Cultural and Linguistic Minorities in the Russian Federation and the European Union

The detailed information in this book about the sociolinguistic situation of the small peoples in the North, especially in Russia, is invaluable - nothing quite like this exists in English. The comparisons, both within Russia and between Russia and western Europe, are interesting and also unique, and the articles complement each other well (not always true of edited volumes). Many articles are multidisciplinary (history, law, linguistics, sociolinguistics, ethnography, cultural studies, political science); also unusual. The summaries and conclusions are well anchored theoretically. The introductory chapter puts it all in an even broader context All those linguists, sociolinguists, ethnographers and anthropologists who work with Indigenous peoples, endangered languages, language maintenance, and, to some extent, cultural studies and ecology, can benefit. Likewise researchers on various aspects of Russia, including nationalism researchers. Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, dr.phil.

It is therefore a valuable introduction into the historical backgrounds and current linguistic, social and legal affairs with regard to Russia’s manifold ethnic and linguistic minorities, mirrored on the discussion of recent issues in a number of well-known Western European minority situations.This is the first comprehensive volume to compare the sociolinguistic situations of minorities in Russia and in Western Europe. As such, it provides insight into language policies, the ethnolinguistic vitality and the struggle for reversal of language shift, language revitalization and empowerment of minorities in Russia and the European Union. The volume shows that, even though largely unknown to a broader English-reading audience, the linguistic composition of Russia is by no means less diverse than multilingualism in the EU. It is therefore a valuable introduction into the historical backgrounds and current linguistic, social and legal affairs with regard to Russia’s manifold ethnic and linguistic minorities, mirrored on the discussion of recent issues in a number of well-known Western European minority situations.