This article investigates language shift and identity negotiation among four generations of Sakhalin Koreans, drawing on 44 life-history interviews conducted in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The study aims to reveal the patterns and strategies used by speakers of highly endangered languages via complex analysis of the contexts of unbalanced bilingualism. It examines how Korean, Russian, and Japanese have accumulated distinct ideological meanings across a century of displacement, colonial rule, Soviet assimilation and post-Soviet transformation. The analysis demonstrates that language shift in this community does not follow a linear path toward Russian, but instead reflects patterned strategies developed within families to maintain heritage connections while adapting to institutional and social pressures. First-generation multilingual repertoires illustrate the historical layering of linguistic resources; second-generation speakers navigate the closure of Korean-medium schools by developing ‘kitchen Korean’ as a functional domestic code; third-generation speakers rely on symbolic and receptive ties to Korean; and fourth-generation speakers engage with heritage largely through popular culture and transnational mobility aspirations. Across these trajectories, identity emerges as a negotiated and historically situated process rather than a fixed category. Speakers draw on available linguistic and cultural resources to position themselves within overlapping layers of belonging (ethnic, regional, national, and transnational). The findings highlight the durability of heritage identities even under conditions of linguistic assimilation and contribute to broader debates on multilingualism, diaspora identity, and the long-term dynamics of language maintenance and loss in minority communities. The study contributes to understanding how identity negotiation operates in contexts marked by multiple displacement experiences and shifting political arrangements.
The languages of Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North of Russia are under the most serious threat. At the same time, population censuses record an increase in the number of those claiming to speak ethnic languages against the background of ongoing language shift, which raises the question of the nature of this phenomenon and its significance for the future of minority languages. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the languages spoken by the indigenous peoples in the North of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are at risk of being lost or have the potential for revival. The materials comprised data from the All-Russian Population Censuses of 2010 and 2020, results of local sociolinguistic studies, and field research (2022-2024). The methods employed included comparative analysis of census data, critical juxtaposition of statistical and expert assessments, and sociolinguistic questionnaire surveys. The study revealed a discrepancy between the declared and actual language proficiency in censuses This may reflect the phenomenon of increasing symbolic power of languages while their communicative power declines. Indigenous languages of the North not only interact with Russian, but also with the Yakut language, which has historically served as a lingua franca in the region. The Evenki language demonstrates territorial heterogeneity of language processes: from predominantly symbolic functioning in Yakut-speaking Evenki communities to relative preservation in villages of Southern Yakutia, where intergenerational transmission has been weakened. We find that youth with actualized ethnic identity demonstrate high language loyalty regardless of actual language proficiency. The emergence of "new speakers" and the development of local language initiatives is interpreted as evidence of the transformation of symbolic power into practical action. The study revealed the transition of the languages of Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North: from uncontrolled assimilation to conscious attempts at language revival. The success of this revival might depend on the ability to transform the increased symbolic power of languages into actual communicative practices.
This introductory article surveys current theoretical and methodological trends in language policy research in multilingual and multiethnic societies, with particular attention to the post-Soviet space and the Russian Federation. Drawing on structural, critical, ecological, and urban sociolinguistic approaches, the paper traces the evolution of language policy scholarship from early language planning models to contemporary frameworks emphasizing multilingualism, globalization, social inequality, and linguistic revitalization. The discussion integrates key concepts such as language management, linguistic markets, speech accommodation, superdiversity, and decolonial critiques of the “native speaker” paradigm. Particular attention is paid to the tensions between top-down state management and bottom-up language practices, especially in urban multilingual settings and endangered language communities. The growing role of language documentation and revitalization is also examined, highlighting current initiatives in Russia aimed at preserving linguistic diversity through scientifically grounded and community-centered approaches. Finally, the paper introduces the contributions to this special issue, which collectively explore language policy, identity, multilingual education, language maintenance, and revitalization across a range of global and local contexts. Together, the volume demonstrates that multilingualism is a normative social condition requiring flexible, multi-scalar, and socially responsive policy frameworks.
