Language and identification in contemporary Kazakhstan
In the years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union Central Asia has experienced wide-reaching and ongoing social change. The structures and values of all social strata have been questioned and re-evaluated in a continuing exploration of what it means to be part of the post-Soviet space. Within this space, identity formation and reformation has been a pre-eminent process for individuals, for groups of all kinds and for the newly emerging states and their leaders. Through the analysis of individual interviews and selected newspaper extracts and government policy documents this study explores the ways in which ethnic and state identities are being negotiated in Kazakhstan. Using the social identity theory framework it investigates the value and content of these identities by examining the state ideologies of language and the policies which are their expression as well as the discourses of language and identity engaged in by individuals and in the media. There is an exploration of common and conflicting themes referred to as aspects of these identities, of outgroups deemed relevant for comparison and of the roles of Kazakh and Russian in particular, alongside other languages, in relation to these identities.
Munday, Emma Rachel
language ; identity ; Kazakhstan
Language and identification in contemporary Kazakhstan. In the years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union Central Asia has experienced wide-reaching and ongoing social change. The structures and values of all social strata have been questioned and re-evaluated in a continuing exploration of what it means to be part of the post-Soviet space. Within this space, identity formation and reformation has been a pre-eminent process for individuals, for groups of all kinds and for the newly emerging states and their leaders. Through the analysis of individual interviews and selected newspaper extracts and government policy documents this study explores the ways in which ethnic and state identities are being negotiated in Kazakhstan. Using the social identity theory framework it investigates the value and content of these identities by examining the state ideologies of language and the policies which are their expression as well as the discourses of language and identity engaged in by individuals and in the media. There is an exploration of common and conflicting themes referred to as aspects of these identities, of outgroups deemed relevant for comparison and of the roles of Kazakh and Russian in particular, alongside other languages, in relation to these identities.
language identification contemporary kazakhstan year since dissolution soviet_union central_asia experience wide_reaching ongoing social_change structure value social_stratum question re_evaluated continue exploration mean part post soviet space within space identity_formation reformation pre_eminent process individual_group kinds newly_emerge state leader analysis individual interview select newspaper extract government_policy document study explores_way ethnic state identity negotiate kazakhstan using social_identity theory framework investigate value content identity examine state ideology language_policy expression well discourse language identity engage individual medium exploration common conflict theme refer aspect identity deem relevant comparison role russian particular alongside language relation identity