Vol 3, No 1 (2025)
- Year: 2025
- Articles: 6
- URL: https://macrosociolingusictics.ru/MML/issue/view/2024
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.22363/2949-5997-2025-3-1
Full Issue
Typology of language situations
Bilingualism and linguistic identity: Language planning strategies in multilingual Kazakhstan, Canada, and Belgium
Abstract
In an environment of concurrent trends toward globalization and regionalization, as well as the strengthening of processes associated with the reinforcement of national identity, the effective management of linguistic diversity becomes a key task for multilingual and multicultural states. These processes affect both indigenous titular and minority languages, as well as exogenous standard languages. Bilingualism, being the norm in such societies, is not only a linguistic phenomenon but also a powerful factor in shaping identity that requires thoughtful policy. The aim of this study is to analyze how bilingualism affects language identity and what the strategies for its regulation are in contexts with different sociolinguistic configurations of language situations. Based on a macro-sociolinguistic approach and a comparative analysis of the language policy models of Kazakhstan, Canada, and Belgium, the study shows that the success of measures to regulate and manage multilingualism directly correlates with the consideration of the specifics of the language situation. Primarily, this refers to parameters such as the type of territorial distribution of languages, the type of their standardization, the degree of autochthonous status, and its significance for the language community. The results demonstrate that the sustainability of multilingualism and the avoidance of conflict dynamics directly depend on systemic state support and management, the effective model of which can vary: asymmetric bilingualism in Kazakhstan, institutional in Canada, territorial in Belgium. The key conclusion is that the success of language policy is based on flexible and inclusive strategies that integrate education, media, and intercultural dialogue, where bilingualism is viewed as a resource for social development and integration, rather than as a problem.
7-18
Colombian language identity: Social images of Spanish dialects
Abstract
The Colombian variety of the Spanish language is analyzed through the lens of social representations of regional dialects that shape national linguistic identity. The study utilized data obtained from 62 native speakers of the Colombian Spanish variety, revealing key parameters in the formation of this identity. Indicators reveal a high level of identification with Colombianisms (80.3%) and strong support for preserving dialects (88.7%). The uniqueness of Colombian Spanish is articulated by respondents through its accent, lexicon, and status as a cultural asset (70.5%). The study analyzes social factors determining the vitality and symbolic functions of Colombianisms: the idiom’s status, its role in prestigious discourses (including educational ones), and its use in everyday communication. In parallel, the variability of linguistic units is considered as a key resource for constructing regional identity. The results underscore the dynamism of Colombian Spanish, which, while adapting to contemporary challenges, maintains its role as a fundamental element of national culture.
19-33
Sociolinguistic analysis of Almaty language environment in the context of official bilingualism
Abstract
The study is devoted to an analysis of the modern language situation in Kazakhstan using the example of Almaty city. The aim of this research is to study sociolinguistic attitudes, level of functional proficiency in languages and their daily application in the context of Kazakhstan bilingualism. Based on the empirical data obtained during a socio-linguistic survey of Almaty residents, we considered the features of proficiency in Kazakh and Russian languages in daily communication. The methodological framework includes a quantitative analysis of survey results, as well as statistical testing of hypotheses using Pearson’s chi-squared test. Research established the presence of meaningful connections between variables, including mother tongue, first language, language of instruction and mastery of the Kazakh language, in particular understanding, speaking, reading and writing. The authors also discussed how formal language settings relate to real communicative practices, and what influences the desire to learn languages. The results of this study provide an empirical basis for further sociolinguistic research and emphasize the importance of mainstreaming biographical and educational factors in language policy development of multilingual society.
34-57
Literary Arabic and the Syrian dialect: Functional distribution and language attitudes in Syria
Abstract
The study is devoted to analyzing the current problem of diglossia in the Arab world, in particular in the Syria. The main issue facing the researchers concerns the establishment of the actual status and functional load of literary Arabic (LA) and its dialects in the conditions of their coexistence, as well as the identification of sociolinguistic factors that determine the choice of language variant in various communicative situations. The purpose of the study is to identify trends in the use of both LA and its dialects, and to determine native speakers’ attitudes towards each of these language varieties. Data were collected via a sociological survey of 1,010 respondents, predominantly from the Syria, and analysed using statistical methods. The key results indicate the persistence of diglossia, where dialects prevail in the everyday sphere, and LA is used in the official sphere. A decrease in the use of LA is observed among the younger generations. Despite the widespread use of dialects in everyday life, most respondents remain unwilling to support their recognition as full-fledged languages, which is a consequence of the existing and persistent ideology.
58-70
Emotional expression and linguistic identity in a multilingual Morocco
Abstract
This study explores the sociolinguistic phenomenon of emotional expression in foreign languages among Moroccan speakers, with a particular focus on the shift away from Darija in emotionally charged communication. Drawing on qualitative data collected through a structured questionnaire, the analysis centers on 64 open-ended responses to three key questions concerning the preference for foreign languages, emotional change across languages, and future linguistic tendencies in Morocco. Thematic coding of the responses reveals several recurring patterns: the perceived lexical richness and expressiveness of English and French, the emotional comfort and detachment offered by non-native languages, and the influence of globalized media and multilingual educational systems. Additionally, the study highlights a growing sociocultural reorientation among Moroccan youth, with foreign languages often seen as more prestigious or better suited to expressing emotionally charged discourse. While some responses indicate a concern about the marginalization of local languages, others foresee a hybrid or multilingual future in which Darija coexists with global linguistic trends. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of language, identity, and emotional expression in multilingual societies and open space for further research on language prestige, emotional fluency, and cultural affiliation in contemporary Morocco.
71-80
Scientific events. Briefs. Book reviews
81-90





