Brat ’ ili ne brat’?

[John Dunn]

It is true that most European countries are switching/have switched to a 3 + 2 system, but my understanding is that the Bologna agreement is not as prescriptive as that, and that four-year first degrees will indeed continue to exist in some countries (most notably Scotland).  The changes in Russia have not been popular (though it would seem that the same could be said about most of Europe), and they do seem to be a rather messy compromise.   They do, though, demonstrate that isolationist rhetoric is not always reflected in practice and that there are parts of the Russian body politic that are seeking to integrate into European structures.  More practically, they will help to ensure the recognition of Russian HE qualifications throughout Europe and, in the longer term, will make study at Russian universities (especially perhaps at the Masters level) a more attractive proposition for other European students.  Which is something to ponder over in the long winter evenings.

John Dunn.
________________________________________
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Drew S [dwswear at GOOGLEMAIL.COM]
Sent: 16 August 2010 12:20
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Brat’ ili ne brat’?

I believe the Bologna process actually involves a 3 + 2 system, though various countries and/or universities (including Cambridge and Oxford) have yet to implement this system.

Respectfully,

Andrew Swearingen
Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages
University of Oxford

On 16.08.2010, at 10:32, John Dunn wrote:

> Richard Robin's  question is worth looking at from a slightly different, more eurocentric angle.  The switch to a 4 + 2 system of higher education is a consequence of Russia having signed up to the Bologna process, a Council of Europe initiative which is supposed by this year to have created a common higher education space throughout Europe.   The effect of this on the Russian language will presumably be the adoption of some of the semi-standardised 'Bologna-type' vocabulary: бакалавр [bakalavr] and магистр [magistr] have already (re-)entered the language, though I'm not sure if брать курс [brat' kurs] will fall into this category.  It would also be reasonable to expect that some specifically Russian terminology (диплом [diplom], кандидат наук [kandidat nauk]) will in due course start to fall out of usage or survive with a different meaning.   But being already retired, I don't have to try to predict a time-scale for this!
>
> John Dunn.
>
> Honorary Research Fellow
> SMLC (Slavonic Studies)
> University of Glasgow
>
> Via Carolina Coronedi Berti, 6
> 40137 Bologna
> Italy
> John.Dunn at glasgow.ac.uk
> johnanthony.dunn at fastwebnet.it
>
> ________________________________________
> From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Robin [rrobin at GWU.EDU]
> Sent: 13 August 2010 22:19
> To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Brat’ ili ne brat’?
>
> Брать курс may be an English calque, but it is catching on quickly, and I
> suspect it is just a matter of time before it enters the general language. I
> usually hear this phrase plenty of times in Russia, but always from those
> who are talking about experiences in the U.S., e.g. Когда я была в
> Вашингтоне, я брал курсы по... Whenever I hear брать курс, I always ask, "Is
> this a fully accepted phrase yet?" The answer is usually something like:
> "Yes, to describe an American college experience."
>
> The question is, as Russia moves to a more generalized four-year system of
> higher education, will брать курс become legitimized for the Russian
> experience? I bet yes, but not before I retire.
>
>
> Richard M. Robin, Ph.D.
> Director Russian Language Program
> The George Washington University
> Washington, DC 20052
> 202-994-7081
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------