Functional Features of Languages in Ethnofederations: a Comparative Analysis

The main thesis in this article is that, along with general functions that languages perform in any unitary or federal state, languages in ethnic federations also perform specific functions determined by the organization and composition of these federations and expressed differently in multinational ethnic federations and in ethnic federations without a national state language, in so-called bi-ethnic federations and federations with three and four regional official languages. The article highlights four specific functions of languages in ethnic federations.Firstly, the ethno-linguistic principle serves as a criterion for the formation of ethnic federation subjects, thus making languages a factor in the territorial division of the latter. Secondly, the languages of ethnic federations are characterized by geographically limited nature of their action creating more obstacles to the mobility of the population and, also, to the formation of a common civil identity. Thirdly, in ethnic federations, knowledge of the official languages of their subjects is often a legally binding or default requirement in staffing government bodies and electing (appointing) officials. Fourth, taking into account the ratio of official languages - national and regional in multinational ethnic federations, as well as the ratio of regional languages of ethnic groups among themselves, - the problem of possible bilingualism emerges.

Keywords

language, mother language, official language, dominant language, language of ethnic groups, ethnic federation, bilingualism monolingualism, national and regional identity

Received

29.05.2023

Publication date

12.07.2023

Number of characters

33767

Cite

GOST	Farukshin M. Functional Features of Languages in Ethnofederations: a Comparative Analysis // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2023. – Issue 5 C. 59-69 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250025796-8-1-en (circulation date: 25.01.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250025796-8
MLA	Farukshin, Midkhat Kh "Functional Features of Languages in Ethnofederations: a Comparative Analysis." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 5 (2023):59-69. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250025796-8
APA	Farukshin M. (2023). Functional Features of Languages in Ethnofederations: a Comparative Analysis. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (5), pp.59-69 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250025796-8

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 357

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Anokhina V.S. Anglo-frantsuzskoe dvuyazychie v sovremennoj Kanade // SShA-Kanada. Ehkonomika-politika-kul'tura. 2002. № 11: 111-120 [Anokhina V.S. (2002) English-French bilingualism in modern Canada. SSHA-Kanada. Ekonomika-pilitika-kul’tura [USA-Canada. Economics-politics-culture]. No. 11: 111–120. (In Russ.)]

2. Kuralesina E. Novejshie aspekty yazykovoj politiki Kanady // Drevnyaya i Novaya Romaniya. 2017. Vyp. 12. C. 154–166. [Kuralesina E. (2017) The newest aspects of the language policy of Canada. Drevnyaa i Novaya Romaniya [Ancient and New Romania]. Iss. 12: 154–166. (In Russ.)]

3. Rossijskaya identichnost' i mezhehtnicheskie otnosheniya. Publichnyj diskurs i sotsial'naya praktika / Otv. red. I.M. Kuznetsov, S.V. Ryzhova. M.: FNISTs RAN, 2022. [Kuznetsov I.M., Ryzhova C.V. (eds) (2022) Russian identity and interethnic relations. Public discourse and social practice. Moscow: FNISTS RAN. (In Russ.)]

4. Tishkov V.A., Stepanov V.V. Vvedenie. Natsional'nye yazyki i ehtnokul'turnoe obrazovanie v regionakh Rossii // Mezhehtnicheskie otnosheniya i ehtnokul'turnoe obrazovanie v regionakh Rossii / Red. V.A. Tishkov, V.V. Stepanov. M.: IEhA RAN, 2016. C. 4–19. [Tishkov V.A., Stepanov V.V. (2016) Introduction. National languages and ethno-cultural education in the regions of Russia. In: Tishkov V.A., Stepanov V.V. (eds) Interethnic relations and ethno-cultural education in the regions of Russia. Moscow: IEA RAN: 4–19. (In Russ.)]

