication with the rest of the world.