September 01, 2019 Climate Chaos and Fall Colors By Michelle A. Berdy On the language of fall and a changing climate. Environment Language
July 01, 2019 No, Nicely By Michelle A. Berdy If it’s hard to gracefully say “no” in English, how much harder is it in Russian, where dissembling requires linguistic gifts that you might not have yet developed? Customs Language
May 01, 2019 Spring has (Not) Sprung By Michelle A. Berdy In early March, when Moscow is still buried under more than a meter of snow and people are buried under many inches of fur and heavy wool, there is nothing more annoying than Instagram photos of daffodils, forsythia and cherry blossom buds. Customs Humor Language
March 01, 2019 Funny Little Characters By Michelle A. Berdy If a Russian fox met an American fox, would they get along? If Russian folklore is to be trusted, the answer is a definite нет (no). Language
January 01, 2019 Are You Old-School or New-Format? By Michelle A. Berdy Some thoughts on backwardness, falling behind, and the challenges of change. Language
November 01, 2018 How Can I Thank You Enough? By Michelle A. Berdy To thank (blagodarit) is one of the Russian language's most beautiful words. We go in for a deep dive. Humor Language
September 01, 2018 What's So Funny? By Michelle A. Berdy After declensions, cases, aspect, verbs of motion, pronunciation, and all the other trials of the Russian language, there is one more thing to learn: quotes, jokes and allusions. Let's do this. Film & TV Humor Language
July 01, 2018 Those Lyin' Eyes By Michelle A. Berdy These days, if you are reading Russian periodicals in order to improve your Russian language skills, you are getting lots of practice in ways to lie. Journalism Language
May 01, 2018 The Gentle Art of Borrowing By Michelle A. Berdy On how recent foreign borrowings is shaping the Russian language. Language
March 01, 2018 Are You Out of Your Mind? By Michelle A. Berdy A rather adequate look at the rise of "adekvatny" and "neadekvatny" in colloquial speech. Humor Language
January 01, 2018 Words of the Year By Michelle A. Berdy Every year, a group of Russian word-lovers vote on the word – or rather words – of the year. Here are the results. Language
November 01, 2017 Home is Where Your Residence Permit Is By Michelle A. Berdy A look at the evolving language of real estate in Russia. Language