This article examines the persistence and functions of Ukrainian lexical elements in the Russian-language speech of Sevastopol residents against the backdrop of shifting language policies and political transformations. The research problem arises from an observable paradox: although Ukrainian was widely resisted as a language of everyday communication during the period when Sevastopol belonged to Ukraine, elements of Ukrainian vocabulary nevertheless became embedded in local speech through prolonged exposure to media, education, and bureaucratic discourse. After 2014, when Ukrainian disappeared from official domains, some of these lexical elements continued to be used in everyday interaction. Over time, however, these traces have begun to fade, making it important to document them as residual linguistic phenomena. The aim of this study is to systematize the Ukrainian lexical elements present in the Russian speech of Sevastopol residents and to identify their sociolinguistic functions. The data were obtained through surveys and interviews, on the base of which a corpus of approximately 150 Ukrainian words and expressions was compiled. The corpus was analyzed using the methods of thematic classification, and functional-pragmatic analysis in order to determine patterns of distribution and communicative motivation. The results demonstrate that even language policies that fail to produce large-scale language shift can leave lexical residues in everyday speech. Ukrainian expressions persisted as tools of communicative efficiency, emotional expression, quotation, irony, and group identity. The study contributes to sociolinguistic theory by emphasizing that language policy outcomes must be evaluated not only through institutional indicators but also through everyday linguistic practices, where ideology, habit, and memory intersect.
This study examines whether it is socially feasible for a country to accommodate minority languages alongside a national language without this leading to tensions, violence or separatist movements. The aim of this article therefore is to discuss and clarify the relationship between national languages and minority languages, so that there is sufficient social space and appreciation for minority languages without detracting from the importance of a national language. This study comprises a review of the literature, beginning with the period in which national standard languages emerged and were codified, and culminating in the conviction that a country should be monolingual and that minority and regional languages should be eradicated. Particular attention is paid to the linguistic ideas of the French Revolution and German Romanticism. The violent consequences of such a policy of linguistic essentialism are illustrated by examples of the language disputes in Spain and Belgium. Next, again based on a review of the literature, the study examines the late 20th century response at (Western) European level to the violent actions of oppressed linguistic minorities. It emerges that a solution is sought in a specifically anti-essentialist approach, characterized by inclusiveness, diversity and tolerance. This approach is proving successful. The results show that a policy less focused on centralization and standardization can provide space for minority languages without detracting from the status of the national language, thereby preventing potential tensions and violent actions. The article therefore concludes with a plea to promote an approach, which emphasizes diversity and therefore tolerant attitudes.
This study applies the framework of the ecology of language, defined by Einar Haugen as the study of interactions between a language and its environment, to evaluate the reliability of population census data for sociolinguistic analysis. Focusing on the 2020-2021 Russian Census, the paper investigates its usefulness in describing language situations among indigenous minorities in the north-east of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The study adopts a qualitative and critical analytical approach. First, general features of the census are assessed, including coverage completeness and the clarity and adequacy of terminology used in ethnic and linguistic categories. Second, the broader sociolinguistic context-particularly language endangerment in north-eastern Russia-is examined. Finally, selected census data are analyzed for ten indigenous languages: Aleut, Aliutor, Chukchi, Dolgan, Even, Evenki, Eskimo, Itel’men, Koryak, and Yukaghir. The analysis reveals inconsistencies in census outcomes, including unexpected increases and decreases in reported speaker populations across several languages. These fluctuations do not consistently align with established trends in language vitality or decline, raising questions about data reliability. The findings suggest that census responses are shaped more by speaker attitudes, identity, and self-perception than by actual language use or proficiency. Consequently, while the census provides valuable insights into sociocultural identification, it is less effective as a precise instrument for measuring linguistic vitality. This underscores the need for complementary methodologies in assessing minority language situations.
This special issue is devoted to the study of correlation between language, culture, cognition and communication. This topic was widely discussed at the VII International Firsova’s Readings at the RUDN University on October 23-25, 2025. The issue presents articles by conference participants, covering a wide range of topics. They demonstrate that in the modern, anthropocentric stage of linguistics, an interdisciplinary research paradigm is dominant. It enables scholars to transcend their disciplines, integrate research methods, share knowledge from different subject areas, and open up new research opportunities and perspectives. The focus of this kind of research is not the language system itself, but the individual who speaks the language, along with their emotions, feelings, relationships, and the worldview. The development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence provides a powerful impetus for interdisciplinary linguistic research. They offer researchers new opportunities but also raise important questions that require solutions. This introductory article outlines the paradigms of contemporary linguistic research and provides a brief overview of the articles presented in this issue.
