LANGUAGE FACTORS OF CIVIC IDENTITY FORMATION

Abstract

The article analyses the problem of students’ civic identity and studies its language factors. The indicators determining civic identity (patriotism, active citizenship, self-realization in the country, devotion to the country) were quite high in university students and corresponded to high and average levels in the most cases. The respondents showed mainly high indicators of ethnic-linguistic identity, which was manifested in high or average levels of positive attitude towards the Ukrainian language, language skills and ethnic-linguistic attitudes. We determined the peculiarities of ethnic-linguistic and civic identity depending on the language (Ukrainian, Russian and both) that students used in everyday communication. Students who spoken Ukrainian had better Ukrainian language skills, a higher positive attitude towards it, higher ethnic-linguistic attitude and better formed civic identity compared to students who spoken Russian. Patriotism and the general level of civic identity were higher in Ukrainian-speaking students compared to bilingual ones (who spoken both languages). We have found that language influences the formation of civic identity of Ukrainian students. However, not simply language skills, but a positive attitude to it, feeling of significance of language as an important element of the value system in the context of civil society consolidation and ethnic-linguistic attitude as a significant marker of belonging to Ukrainian civil society created such influence.