Activity 1

In this chapter we learned a few important nationality words. Of course, there are many thousands of people who hold Russian citizenship but are not Russian ethnically, and do not describe themselves as "русские."

Let's visit one of the websites devoted to the "Коренные народы России" (literally "Russia's Indigenous Peoples"):

http://nurali.newmail.ru


1			Locate the right-hand column entitled "Народы России". As you see, it consists of a number of small sections, each with a link devoted to a separate ethnic group. Scroll down. About half way through the page you will notice that a similar column has appeared on the left-hand side as well. Approximately how many different peoples/ethnic groups are mentioned in these two columns (remember to scroll all the way down and count both columns) ?




2			Pick three ethnic group/peoples from the left column and three groups from the right column. As you see, you are given the plural form of the name. Using what you have learned in this lesson, come up with the singular-male and singular-female versions of these names. Make an educated guess if you are not sure, and check with your instructor.




3			Look at the six names you have chosen. What kinds of endings do these words have? How do these compare with the endings of the names of other nationalities you see on this page? What ending(s), if any, seem(s) to dominate?




4			Each small cell with the name of the ethnic group contains some basic information about it, such as alternative names and population. Look at the population (Численность в России, abbreviated as "числ. в Росии") of the peoples you have selected. How large are most of these ethnic groups? What is the most populous group of the ones you have chosen? About what percentage of the total Russian population (approximately 150 million people in 2000) do they represent?




5			The author of this website has classified the "Коренные народы" into four geographical groups – Европа, Азия, Кавказ (Caucasus) and Поволжье (the Volga Region). In order to figure out where "your" ethnic groups live, you are going to have to click on the name of each ethnic group. Which geographical area do most of "your" peoples live in? If you have not visited all four areas by the time you are done examining your six ethnic groups, click on the links to the ones you have not visited. Which geographical areas seem to have the most non-Russian peoples?




6			А ЧТО ДАЛЬШЕ? The "Коренные народы" site contains a number of interesting links on its home page, under the heading "Ссылки" (literally 'footnotes,' here the expression approximately means 'links'), such as "Языки народов России" (the languages of Russia's Peoples) and "Регионы России" (Russia's Regions). More information in English and Russian about Russia's ethnic groups is available at http://dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/Russia/Society_and_Culture/Nationalities

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