Article

Name: The linguistic well-being of the Sakha people in the context of active bilingualism: an ethnosociolinguistic dimension

Authors: Nina I. Ivanova

Institute for Humanities Research and Indigenous Studies of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

The linguistic well-being of non-dominant languages is determined by a multitude of non-linguistic factors that collectively create conditions for development, assimilation, or integration. This article aims to systematize the concept of linguistic well-being and, adopting a cross-cultural perspective, assess the linguistic well-being of Sakha speakers residing in Yakutsk. The study draws on sociolinguistic survey data and interview transcripts from Sakha and Russian residents of Yakutsk (2007, 2024, 2025). Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the essence of linguistic well-being is explicated for the first time using Yakut material. For young people, it entails a balanced bilingual environment with opportunities for func-tional bilingualism that transform with age. Conversely, adult informants project the concept on-to the entire ethnic community, justifiably highlighting an imbalance in the main regulated spheres of communication. The landscape of linguistic well-being in Yakutsk is marked by contrasting assessments: favorable prospects for the Russian language among native Russian speakers, but unfavorable prospects for native Sakha speakers due to challenges in intergenerational transmission and language reproduction. Notably, the confidence level of Yakut speakers exactly matches the anxiety level of Russian speakers. This dynamic reflects an interdependent relationship within a shared communicative space, underscoring the necessity of ensuring the linguistic well-being of both communities. Finally, the rising social status of the Yakut language is recognized both by the Sakha community and by one-third of the Russian-speaking respondents.

Keywords: linguistic well-being, prospects of the native language, bilingualism, comfortable communication, behavioral component, cross-cultural approach, Sakha, Russians

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