Reflections on the Work of R.O. Šor: Materials from Institutional Archives

Abstract

The work of R.O. Šor (1894-1939) is examined through materials held in the ar- chives of institutions in which she worked. Particularly important is the text of her self-criticism of 1932 in which she examines the formation of her own ideas and the influences on her work. This is supplemented with reflections on her published  work and new information about aspects of her contribution to Soviet linguistic thought in the 1920s and 1930s that have remained unexplored. This brings new light to bear on Šor’s work by illustrating her relationship to European linguistic thought and the  development of period of the ascen- dency of the ideas of N.Ja. Marr.