Artificial intelligence (AI), which impacts both business and academic writing, has emerged as a revolutionary force in the digital age. It has the potential to fundamentally change the way scientific research is conducted, from improving the accuracy of scientific predictions to automating certain tasks and improving the overall quality of academic writing. AI solutions are often more efficient than conventional approaches when it comes to meeting writing requirements. The purpose of this article is to clarify the possibilities and risks of the use of artificial intelligence, based on the theoretical analysis of modern research, and to propose norms and standards for the safety of the use of artificial intelligence in scientific research. AI tools have improved performance by generating grammatically correct sentences, generating original ideas, and modifying language (making it conform to academic style conventions). Additionally, AI research tools can accelerate discovery and gain valuable insights by automating time-consuming tasks. However, the significant changes that AI has brought to academic writing have also raised many ethical and legal concerns. While the present study draws on concepts and debates that are relevant to linguistic research, it does not aim to provide a detailed linguistic analysis of data. Rather, it adopts an interdisciplinary perspective in which Artificial Intelligence used in academic writing is discussed primarily from legal and ethical viewpoints with reference to language-related issues where relevant.
This paper addresses the so-called Llanito , a type of Spanglish spoken in the British colony of Gibraltar. Llanito has been repeatedly defined as a linguistic variety, outcome of the contact between Spanish and English, and scholars support this claim by providing a list of words and referring to the identity feelings shared among the population. However, the data obtained from a fieldwork campaign suggest another reality. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the so-called Llanito is nothing more than the label applied to the process of code-switching, which has not resulted in the emergence of a new variety. By means of a compilation of spontaneous voice messages, semi-conducted interviews and free conversations, I have recorded the speech of 22 people, from both sexes, different generations and various educational backgrounds. The results state that Llanito cannot be considered a language or an emerging variety, for it deals with a process of code-switching within an unstable bilingual society that heads for English monolingualism. In fact, current Gibraltar exhibits all the stages of this evolution, each of which is embodied by a different generation. Despite the vindications regarding the cultural, linguistic and historical heritage that Llanito is said to represent, social mobility turns out to be the reason why speakers gradually dismiss Spanish and tend to become English monolinguals, making thus Llanito reduce the younger the individual is. Moreover, the affirmation that Llanito is a language or a variety lacks empirical support, since it is impossible to determine the lexicon, as well as the phonetic and grammatical structure, that characterise it. The results contribute to disentangling the complexity of Spanglish in its different manifestations and to shedding more light to the study of linguistic variation.
This study examines the gap between the multilingual realities of today’s classrooms and the continued dominance of monolingual norms in national education systems. The situation in the Netherlands is used as a case study to show a broader point. Although classrooms are becoming more linguistically diverse, immigrant and heritage languages remain marginalised, which contributes to unequal opportunities and exclusion. The purpose of this literature-based study is to show how national language policies shape classroom practices and teacher attitudes, and to assess whether these policies support inclusion or reinforce linguistic marginalisation. The material used consists mainly of international and Dutch peer-reviewed academic publications on multilingualism, language policy, and (multilingual) education, including empirical and comparative research across different national and international contexts. In addition, it includes key theoretical works as well as policy- and practice-oriented publications from governmental and international organizations, together providing a solid academic and policy foundation for research on multilingualism, education, and social justice. Special attention is given to how the ideas behind Dutch language policy influence fairness in education. The main findings show that Dutch education policy strongly prioritises Dutch as the only legitimate language of schooling. Immigrant languages such as Turkish, Arabiс and Polish are largely absent from curricula, assessment, in-class communication and teacher training. Many teachers still view students’ home languages as obstacles to learning. Although translanguaging and other inclusive strategies have been shown to improve participation, understanding, and students’ sense of belonging, their use remains limited and inconsistent because of institutional barriers and dominant language ideologies. Overall, the study demonstrates that linguistic inequality is reproduced by policy choices and their underlying ideologies and prejudices. The study suggests that meaningful inclusion requires coordinated reforms in teacher education, curriculum design, assessment practices, and language ideology. When linguistic diversity is treated as a resource, national policies can help create more equitable classrooms that value all students’ linguistic backgrounds.
