Post-Soviet Language Policy and the Language Utilization Patterns of Kyivan Youth

• Autores: Ann Marshall
• Localización: Language policy, ISSN 1568-4555, Vol. 1, Nº. 3, 2002, págs. 237-260
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This empirically based study examines the impact of language policy in Ukraine on language utilization patterns of school pupils in Kyiv. Following the establishment of Ukrainian as the state language in 1989, the government of Ukraines ought to re-shape language use from an essentially Russian language society to primarily Ukrainian. In addition to Ukrainian-only language policies within the government and commercial spheres, government efforts focused on the educational system, requiring Ukrainian language study for all students. Using quantitative data from student responses to a questionnaire focusing on subject background, native and home language, including reported usage of interactive and interpretive language, this research examines the extent to which language shift or maintenance occurs in students' language use within and across specified contexts. While it is still too early to speak of full-fledged language shift, there is already an indication that the rapid Russification process has slowed, if not ceased.