ART OF SPOKEN WORD ***

 Even in the recent past, approximately the 40-s of the XX century, tales, songs, lamentations in the life of the Russian North were organic and, therefore, a subconscious part of the people's cultures.
 Authentic folklore lived quite independently of the scientific incarnation. It was not interested in a pale reflection of that flickering in the book of folklore texts and gathering. A spoken word, despite all attempts to "restrain" it by "affection and punishment," to make it manageable, dependent on regular education, the spoken word never fits into the framework of book culture. It was not afraid of the books but did not trust them. The spoken word placed in the book almost immediately languished and faded. (Maybe only Boris V. Shergin - this truly original talent - has managed so well, so naturally married the spoken word with the book.)


 Powerful music and oral culture, created by the Russians, included many genres many kinds of expressions. Among this set, separate styles do not aspire to isolation. Each of them was just one of the stones in the monolith of popular culture, part of the whole vast ocean, and the elements of verbal creativity, inevitably, in turn, with other kinds of the invention.
 What did the word mean to people's lives at all? This question is even scarier to ask, not just respond to it. The fact is that our ancestors equated the word to the experience itself. The word gave rise to and explained life; it was the farmer's keeper of memory and the key to the infinite future. But, at the same time (and perhaps for that very reason), it comforted, helped, motivated to adventure, stood up, cured, inspired. And all this happened naturally as the flow of river water or as a succession of days and seasons.
 You will find not surprising the appearance of worship of the word that exists in the villages still in our time?
 To some extent, the ability to well, that is, with imagination, wit and tact, speak was even a measure of social position in society, the cause of respect and deference. But, for petty and evil people, such skills are the reason for envy.
 The word, whether said, sung, whether expressed in the signs of deaf-mute with his hands and just if not shown but only felt - every word has always endeavoured to his figurative perfection.
   Of course, the goal is one thing; its achievement is another. But, of course, not everyone knew how to speak so vividly, like the late Maria Tsvetkova and Raisa Pudova from the collective farm "Rodina" Kharovsk region Vologda region. But almost all sought such imagery, like everyone wanted to have the right clothes and a great, beautiful house, just as everyone was not opposed to having the glory, for example, the best carpenter.

   Competition is an old quality that came out of paganism of the public (community) life was present not only in labour. It lived in the home, observance of religious traditions and ethics; it is pretty vividly manifested in the sphere of language, literary and musical creativity.
 A beautiful, figurative speech cannot be incoherent speech. The ability to speak well does not equal saying much, but dense short-spoken people who were not in favour were laughed at. Intentional silence was considered a sign of cunning and malice, with all this implies. So, saying "word is silver, silence is gold" is not always appropriate at any moment and in every place.