5. Adeneyi K., Swenden W.F. (2019) Power-Sharing in the World’s Largest Democracy: Informal Consociationalism in India (and Its Decline?) Swiss Political Science Review. Vol. 25. Iss. 4: 450–475. DOI: 10.1111/spsr.12360.

6. Belser E.M., Mazidi S. (2022) Linguistic Diversity in Switzerland: Going Beyond Territorial Accommodation. Forum of Federations, Occasional Paper Series. No. 57: 24.

7. Bhattacharyya H. (2019) State Reorganization and Accommodation of Ethno-Territorial Cleavages in India. Forum of Federations. Occasional Paper Series.No. 29: 21.

8. Castillo A. L., López-Basaguren A. (2022) Minority Languages in Spain: Recognition, Promotion and Some Conflicts. Forum of Federations, Occasional Paper Series. No. 62: 22.

9. van Drooghenbroeck S., Popelier P. (2022) The Belgian Linguistic Compromise: Between Old Battles and New Challenges. Forum of Federations, Occasional Paper Series. No. 55: 19.

10. Erk J. (2003) Swiss Federation and Congruence. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. Vol. 9. Iss. 2: 50–74. DOI: 10.1080/13537110412331301415.

11. Fessha Y. T. (2022) Language Policy in Federal Ethiopia: Too Much or Too Little? Forum of Federations, Occasional Paper Series. No. 60: 18.

12. Jahn E. (2020) War and Compromise between Nations and States. Political Issues under Debate. Vol. 4. Springer.

13. Laponce J.A. (1992) Reducing the Tensions Resulting from Language Contacts: Personal or Territorial Solutions. In: Towards Reconciliation: The Language Issue in Canada in the 1990s. Proceedings of a Conference. Kingston, Ontario: Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen’s University: 125–131.

14. Medeiros M., von Schoultz E., Wass H. (2020) Language matters? Antecedents and political consequences of support for bilingualism in Canada and Finland. Comparative European Politics. Vol. 18. Iss. 4: 532–559. DOI: 10.1057/s41295-019-00198-x.

15. Morris M.A. (2016) Language Politics of Regional Integration: Cases from the Americas. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

16. Mowbray J. (2006) Ethnic Minorities and Language Rights: The State, Identity and Culture in International Legal Discourse. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism. Vol. 6. Iss. 1: 2–29. DOI: 10.1111/j.1754-9469.2006.tb00072.x.

17. Phyak P., Awasthi L.D. (2022) Developing and Implementing Multilingual Policy in a Federal Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges. Forum of Federations, Occasional Paper Series. No. 54: 20.

18. Ryan Th. G., Sinay E. (2020) Canadian Perspective: French Language Learning. International Journal of Educational Reform 2020. Vol. 29. Iss. 4: 311–333. DOI: 10.1177/1056787920913245.

19. Rendon S. (2007) The Catalan premium: language and employment in Catalonia. Journal of Population Economy. Vol. 20. Iss. 3: 669–686. DOI: 10.1007/s00148-005-0048-5.

20. Shair-Rosenfield S., Schakel A. H., Niedzwiecki S. et al. (2021) Language difference and regional authority. Regional & Federal Studies. Vol. 31. No. 1: 73–97. DOI: 10.1080/13597566.2020.1831476.

21. Simeon R., Turgeon L. (2013) Seeking autonomy in a decentralised federation. The case of Quebec. In: Practising Self-Government: A Comparative Study of Autonomous Regions. Ed. by Yash Ghai, S. Woodman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

22. Sarangi A., Sharma A. (2022) Language Policy and Federalism in Independent India. Forum of Federations Occasional Paper Series. No. 58: 27.

23. Smith L. (2008) The Politics of Contemporary Language Policy in Ethiopia. Journal of Developing Societies. Vol. 24. Iss. 2: 207–243. DOI: 10.1177/0169796X0802400206.

24. Woolard K. (2018) A. Language, Identity, and Politics in Catalonia. Brown journal of world affairs. Vol. XXV. Iss. 1: 21–40.