Methodological foundations and principles of the Russian Language Reference Service in the Republic of Crimea and the educational potential of the recommended materials in teaching the subject "Russian Language"

The relevance of studying the results of the work done by the linguistic services of the Russian language is determined by several factors. These include the need to describe the general level of Russian language proficiency. Next, it is important to identify the norms difficult for native speakers to master and the points of those rules that require clarification and supplementation. Moreover, there is a need for effective forms and methods of work in Russian language lessons. This article aims to characterise the methodological foundations and principles of the Russian Language Reference Service (RLRS) in the Republic of Crimea and to describe the possibilities of using the Service’s materials in teaching and research. Theoretical (analysis, synthesis, classification) and quantitative (statistical) methods were used in writing the article. The research material consisted of questions received by the Reference Service and answers prepared by its experts. The article analyses the RLRS activities, defines their role in forming and promoting language literacy, and describes the current state of the Russian language. The research characterises the distinctive features of the RLRS in the Republic of Crimea as well as describes the methodological foundations that form the focus areas and principles of the Service’s work. Moreover, common issues that concern modern speakers of the Russian language in Crimea regarding the functioning of the modern Russian language are identified. The conducted content analysis of questions received by the Service enabled the identification of the most difficult norms for native speakers to master. The results made it possible to compile a list of those topics of the subject "Russian Language" that should be given special attention to in order to prevent errors in oral and written speech. The article offers a list of assignments that are recommended to be completed using the Service’s materials as part of studying the subject "Russian Language". The paper concludes that the RLRS in the Republic of Crimea is an important project of Crimean linguists in the system of work on describing the Russian language, increasing proficiency in it, and enhancing the methodology of its teaching. The work of the Service is based on a specific linguistic theory of language description, i.e., linguistic functionalism. An important role in raising the level of language literacy is played by both the explanatory work concerning issues of using the Russian language and the content analysis of incoming questions and their scientific description. The RLRS activities have scientific, enlightening, and educational potential.