Cultural and Linguistic Minorities in the Russian Federation and the European Union: Comparative Studies on Equality and Diversity (Multilingual Education Book 13)

This is the first comprehensive volume to compare the sociolinguistic situations of minorities in Russia and in Western Europe. As such, it provides insight into language policies, the ethnolinguistic vitality and the struggle for reversal of language shift, language revitalization and empowerment of minorities in Russia and the European Union. The volume shows that, even though largely unknown to a broader English-reading audience, the linguistic composition of Russia is by no means less diverse than multilingualism in the EU. It is therefore a valuable introduction into the historical backgrounds and current linguistic, social and legal affairs with regard to Russia s manifold ethnic and linguistic minorities, mirrored on the discussion of recent issues in a number of well-known Western European minority situations." Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Change and Maintenance of Plurilingualism in the Russian Federation and the European Union....Pages 3-29 The Global Extinction of Languages and Its Consequences for Cultural Diversity....Pages 31-46 The Death of Languages; the Death of Minority Cultures; the Death of a People’s Dignity....Pages 47-79 Front Matter....Pages 81-81 Obstacles and Successes....Pages 83-105 Fallen Ill in Political Draughts....Pages 107-126 Finnic Minorities of Ingria....Pages 127-167 The Challenge of Language....Pages 169-187 Uneven Steps to Literacy....Pages 189-230 Front Matter....Pages 231-231 Explaining Language Loss....Pages 233-252 Parliamentary Structures and Their Impact on Empowering Minority Language Communities....Pages 253-277 The Evolution of Language Ideology in Post-Soviet Russia....Pages 279-313 The Impact of Language Policy on Language Revitalization....Pages 315-334 Back Matter....Pages 335-340 The volume shows that, even though largely unknown to a broader English-reading audience, the linguistic composition of Russia is by no means less diverse than multilingualism in the EU. It is therefore a valuable introduction into the historical backgrounds and current linguistic, social and legal affairs with regard to Russia's manifold ethnic and linguistic minorities, mirrored on the discussion of recent issues in a number of well-known Western European minority situations.--Provided by publisher