CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2017
| Author | Li, Evgeniya |
|---|---|
| Title | Language and Ethnicity in Kyrgyzstan: A Case Study of Russified Kyrgyz in Bishkek |
| Summary | The current research investigates the phenomenon of the correlation between ethnicity and language in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. The nationalizing political rhetoric of newly emerged Kyrgyz Republic is based on the revival of Kyrgyz culture and traditions. Language has become an essential element of the nation-building ideology. However, due to Russification process in the Soviet Union, there is a part of ethnically Kyrgyz citizens that only speak Russian. They become a target group of prejudices and stereotypes for political nationalists and broader society. Using qualitative in-depth interviews with Russified Kyrgyz in Bishkek, the research shows how individuals conceptualize their ethnic self-identification with language repertoire and how boundary construction and maintenance between Russified and Non-Russified Kyrgyz population occurs. The research findings show that ethnic identity construction of Russified Kyrgyz is based on the subjective perception of “Kyrgyzness” rather than objective criteria, where pragmatic as well as symbolic meanings shape language repertoire of the people. |
| Supervisor | Pelinka Anton |
| Department | Nationalism Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2017/li_evgeniya.pdf |
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