Languages come back to life after dozens of years of dying or abandon. This was stated by Valery Tishkov, Director of Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of RAS during his speech on November 28 in the course of round table “State language policy of RF (Russian Federation): situation and prospective” in State Duma, according to “Natsaktsent”. As an example he referred to the Breton language in France, Gaelic and Cornish in Britain, Hawaiian in the USA. In Russia, according to V. Tishkov, the scope of native (not Russian) languages learning has increased. As the expert remarked, traditional point of view on the situation with languages comes down to that that in the present-day world under influence of globalization, disappearance of languages progresses at a high speed. Such dominating languages as Russian are more and more conquering the global language space.
However, he thinks the global language situation and language positions in different countries have a more complicated character. This complicity is in the following processes: the abovementioned tendency for revival of languages, blurring and mixing of language areas, and total sophistication of language repertoire of present-day people, distribution of multilingualism. “We do not share the point of view of “languages dying-out” concept supporters”. Despite the dramatic forecasts of some scholars and politicians, language diversity will be preserved in conditions of complication of language situations among modern nations and enlargement of language repertoire of individuals,” – declared V. Tishkov.
According to the forecast of the academician, state language policy will be developing with orientation towards acceptance and support of multilingualism. Tishkov remarked that as regards “languages dying-out” there are a lot of speculations.
He reminded that Russia did not ratify European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, accepted in 2001. He was supported by Alexander Zhuravsky, Director of Department for State Policy in the Field of International Relations of Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, who put in doubt the methods of compilation of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) atlases for dying languages.
According to UNESCO, 136 languages are in danger of disappearance. 20 languages are already considered disappeared, 22 languages are situated in a critical position, and 29 languages are in serious danger of disappearance. Meanwhile introducing compulsory learning of native language at schools of national republics evokes protestations of ethnical minorities in these subjects of the RF (Russian Federation). [not necessarily minorities, in a number of republics the Russian-speaking people make the majority of population – editor’s note].