The French language’s influence on Russian language and culture can be traced back to the 18th century, during the reign of Peter the Great. Peter the Great sought to modernise and Westernise Russia, hence why the name of the city St Petersburg has its Germanic root. Peter the Great’s admiration of Western Europe has been emulated in the influence of French to the Russian language. At the time, French was seen as the language of diplomacy, culture, and science. As such, it became fashionable among the Russian nobility, aristocracy, and intelligentsia to learn and use the French language by using it as a demonstration of social status and class.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, French was the language of high culture in all of Europe. In Russian courts, the French language was largely used when conversing. During the reign of Catherine the Great in the late 18th century, French became the primary language of the Russian court. Catherine herself was fluent in French, she encouraged the use of French among her courtiers and officials. Often, she would correspond with Voltaire in French, and her court was known for its French-inspired architecture, fashion, and cuisine. The French language remained when Tsar Nicholas I ruled from 1825 to 1855, and the use of French as the language of high society in Russia continued. Due to a gradual decrease which was caused by the Crimean war and Alexander II, French began to lose its hold on the Russian language.
The French language has had a significant impact on Russian culture, particularly in the areas of literature, music, and fashion. Many Russian writers and composers were influenced by French culture and incorporated elements of it into their work. For example, the Alexander Pushkin was heavily influenced by French literature, particularly the works of Voltaire and Rousseau. The famous Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky was also influenced by French music, incorporating French melodies and styles into his compositions.
Russian has also influenced the French language, the word "bistro" in French actually comes from the Russian language, but it has a different meaning. In the 1814 century, the Russian word "быстро" (bystro) was used in restaurants during the occupation of Paris to mean "quickly" or "hurry up." When the Russian invaders wanted their food served quickly, they would use the word "быстро." Over time, the term "bistro" was adopted into French and came to refer to small, casual restaurants or eateries where food was served quickly. The word "ресторан" (restoran) in Russian, meaning "restaurant," is an example of French influence on the Russian language. The term "ресторан" was borrowed from French, where "restaurant" has the same meaning. This borrowing occurred during the 19th century when Russia was undergoing a period of Westernisation, and there was a significant influence of French culture, including cuisine and dining practices.
In summary, this cultural exchange of the two languages shows the mutative nature of language and the affect it can have on other cultures. French was very much a statement of class and style which has inevitably affected Russia’s culture as well.
