Ethno-Cultural Component of Bilingualism in the Chechen Republic under Conditions of Real Monoethnicity

Abstract

Most sociolinguistic works devoted to the problem draw attention to the fact that the main factors affecting the language situation are the social conditions of language functioning. They determine both the level of development of the language and the prospects for its preservation and development. In this regard, the following points can be noted about the linguistic situation prevailing in the Chechen Republic, the level and quality of the Chechen-Russian bilingualism in the past and present. The Chechen language in the past, like many other Caucasian languages, was used verbally and existed in the form of living dialects. Religious, philosophical, fiction, scientific and educational literature was published in the Chechen language later. Works of oral folklore, annals, chronicles were recorded, clerical work, training, private correspondence, etc. were conducted. The research results show a clear dependence of the level of the Russian language proficiency on education, age and socio-demographic affiliation. Recently, for example, there has been a clear age tendency among Chechens to switch to Russian as a language of communication, which is precisely connected with the migration process, more precisely, with relocation to other Russian cities due to the war. It can be concluded that the third generation of Chechens who migrated to the Russian cities will be active bilinguals with a predominant knowledge of the Russian language: for example, if the first generation of migrants understands and speaks Chechen, then the second usually only understands, but does not speak (or speaks poorly), and accordingly their children, the third generation will neither understand nor speak Chechen, because people do not speak Chechen with them. The Russian language as a means of interethnic communication is an objective phenomenon. But it should not be accompanied by the displacement of native languages from the sphere of use by the narrowing of their functions and the inhibition of their structural development due to destructive nationallanguage policies. A reasonable, appropriate combination of bilingualism components is needed.