Estonian Territory Research Articles

Russian-Estonian Code-Switching Among Young Estonian Russians: Developing a Mixed Linguistic Identity

RUSSIAN-ESTONIAN CODE-SWITCHING AMONG YOUNG ESTONIAN RUSSIANS: DEVELOPING A MIXED LINGUISTIC IDENTITY Anastassia Zabrodskaja Tallinn University Introduction The study is concerned with conversational functions of Russian-Estonian codeswitching in Kohtla-Jarve, which is a specific region in terms of population structure: Estonians from 20.9 % and Russians 79.1 %. The demographic situation is not homogenous throughout the whole Estonian territory. There are predominantly Russianspeaking areas in North East (Kohtla-Jarve, Narva etc), predominantly Estonian-speaking Western, Central and Southern Estonia, and the capital Tallinn with approximately the same size of the two speech communities (see M. Rannut (2004) , Verschik (2007) for discussion). The internal diversity within the Russian-language community (indigenous group vs. newcomers, self-identification with Estonia or Russia) actuates variations in Estonian language skills, degree of contacts with Estonian, and in linguistic and cultural identity (for more detail see Verschik 2002, 2005). Young Russian-speakers of Kohtla-Jarve have a more sovereign command of the Estonian language than their parents and use their Russian as a strategy to communicate with their parents, but are essentially moving towards primary use of Estonian as they become socialized into the larger society. Changes in language attitudes, self-perception, and linguistic repertoire have occurred during the last ten years. Considerably, the

Characteristics of reeds on Lake Peipsi and the floristic consequences of their expansion

The reeds of Lake Peipsi (surface area 3555 km 2, mean depth 7.1 m, max. depth 15.3 m, not-regulated) have increased through the last 30 years. The most significant increase has taken place in the larger formerly mesotrophic northern part where the mean air-dry biomass of reed shoots has increased from 20 g m −2 in 1970 through 789 g m −2 in 1989 to 1563 g m −2 in 2002. The data of 34 transects for 2001–2002 along the Estonian coast and aerophotos made in 2001 showed that in places reeds reach a water depth of 1 m (mean 0.64 m) and a width of more than 200 m (mean 89.5 m). Their area of 9.3 km 2 accounts for about 0.6% of the Estonian territory of the lake. The longer and thicker shoots grew in the lakeward and intermediate zones of reeds. Near villages the shoots were weaker and their biomass lower. Phosphorus content of shoots, being higher near settlements, was generally low; in some cases content of phosphorus was ≤0.001%. The monotonous reed belt occupies the growth area of shallow-water submergent and shorter emergent species and favours the accumulation of organic sediments. The frequency of several species demanding light and sandy bottom has decreased, as well has the overall diversity of the macrovegetation. The main reasons for expansion of the reed could be eutrophication, combined with low-water periods, and the decline of cattle breeding in the shore areas. Some suppressed species have reappeared on stretches cleaned from reeds.

Snow cover and surface albedo in Estonia

The paper reviews the investigations into snow cover and surface albedo in Estonia. The albedo has been determined by an indirect method using the relationship between the albedo and the snow cover duration in the Tartu-Toravere Actinometric Station over the whole Estonian territory. The parameters of snow such as the duration of snow cover, snow depth and surface albedo show noticeable differences within the range of Estonia: on the islands, in the coastal areas and the Central-Estonia plain their values are lower than in the Pandivere and Haanja uplands and have decreased everywhere over the time span 1962 to 1995. At the same time the areal variability of snow cover duration and surface albedo have increased in Estonia. The snow cover duration is changed above all on the islands, in the western coastal areas and in the Central-Estonian plain. During the observation period the annual duration of snow cover has decreased by 30 days, snow depth by 17 cm. Noticeably decreased by 0.032 is the mean annual surface albedo for the entire Estonia. Changes are most conspicuous in February and March. In March, snow cover duration has decreased by 12 days, snow depth by 3-4 cm, and surface albedo by 0.23. Reduced snow cover and surface albedo in late winter and early spring, caused by increased temperature, strongly intensifies absorption of solar radiation at the surface and thereby leads to an additional increase in air temperatures near the surface. If founded trends continue the climate will change dramatically in Estonia.

SEA-LEVEL RISE IMPACT ON COASTAL AREAS OF ESTONIA

Due to long coastline (3,794 km in total) and extensive low-lying coastal areas, global climate change through sea-level rise will strongly affect the territory of Estonia. A number of valuable natural ecosystems (both, marine and terrestrial) containing rare plant communities often rich in species, but also suitable breeding places for birds will be in danger. Most sandy beaches high in recreative value will disappear. However, isostatic land uplift and location of coastal settlements at a distance from the present coastline reduce the rate of risk. Four case study areas characterizing all the shore types of Estonia have been selected for sea-level rise vulnerability and adaptation assessment. Preliminary results and estimates of vulnerability to 1.0 m sea-level rise by 2075 for two case study areas – Hiiumaa, West-Estonian Archipelago and Parnu-Ikla, south-western coast of the mainland – are presented in this paper.

Fishes, their biology and fisheries management in Lake Peipsi

Lake Peipsi is a large (3558 km2) and relatively shallow (up to 15.3 m) productive smelt-bream-pikeperch lake on the territories of Estonia and Russia. 34 fish and lamprey species inhabit this lake permanently, the main commercial fishes being smelt, perch, ruffe, roach, bream, pike, up to the 1990s also vendace and lately pikeperch. The second-rate commercial fishes are burbot, whitefish, white bream and bleak. In general, the spawning and feeding conditions of fishes are more or less favourable in the lake. Bream and pike grow fast, the majority of the other investigated fish species passably. The total catch of fish has usually been 9000–12000 t (25–34 kg ha−1) a year. As a result of the intensive use of trawls and fine-meshed Danish seines, the stock of pikeperch was strongly suppressed for a long time. After trawls were prohibited and the number of Danish seines considerably restricted, the stock and catches of pikeperch began to grow rapidly; pikeperch has become one of the main commercial fishes in the lake. During the last years the abundance of vendace has sharply decreased, and it has lost (we hope, temporarily) its economic importance. This is probably caused, first of all, by the high mortality of its eggs on the spawning grounds during successive mild winters of the last years. An increasing pressure from pikeperch (a big predator) has also contributed to strong decline of the stock of vendace. It would be reasonable to begin a regular introduction of elvers into the lake.

Fighting for the Mini-State: Four Scenarios

Historically there was a long-standing competition to control Estonian territory, primarily between Russia, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Denmark, until 1710 when this area was conquered and ruled for two centuries by Imperial Russia. In the twentieth century, the only rival to Russia's (USSR's) domination over Estonia has been Germany. A Norwegian security analyst, Olav Knudsen, says correctly that the Baltic states “fall outside all other geographical and political contexts than the Russian and to some extent the German one.” As is known, Estonia was occupied by Germany in the course of the World Wars in 1918 and 1941–44. Generally speaking, the pre-1991 history of Estonia is a good case to prove that the survival of small states as independent powers is precarious, “depending on a multitude of factors over which they have little influence.”