Reception of Generative Grammar in Soviet Linguistics (a Digital Study with Reference to a Linguistics Journal)

In recent years, the research field of Digital Humanities has become more and more popular in the scientific community. Its principles are based on the use of digital methods in the process of studying humanitarian materials, in my case, in the process of studying the main linguistic journal "Topics in the study of language" in the period from 1950 to 1991. The main goal of this study is to find out how effective the use of digital methods in the study of generative grammar reception is and what factors can influence the results. Several databases were created based on the content of issues of the journal "Topics in the study of language". The number of references to Chomsky or generative grammar was analyzed. In order to make a comparison databases were created on mentions of Mel'chuk or his meaning-text theory, since Mel’chuk was considered the main structuralist in the Soviet Union, and Chomsky's theory was often referred to as structural methods. The results of this assessment showed that the use of digital methods is quite effective in study the reception of generative grammar. However, the editorial board and editor-in-chief have a strong influence on the course of the journal and the publication of articles.