THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF THE LANGUAGE OF RUSSIAN EMIGRANTS OF «THE FIRST WAVE»

The aim and purpose of the present paper is to analyse the linguistic features of pre-Revolutionary elite through different correlations between historical, social, cultural and individual characteristics in the Russian language of the initial generations (those having left Russia as adults). We also try to answer the question as to which elements in a language system first yield to the influence of other languages and according to what principles. Material for the study has been supplied by memoirs of the representative of the so called «First Emigration Wave», Vladimir Choromanskij (1889-1983). These memoirs are of great interest to historians of culture, daily life and language of Russians abroad.