Contemporary Ethnolinguistic Situation in Southern Siberia (On the materials of Republican Statistic Offices)

Abstract

The paper focuses on the study of the modern ethno-linguistic situation in the Turkic-speaking regions of Southern Siberia — the Republic of Tyva and the Republic of Khakassia. Based on official statistics, the author examines the state, features, and main trends in the development of language processes in the named regions. The analysis of the empirical material used in the study revealed that linguistic life in Tuva today is characterized by a further increase in the role of the language of the titular nationality — the Tuvan language. The situation, the level and scale of distribution of the Khakass language in Khakassia, despite noticeable positive changes, leaves much to be desired. The main factors of the current situation in these regions include the significant dominance in the total population of representatives of the titular nationality — Tuvans, whose share according to the latest population census has increased noticeably, and the weak representation of the Khakass, the titular ethnic group of residents of Khakassia, where their percentage, as in previous years, is approximately a tenth of the total number of the republic. Among the ethno-linguistic problems in these republics, we will name the generally low level of knowledge of the Russian language by representatives of the titular ethnic group in Tuva and the poor proficiency and insufficient spread of the native language among the Khakass in the Republic of Khakassia. Based on the data of the study, it can be stated that the linguistic picture observed at this stage in these republics is unlikely to change significantly soon. As comparative material to determine the dynamics of development and identify the main components, this work uses the results of the All-Russian population censuses of 2010 and 2020.