Toshomanova D.O.,
the senior lecturer in the theory of languages and
literature department
KGU named after A.Baitursynov, Kostanay, Kazakhstan
Preservation and development of national languages in
terms of multi-ethnicity of Kostanay region
Creating
favorable conditions for the free development of their native language and its
successful operation is a key priority of the state language policy. Further
concern about meeting the spiritual and cultural and linguistic needs of all
ethnic groups living in the country, will ensure the preservation and further
development of tolerant language environment.
Modern
multi-ethnic society need to understand that losing their language, one becomes
the representative of the people, whose language is adopted.
The
correct ethno-linguistic policy, and to a greater extent on the willingness of
the carriers themselves languages revive their own language and culture,
depends the fate of minority languages.
Only
ownership of native language and its active functioning in the family allow
full development of national specificity of the people for a child. Language
education at an early age contributes to the overall understanding of the
lifestyle of the people, its mentality, national psychology. In a multiethnic
Kostanay region intertwined factors such as multi-national culture, traditions,
mentality, attitudes and lifestyle, behavioral and value patterns.
For
a long time in Kostanay region observed active penetration in Kazakh / Russian
language borrowed from the Russian / Kazakh, English and other languages
vocabulary, which gradually led to active bilingualism. There is the creation
of new words based on the Russian and Kazakh languages, reflecting the
specificity of linguistic identity of the region as a whole.
In
the last decade in the region has increased the number of mixed marriages. Most
often, the language of communication in such families is Russian as the
language of interethnic communication. In mixed families where both parents
teach their children their native languages, there is a positive ethnic
identity.
Specificity
of functioning of languages in multiethnic district of Kostanay determines
their viability, forming a living bilingizm. Interference processes affect all
levels of language interaction, contributing to the formation of specific
regional norms of language use in communicative practices, as a prerequisite to
the formation of the multinational forms of language. The most powerful
communicative partners in Kostanay region are Kazakh and Russian languages. The
vitality of the Kazakh-Russian bilingualism in a multiethnic Kostanay region
associated with the current stable interlingual practice, geopolitical
conditions, well-established centuries-old traditions.
But,
despite the fact that in the region there are national cultural centers in
which there are newspapers and fiction in national languages, there are
opportunities to study them in Sunday schools, unfortunately, some members of
the diasporas do not know their language, even at the household level.
Also
it’s noticeable to see the influence of
languages on each other. The number of new borrowing concepts in regional
languages of the ethnic Russian and English, at least - Kazakh - languages.
It
is noted that in the context of the existence of linguistic diversity decreases
the functional role of mother languages, which leads to their defective
vitality.
Nevertheless,
the desire and interest to learn the native language is noticed among of
representatives of ethnic groups of Kostanay region, and representatives of
other nationalities. This requires the creation of learning environments, the
development of training programs and courses, teacher training, to overcome the
restraint in the use of native languages.
Full
existence of diverse cultures and languages in a polyethnic Kostanay region are
possible only on a mutual understanding, respect and equal dialogue between
cultures. Respondents were asked, "Is there any unevenness in the
development of national languages in the region - infringement of one language
and a clear dominance in the background of the others?”. The responses received
were as follows: more than half of the respondents answered positively, thereby
recognizing that the national languages in the region develop unevenly, 38% -
spoke negatively.
The
reasons for the uneven development of languages in Kostanay region are:
1.
motley ethnic panorama of the region;
2.
the remnants of the Soviet ethno-linguistic policy;
3.
insufficient number of specialists, and sometimes lack thereof, in some
languages (Chechen, Uzbek, Chechen, Belarusian, Azerbaijani, Bashkir and
others.).
It
is noteworthy that the infringement of one language and explicit domination on
their background in other in Kostanay region does not happen, but at the same
time, there is uneven development of languages, which is caused by the low
activity of the representatives of ethnic groups themselves.
With
the same rights in the development and use of their national languages, not all
national diasporas show the same interest in the preservation, study, revival
of the native language. This non-uniformity manifests in the development of the
following languages:
1. not all
national-cultural centers have
functioning Sunday schools for learning the native language (Chechen,
Uzbek, Ingush, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Bashkortostan and others.);
2. lack of motivation of
parents to teach children their native language;
3. lack of media in the
language of the ethnic groups, the possibility to continue their education in
their native language.
Given
the positive experience that exists in the Kostanay region, it is now important
to develop in various representatives of national communities a sense of
respect for each other, to other national languages and cultures. In the
cohabitation of these peoples in the same area important synthesis of their
cultures and languages, intercultural dialogue focus on creativity, not
assimilation of one culture other, and interpenetration, complementary
existence.
Preservation
and development of languages of ethnic groups in a multiethnic Kostanay region
can be considered as a factor of political stability in a multi-ethnic region.
For
doing this, needs the following:
1. In educational
institutions (school, college, university) to organize extracurricular
activities for teaching languages of diasporas of Kostanay region.
2. Promote a tolerant
attitude towards people of other nations and their linguistic and cultural
heritage.
3. Expand research and
applied work on regional language category.
4. Increase the number
of Sunday schools for learning the native languages of ethnic groups.
Work
on the study of the native language in Sunday school must perform a number of
tasks:
1. promote, develop
language, speech, social competence necessary and sufficient for communication
in cross-cultural sphere;
2. generate respect for
the state language;
3. develop students'
ability to represent their ethnic group and its culture in a foreign language
intercultural communication;
4. develop respect for
other peoples, cultures and languages.
Among
the respondents of different nationalities Kostanay region freely speak and
write in their native language 23% are fluent, but not write or read 39%,
understand and can explain in their
mother’s
language of 30%, do not know at all 8%. This discrepancy in the possession of
the mother’s language can be explained as a multiethnic Kostanay region, the
lack of national schools in the region for a number of ethnic groups, the
increase in the number of mixed marriages, the high level of use of the Russian
language as a lingua franca. The choice of the native language to communicate
the majority of respondents explain that respect themselves and the
interlocutor as representatives of one ethnic group, helps them to quickly
establish contact, contributes to greater understanding. The choice of the
Russian language for communication is understandable because it is accessible
to all as a language of international communication.
Comparing
the psychological characteristics and nature of manifestations of ethnic identity
in the diasporas representatives of different age groups in Kostanay region
(survey, interview, observation), and explore the possibility of preventing
language conflicts. Along with cultural traditions, customs, external
appearance, the mother language is one of the main features of
ethnodifferentiating and ethnic identity - one of the most important signs of
nationality. The level of ethnic identity and ethnicity of the individual as a
whole largely determines the socio-political and psychological atmosphere of
multi-ethnic society.
Resources:
1.
Suleimenova E.D, Smagulova Zh.S Language situation and language planning in
Kazakhstan / Edited by E.D.Suleymenovoy. Almaty: Kazak universiteti, 2005.
2.
Arutyunov S.A. The interaction of peoples - the interaction of languages, or
“Vodomet” - is in Russian? // Russian language at school. - 2008 - ¹ 8.
3.
Language and Ethnic Conflict // Ed. M.Brillolcott, I.Semenova. - M., 2001.
4.
Karabulatova I.S. Introduction to regional ethnolinguistics. - Moscow-Tyumen:
Moscow State Pedagogical University, 2005.
5.
M.A Guliyev, I.D Korotets, I.P Chernobrovkin. Ethnic conflicts. - Moscow -
Rostov-on-Don, 2007.