The Experience ofHistorical Grammar of the Russian Language by F.I. Buslaev in the Linguistic Tradition of His Time (To the 200th Anniversary of the Scholar)

The article deals with the first work on the historical grammar of the Russian language (1858) published by F.I. Buslaev (18181897) during the struggle of two directions in the domestic linguistics: philosophical (logical-grammatical) and comparative-historical. The author emphasizes the relationship of ideas by Buslaev with Western linguistic thought, tells about the influence of classical comparative scholars W. von Humboldt, J. Grimm on the formation of a new research approach of studying language in Russia. Attention is drawn to the fact that Buslaev adopted the ideas of Russian philologists A.Kh. Vostokov, I.I. Davydov, G.P. Pavsky, I.I. Sreznevsky and other famous scholars representing different parties in linguistics at that time. Special attention is paid to the scholary debate with Buslaev's opponents and assessment of their views in line with the national linguistic tradition. The article presents and comments on the reviews of contemporaries on The Experience of Historical Grammar of the Russian Language, which caused an ambiguous reaction in the academic environment and revealed the main problems of the Russian linguistics of that time: the search for the methodology of the new historical-linguistic science, the definition of the boundaries of research and the principles of analysis of the facts of the language, the approval of the theoretical foundation and priorities of historical grammar, the general need for the development of Slavic philology as a science. Rare documentary evidence and archival materials of polemic nature related to the creation of Buslaev's textbook, and linguistic discussions of the mid-19th century are presented. It is noted that The Experience had a strong influence on the formation of a new tradition of studying the history of the literary language and became a reference point for generations of Russian comparative scholars. The analysis of Buslaev's study is included in the context of the general philological tradition of his time. The review of scientific events also assesses the contribution of the creator of the "historical science of the Russian language" (A.A. Shakhmatov) to the development of the comparative historical method by the major figures of Russian linguistics of the turn of the 20th century. The importance of studying the forgotten facts in the history of linguistics to create an obj ective picture of the activities of scientific schools in Russia in the 19th century is stated. It is concluded that, largely due to Buslaev's activity, comparative studies in Russia became one of the tools of philological education and of familiarizing students with the origins of the cultural and linguistic tradition. Thus, the problem of popularization of Russian linguists' achievements and actualization of their ideas in the modern educational space is solved.

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