Book review:
Skovorodnikov A. P. Ecology of the Russian Language: A Monogr.
Krasnoyarsk, SFU Publ., 2016, 388 p.

The review states that the most important scientific problems associated with the ecology of
language are considered in the monograph. Also, the relevance of the issues studied by the author
is noted. The problems of current state and development of the language are understood at a high
philosophical and methodological level. The fact that the author differentiates adjacent theoretical
concepts of «language ecology», «speech ecology», «speech culture» is highly appreciated in the
review. Of significance for modern science is that A. P. Skvorodnikov defines the object and
the subject of ecolinguistics and names the main problems of the current state of the Russian language.
The most important in the monograph is the idea of the correlation of linguistic, mental and
socio-cultural factors considered in the ecological aspect. It is noted that the author is not entirely
consistent in considering this issue. The reviewer agrees that language is the result of thinking and
is conditioned by it, and the development of consciousness occurs in and through the language.
However, the reviewer believes that A. Р. Skovorodnikov defines too widely the subject of linguistic
ecology as a scientific discipline, by stating that linguistics can only monitor public consciousness,
but not influence it. The changes in the minds of native speakers are possible due to
the policy aimed at preserving and developing the fundamental socio-cultural values reflected by
the units of the Russian language. It is the loss of moral concepts that leads to the loss of words.
The author of the monograph rightly argues that «trauma to the language can be inflicted only
when the consciousness of people is traumatized». Hence, to preserve the language it is necessary
to preserve the consciousness of people. However, this kind of activity is not the sphere of action
of linguistics as a science. The second, no less significant part of the monograph, is devoted to the
analysis of the linguistic material. Here, the author considers the language phenomena qualified as
problem areas of speech/language. The author analyzes some facts and phenomena of the modern
Russian language (borrowing, jargonization, symbolization, the transition of many words to the
passive components of the language) and, from his research and teaching experience at the university
during many years, draws conclusions about the functioning of the language.
The description of the criteria for linguocreativity is a contribution of A. P. Skvorodnikov to
the development of linguistics. The use of these criteria will allow a more objective assessment of
the ecological/non-ecological status of the linguistic fact. The monograph of A. P. Skvorodnikov
is valued as a significant and relevant scientific work summarizing the current problems of the
language ecology and outlining the scientific prospects.