1. Proto-Slavic Roots:
* The foundation of the Russian language lies in Proto-Slavic, a language spoken by ancient Slavs who lived in Eastern Europe around the 5th-6th centuries AD.
* This language gradually diverged into different branches, eventually leading to the development of East Slavic languages like Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian.
2. Old East Slavic:
* Around the 9th century, the ancestors of modern Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians formed a common linguistic entity known as Old East Slavic.
* This language was heavily influenced by Old Church Slavonic, a liturgical language based on the South Slavic dialect spoken by the Bulgarians.
3. The Rise of Russian:
* In the 13th century, the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow led to the dominance of the Moscow dialect within Old East Slavic.
* As the Muscovite state expanded and became the center of Russian civilization, the Moscow dialect evolved into what we now know as Russian.
4. Literary Influence:
* The 18th century saw a conscious effort to codify and standardize the Russian language, led by prominent writers and scholars like Mikhail Lomonosov.
* This effort involved borrowing words from other languages, creating new vocabulary, and establishing a system of grammar and orthography.
5. Modern Russian:
* Modern Russian, spoken by over 250 million people worldwide, is a vibrant and ever-evolving language that continues to be influenced by other languages and cultural trends.
In summary, the Russian language has a rich and complex history. It originated from the Proto-Slavic language, developed through Old East Slavic, and was shaped by the influence of Old Church Slavonic and subsequent literary standardization.
Important Note: This is a simplified explanation. The origins of the Russian language are a subject of ongoing research and debate among linguists.