Rozhdestvensky "Theory of Rhetoric" as the Foundation for studies of Language in the Media

Russian Evolution:Russian Reflections Date: 21st October 2017 Saturday

Part of a one day conference at the Institute of English Studies with International Speakers on the work of Professor Yuri Rozhdestvensky (1926-1999): his Contribution to Linguistics, Rhetoric, Communication Theory, Semiotics, Poetics and Narratology.

The work of Professor Yuri Rozhdestvensky (formerly of the Moscow State Lomonosov University, Moscow) is almost completely unavailable in English. This conference provides analysis of two parts of his book, General Philology – the Introduction and Chapter Five entitled ‘Printed Literature’ (this work is translated for the first time by Paul and Elena Richard and is now available on: https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk ) Analysis of this translated work reveals Rozhdestvensky’s lifelong interest and commitment to a theory of culture as a historical, linguistic, philological and semiotic development. The conference highlights the analysis of poetics in Chapter Five with reference to Professor V. V. Vinogradov whose work is also largely unavailable in English translation. The use of codes, as defined by Roman Jakobson, provides the theory for the provision of connections between Rozhdestvensky’s analysis of culture, poetics, linguistics, semiotics and philology whereby his work can be understood by those unfamiliar with his theoretical position. This includes special emphasis on Vinogradov’s theory of the image of the author. The necessary component of diachrony in Rozhdestvensky’s work and the links to the discipline of Narratology are highlighted. It is concluded that Rozhdestvensky has unique and original contributions to make to academic studies through his particular understanding of a Theory of Culture.