In this article, I argue in favor of strengthening the relationship between Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Social Cognition in order to answer the following question: how could we extend the understanding of how linguistic choices are affected or complemented cognitively? I thus attempt to integrate the views introduced by SFL and Social Cognition by recognizing that the categories from the former, added to the principles of the latter, may lead researchers in linguistics - both theoretical and applied - to a broader field of comprehension which may have some impact on all ways of apprehending the social element. The study draws on categories proposed by SFL as well as the propositions of Social Cognition. I assume, therefore, that there are social, cultural, and cognitive reasons that, if integrated, impact discourse semantics in a manner that contributes positively to an effective communication. That is why a few elements from sociology - egological perspective, dialectic perspective of social reality, sociocultural memory - are used to explain aspects of the social construction of reality and to support the discussions undertaken, in addition to providing some input to answer the following questions: (1) what is the relationship between SFL and Social Cognition, and (2) what does this relationship imply for our analyses? These reflections point to the role of language in the construction of possible worlds on levels that permeate the situational and cultural contexts and indicate that social cognition is a condition for understanding the interrelationship between lexicogrammar and discourse semantics.
Contemporary scholarly discourse on gender-inclusive communication remains predominantly descriptive, often avoiding a systematic critical analysis of its internal contradictions and social consequences. However, the growing social tension around new linguistic norms, their ideologization, and direct impact on public institutions demand unbiased examination. The aim of this article is to identify and analyze the key paradoxes generated by gender-inclusive communication, which persist despite its proclaimed goals of equality and respect. The research material comprises English-language texts of various genres and styles, including scholarly articles, media publications, documents from university websites, healthcare institutions, governmental, non-governmental, and commercial organizations, as well as data from blogs and social networks from the period 2017 to 2025. This allowed us to examine gender-inclusive communication both in the sphere of academic reflection and within the context of public practice. The methodological framework is based on critical discourse analysis, which interprets linguistic changes as a struggle for power, and Lotman’s theory of the semiosphere, which views inclusive language as a phenomenon of cultural dynamics. The study establishes that inclusive communication generates a complex of systemic contradictions across different dimensions: linguistic (between the striving to erase and simultaneously multiply gender differences, leading to semantic tautology and a violation of linguistic conventionality); social (where inclusivity in practice becomes a tool for excluding dissenting voices and marginalizing the experiences of traditional groups); ethical (encompassing the conflict between the ideology of self-identification and biological realities, as well as the imposition of Anglo-centric models onto other linguacultures). Interpreting the results through the chosen methodological lens reveals that inclusive language functions not only as a discourse of power but also as a tool of auto-communication, aimed at redefining the core of the cultural semiosphere and consolidating a “progressive” identity. The findings open perspectives for comparative studies on the reception of inclusive practices in different linguacultures and for interdisciplinary research into the long-term social effects of linguistic reform.
This article examines the polysemous Russian discourse formula malo li ( chto ) in relation to its source constructions and compares its functions with Korean equivalents. The study addresses the difficulty of accurately describing multi-meaning Russian discourse formulas that require careful contextual analysis, as well as the lack of lexicographical descriptions of their functional correspondences in Korean. The aim of the article is to provide a systematic account of the polysemy of malo li ( chto ) and to identify the most accurate Korean non-compositional equivalents. The empirical material consists of over 8,000 examples of malo li ( chto ) and a vdrug extracted from the open-access databases “Russian Constructicon” and “Pragmaticon,” as well as from the National Corpus of the Russian Language, covering both written and spoken genres. Korean data collected from web resources were used for contrastive analysis. The study adopts a corpus-based methodology. The analysis demonstrates that the semantics and pragmatics of malo li ( chto ) can only be properly understood through analysis of its underlying constructions and usage contexts. Diachronic analysis identifies two meanings of the formula. One meaning, denoting an “indeterminate large quantity,” does not meet the criteria of a discourse formula and should be described in the Russian Constructicon as a non-typical elliptical construction. The other meaning, expressing devaluation of a prior utterance, satisfies the criteria of a discourse formula and should be included in the Pragmaticon. This distinction allows inconsistencies in the treatment of malo li ( chto ) across the two databases to be eliminated. A synchronic comparison with a vdrug clarifies the functional properties of malo li ( chto ) and reveals the illusion of their interchangeability based on surface similarity. Functional frame analysis further enables the identification of corresponding Korean discourse formulas. The proposed approach refines the description of Russian discourse formulas and provides a reliable basis for comparison with typologically distant languages such as Korean.
