Research in Russian Studies is interdisciplinary in nature and covers a wide range of domains related to the language, literature, history, society, politics, culture and intellectual traditions of Russia. The scope of research has expanded considerably with changing social, political and technological conditions. Researchers employ historical, comparative, qualitative and quantitative methods to examine Russia from different perspectives. One important domain is Russian language and linguistics. Research may focus on Russian grammar, phonetics, vocabulary, syntax, semantics, language change and language acquisition. Comparative studies between Russian and other languages are also undertaken. Translation studies form another significant area, particularly research on problems of literary and technical translation, interpretation and cross-cultural communication. Russian literature is another major domain of research. Scholars examine literary works from different periods, including the writings of authors such as Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky. Research may address literary movements, genres, narrative techniques, symbolism and philosophical themes. Comparative literary research also explores relationships between Russian literature and Indian or Western literary traditions. Russian history provides an important field for research. It includes studies of Kievan Rus, the Tsarist period, the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Soviet Union, the Second World War, the Cold