Russian Word Roots

Russian Word Roots provides a systemic approach to Russian vocabulary acquisition, focusing on the most productive Russian word roots and their formation system to allow students to master both active and passive vocabulary more quickly.

Each of the 17 chapters focuses on a specific word root and includes a list of vocabulary based on the root, along with various tasks designed to review the acquired vocabulary that will solidify students? grasp of word formation. With this textbook, students will learn approximately 300 new words and improve their ability to deduce the meanings of new words through common roots. They will also gain a deeper understanding of the meanings of prefixes and suffixes, enhancing their ability to communicate more precisely. This textbook will not only strengthen the students? Russian language but also sharpen linguistic skills in their native language by cultivating an awareness of semantic similarities across languages.

Russian Word Roots is ideal for students with a Novice High to Intermediate Low proficiency level in Russian and an existing understanding of basic grammar concepts, including verb conjugation, cases, and word-formation patterns.

"Julia Katsnelson?s Russian Word Roots is a comprehensive and thoughtfully organized guide, ideal for learners seeking to deepen their command of Russian vocabulary through root analysis. With its methodical exploration of word roots and engaging practical activities, this book provides an effective tool for mastering Russian vocabulary and grammar. Its scope and depth make it a much-needed resource in the field."

Evgeny Dengub, Professor (Teaching) of Russian, University of Southern California, USA

?The book covers a full range of word-formation techniques, and shows how the rules can be applied, making it a valuable resource for students and teachers. The exercises within each chapter are particularly useful and the task at the end of every chapter is great for encouraging further expansion of students? vocabulary. Russian Word Roots really shines with its thorough and detailed approach to word-formation in Russian. The research is solid, and the examples are drawn from a wide range of sources. This gives students a complete and well-rounded understanding of the topic.

One of the best parts is how clear and accessible the book is. It teaches word-formation through easy-to-understand instructions and clear terminology.?

Evgeniia Drozdova, University College London, UK

"Recognizing word-formation patterns is a powerful instrument in the acquisition of Russian as a foreign language. With proper training, students can build a large vocabulary based on a relatively few very productive word elements ? roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Julia Katsnelson?s textbook provides students with a solid foundation for gaining an understanding of the topic and serves as a useful supplement in helping students master these key linguistic features of the language."

Dr. Julia Kobrina, Defense Language Institute, USA

?The word-formation system of the Russian language is the most important tool for the formation of new words and replenishment of the vocabulary of the Russian language. This becomes especially important when students study Russian as a foreign language. I would like to emphasize the content value of this textbook: the big quantitative composition of the analyzed word-formation models; very good methods of introduction and of consolidating the studied material; each root is presented in different meanings, phrases, and contexts; each form is provided with illustrative material showing grammatical, semantic features, and verb control; and training tasks for practicing grammatical skills and writing sentences are presented, which contributes to the mastery of this material.

The methodological value of this work is also difficult to overestimate, because at each stage of studying, the teacher develops students? skills and abilities to recognize and use word-formation models during both active and passive speech production, and this book will help them to do that.?

Larisa Moskvitina, Davidson College and Middlebury College, Summer Russian School, USA