Language and metaphor are intertwined, with metaphor serving as a key tool for conceptualizing experience and expressing social meanings. This study investigates the sociolinguistic use of food-related metaphors in Jordanian Arabic, focusing on how they reflect and construct perceptions of physical appearance, personality, and social traits. It aims to fill a gap in previous research by exploring how such metaphors function as tools for expressing social meanings and identities. The study employs a mixed-methods design and uses Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Sociolinguistic Variation to analyze how age and gender affect the use and interpretation of food metaphors. Data were collected from 60 native speakers of Jordanian Arabic through a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to examine their use and interpretation of common food metaphors. The study found that food metaphors in Jordanian Arabic are grounded in embodied experience and shaped by sociolinguistic variables such as age, gender, and context. Quantitative analysis showed a significant difference in food metaphor usage across age groups, with older speakers using them more often than younger ones. Women used food metaphors to convey emotions and describe appearances, while men used them for humor and criticism, though these differences were not statistically significant. These findings highlight the role of metaphor as a linguistic resource for constructing social meaning and navigating interpersonal relationships in Jordanian society. The main meaning focus of these metaphors is not fixed but is interpreted based on the specific cultural context, reflecting and reinforcing cultural values.
Some years ago, “the preservation of linguistic diversity” was included among the official language policy goals in Russia. The goal is difficult to conceptualize and operationalize for practical purposes by the given broad official definition of “linguistic diversity” and by a lack of the official definition of the “preservation”. Meanwhile, the goal is pursued as practical activity by language policy practitioners and language activists as well as applied research by scholars. In this context, understanding of what the actors present as its achievement is, therefore, both a practical and scientific problem. The aim of the paper is to analyze academic and official discourses and practices in order to understand how scientific experts in interaction with public officials conceptualize and operationalize the preservation of linguistic diversity in Russia and what they do in practice. The research material consists of texts of official documents, oral discussions by participation of experts and officials during the drafting and approval of their draft versions, and ethnographic data. The material was collected and interpreted drawing on participant observation and discourse analysis. The results show that the unresolved theoretical problem of interdisciplinary causes also problems in applied research. Due to the underdevelopment of the research program on language policy in Russia, applied research is currently carried out mainly within the framework of language revitalization, which, however, is hardly able to provide effective solutions in a country with a state-centric political culture. In practice, efforts at revitalization and documentation replace work on maintaining languages. The study argues that without high-quality scientific expertise in the socio-political sphere of language use, language policy and language revitalization remain ineffective also as a practical activity.
Urbanization is a global trend, and even remote, sparsely populated areas like the Arctic are undergoing massive migrations into cities, radically changing the language ecologies for local languages. The present study aims to understand the interrelations between different components of the language ecology, and to develop a theoretical framework for future analyses. Two Arctic regional cities, Nuuk, the capital of semi-autonomous Greenland, and Yakutsk, the capital of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), are analyzed as case studies in the analysis. This study relies on participant-observation fieldwork, focused interviews on language attitudes and language proficiency, and a survey of existing documentation (official surveys, records, policies, and media reports) on language policies and their implementation in both regions. Interviews were conducted in multiple trips to both regions from 2019-2025. Observational data documenting changes in language behavior and attitudes dates from 2008 in Greenland, and from 2017 in Yakutsk, to the present. Attitudinal and usage data comes from sociolinguistic surveys, in-depth sociolinguistic interviews, informal discussions, and participant-observation in Nuuk and Yakutsk. Applying Appadurai’s (1990, 1996) scape theory to these differing language ecologies reveals the complex and interconnected nature of factors contributing to language usage, and the necessity of a multifaceted approach to implementing policies to foster language vitality.
