Multilingualism, Russian Language and Education in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

The study provides an overview of the sociolinguistic situation in Kyrgyzstan and the current role of Russian and Kyrgyz in the republic. We present initial results of a mass survey of language use that show that the efforts to introduce the Kyrgyz language on all levels of societal use had some effect. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is a multinational multilingual state with a high degree of mixed marriages and ethnic tolerance. To know the national language is prestigious and important, yet many Kyrgyz and representatives of other ethnicities prefer to have their children instructed mainly in Russian because Russian provides access to better education, employment, information, and economic advancement. Among the Kyrgyz, mastery of their own language is widespread, whereas for other peoples of Kyrgyzstan, understanding of the specific characteristics of the national ethnolinguistic identity is in the process of development.

Keywords:

• Kyrgyz
• Russian
• language policy
• bilingualism
• post-Soviet studies

Notes

1. The number of schools continues to grow, and in the year 2007–2008 more than a hundred new schools were opened in Kyrgyzstan (Erkintoo, 23 November, 2007).

2. More precise data will be provided in later publications, the final published data may be slightly different from the numbers reported here.