Style a la russe, hairstyle a la Marilyn Monroe, rondo a la turk - all these phrases use the expression “a la”, which is not always understood by a Russian. Like some other expressions, it comes from the French language.
French with Nizhny Novgorod
For several centuries French has been the language of international communication in Europe. Representatives of the secular society spoke it not only at balls or diplomatic receptions, but also at home. Russian, German, Polish nobles sometimes spoke French better than their native language. The servants were forced to understand their masters. True, those who traveled with the gentlemen were fluent in French. The rest learned the most common phrases. The penetration of French words into Russian speech was especially intense in the 18th-19th centuries. French teachers and cooks were hired in the noble houses, who communicated not only with the owners, but also with the servants and peasants. The Patriotic War of 1812 also left a tangible mark on Russian speech.
What is a la?
The expression "a la" consists of two French words - the preposition "á" and the definite article "la". The word "á" has many meanings, one of which is "how." In this speech construction, the article follows - a part of speech that is not in Russian. The definite article refers to a subject known to the listener. In this speech structure, a proper name can also appear after the article. That is, in a literal translation, the expression "a la" means "like such and such", "like", "in a manner." "Hairstyle a la Marilyn Monroe" - a hairstyle similar to the one worn by Marilyn Monroe. Style "a la russe" - Russian style (like Russians or in Russia).
How is it spelled
This expression came to Russia a long time ago. At first it was written only in French, that is, "á la". Such a spelling is found, for example, in Leo Tolstoy, Pushkin, Lermontov and many other Russian writers. This option was considered the only correct one. In the last century, the expression became so popular that they began to write it in Russian transliteration. True, at first, a hyphen was put between the fragments of the French phrase - "a la". But the language is gradually changing, and accordingly, the spelling rules are being reformed. The option with a hyphen is still considered correct, but in texts, including literary ones, you can increasingly find spelling in two words. It is possible that over time it will replace other options.
Can you do without it?
Over the past three centuries, protests against the penetration of foreign words into Russian speech have arisen more than once. But such penetration is inevitable, and some expressions remained simply because they allow expressing a thought in a shorter and more capacious way than Russian expressions that are suitable in meaning.
