Language Is A Sword. As The Soviet Empire Used To Say

«Language-sword» examines the linguistic reality of the USSR in one hundred chapters. You can start reading this book from any chapter, as it offers a popular science perspective on language relations in the Soviet period. It is important to note that «Language-sword» does not call for arms with language, but instead reveals how the Russian language became a kind of "sword" in the Soviet Union. The native language in this context acts as a shield in the fight against empires.

Why do we have such a relationship with languages? Why do some people feel ashamed of using the language of their parents or grandparents? Why is there a feeling of shame for native dialects? Why do some people think that it is okay not to know the language of their country? And why, right now, on the territory of modern Russia, there is a threat of extinction of many languages? Why are some languages ​​considered superior and others inferior? This work by Evgenia Kuznetsova tries to find an answer to all these questions.