Attitudes towards linguistic variation in the Ukrainian community in the United Kingdom

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines the language attitudes of first-wave members of the Ukrainian community in the UK towards the two varieties of Ukrainian present in the community (labelled Diasporic Ukrainian and Contemporary Ukrainian), and considers the language ideologies underpinning these attitudes. Drawing on the analysis of data obtained through semi-structured interviews with second- and third-generation community members, I demonstrate how attitudes towards the two varieties of Ukrainian are mixed, but internally consistent. Positive attitudes towards Diasporic Ukrainian coincide with negative attitudes towards Contemporary Ukrainian, which is considered ‘Russified’ and ‘impure’. A contrasting set of attitudes is also identified, in which informants express negative attitudes towards ‘archaic’ Diasporic Ukrainian and positive attitudes towards Contemporary Ukrainian. I show that attitudes towards the two varieties of Ukrainian appear to be connected to attitudes towards Russian and are influenced by purist ideologies and interviewees’ perceptions of the relationship between Ukrainian language and identity. I consider how the mixed nature of these language attitudes may have a negative impact on future language maintenance efforts in the community, as the choice to teach one variety of Ukrainian over another may prevent attendance at Ukrainian complementary schools, which play a key role in language maintenance in the community.