Lecture | Sociolinguistics & Discourse Studies Series
Language use and language attitudes among Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands
- Date
- Monday 18 December 2023
- Time
- Series
- Sociolinguistics & Discourse Studies Series
- Location
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 1.52
Abstract
The presentation will start with an examination of pre-invasion language attitudes in Ukraine, providing a backdrop for understanding the subsequent shifts, maintenance, and attitudes towards language use. The study draws on a multifaceted methodology, including online surveys, interviews, and my observations from interactions with Ukrainians both in physical settings and across digital platforms and group chats. Preliminary findings indicate a noteworthy trend: individuals who strongly identify as Ukrainian continue to incorporate Russian into their daily lives, motivated by factors such as resource availability, technical considerations, and habits. This shows that the politicisation of Russian/Ukrainian bilingualism during the conflict is more an opportunistic tool imposed from above than a reflection of any actual split along linguistic lines of the language users themselves. Furthermore, an intriguing development emerges - a growing tendency to shift from Russian into Ukrainian as an expression of solidarity with Ukraine. This shift signifies a sociolinguistic manifestation of unity, demonstrating that language choice is deeply tied to notions of cultural preservation and national pride.