Russian philology
In the 19th,
Vladimir Dal compiled the first dictionary that included dialectal vocabulary. Detailed
mapping of Russian dialects began at the turn of the 20th century. In modern times, the
monumental Dialectological Atlas of the Russian Language (
[dlktitskj ats ruskv jzka]), was published in three folio
volumes 19861989, after four decades of preparatory work.
Orthography
Russian spelling is reasonably phonemic in practice. It is in fact a balance among phonemics,
morphology, etymology, and grammar; and, like that of most living languages, has its share of
inconsistencies and controversial points. A number of rigid spelling rules introduced between
the 1880s and 1910s have been responsible for the former whilst trying to eliminate the latter.
The current spelling follows the major reform of 1918, and the final codification of 1956. An
update proposed in the late 1990s has met a hostile reception, and has not been formally
adopted