Language adaptation of ethnic Russians in the Western Ukrainian area

Abstract

The article characterizes the language adaptation of ethnic Russians in the Western Ukrainian area on the example of language biographies of three ethnic Russians living in the same village in the Lviv Region. Changes in language and national identity, lan­guage behavior and the language itself of the informants under the influence of a long stay in the Ukrainian-speaking environment are outlined. The attitude of the informants towards the Ukrainian and Russian languages and the state language policy has been clarified. Their vision of the future language situation in Ukraine is characterized. External and internal factors that influenced the language adaptation of the informants have been identified, among which the language environment and political beliefs of the interviewees become the most important. Language adaptation of each of the interviewees takes place differently, although they live in a Ukrainian-speaking environment for approximately the same period. Du­ring adaptation, respondents did not face discrimination based on language or nationality. All interviewees emphasized the benevolent attitude of the locals towards them and did not witness language conflicts during their stay in the Ukrainian-speaking environment. Language adaptation of the informants takes place simultaneously with their socio­cultural adaptation. All interviewees have adopted local customs and traditions. Some speakers even have changed their political beliefs. Under the influence of the dominant Ukrainian language in this environment, significant changes have been in the language life of only those informants who wanted it themselves. The results of the informant’s language adaptation have influenced the future language and national identification of their children and grandchildren. Keywords: language biography, language adaptation, language behavior, language identity, language environment.