Ya. GROT AND MODERN RUSSIAN ORTHOGRAPHY


2014. № 2 (2), 47-55

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Abstract:

The article focuses on the controversial issues of Russian spelling clarified in “Russian orthography. Guidelines commissioned by the Imperial Academy of Sciences and provided by Academician Ya. K. Grot”, 1885 Among the rules standardized by Ya. K. Grot there was the use of the ѣ letter, the distribution of the letters е и о after hushing sounds and <ц>; the spelling of prefixes ending in <з>; the spelling of prefixal words before -и-; the use of capital letters; solid, hyphenated, and separate spelling. Being authorized not only to analyze, but also to standardize spelling, Ya. K. Grot aProached it with discretion and thus settled most questionable points in favor of traditional use. Spelling in accordance with Grot was recommended by the Ministry of Public Education, but was severely criticized. Based on the existing standards and tradition, his work could not meet the expectations of those who proposed drastic changes of orthography. However, the book aPeared in 22 editions up to 1917 Modern orthography is still determined by the rules codified by Ya. K. Grot but for those regulating the use of the ѣ letter abolished by the 1917–1918 spelling reform.