What does this research mean for the field?

First-generation immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Western Europe perpetuate the status of the Russian language and culture in their language practices, while also developing symbolic ethnicities and evolving attitudes towards ethnic languages. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research investigates the relationship between languages and ethnic identities among post-Soviet immigrants in Western Europe.

February 20, 2026

Multilingualism of post-Soviet migration from an ‘ethnic’ perspective: Functional patterns, identities, and language attitudes

Key Points

This research investigates the relationship between languages and ethnic identities among post-Soviet immigrants in Western Europe.
Conducted participant observation and sociolinguistic interviews with 26 first-generation immigrants from Russia and Kazakhstan.
Utilized critical ethnographic sociolinguistics as the research framework.
Employed qualitative analysis to interpret language use and attitudes.
First-generation immigrants maintain the role of Russian language and culture from the USSR in their new communities.
Russian language serves as an economic resource within the Russian-speaking diaspora.
Emergence of 'symbolic ethnicities' due to fragmented social networks and transnationalism.
Increasing appreciation for ethnic languages and cultures among the immigrant population.

Abstract

Aims and objectives: This research project investigates the interplay between languages and ethnicities among multilingual and ethnically diverse groups of immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Western Europe, focusing on specific trends and features. Particular emphasis is placed on the functional patterns of language use, language attitudes, and the negotiation of language and ethnic identity. Methodology: This study is situated within the framework of critical ethnographic sociolinguistics. Data and analysis: The research is based on participant observation and sociolinguistic interviews conducted with 26 first-generation immigrants from Russia and Kazakhstan. A qualitative method of data analysis was employed to interpret the findings. Findings and conclusion: The findings indicate that first-generation immigrants perpetuate the status of the Russian language and culture from the USSR in their language practices within their new localities. In the host countries, both ethnic and Russian languages begin to fulfil the ‘internal’ language function – a language employed for communication among people who share common values, memories, and a historical past – albeit in a different manner. Moreover, Russian emerges as an economic resource within the Russian-speaking community abroad. The lack of extensive ‘ethnic’ social networks, the fragmentation of this group, the high level of education, and transnationalism of modern migration contribute to the emergence of ‘symbolic ethnicities’ and reinforce the aforementioned functions of Russian. Concurrently, attitudes towards language are evolving, with an increasing appreciation for ethnic languages and cultures becoming evident. Originality: Analysing the multilingualism of post-Soviet migration from an ‘ethnic’ perspective provides valuable insights into the relationships between ethnic and Russian languages and identities, and highlights the ‘exported’, transformed, and novel language functions and attitudes that arise in the migration context. Significance and implications: The findings of this research offer new perspectives on multilingualism of post-Soviet migration regarding the interplay among languages, ethnicities, cultures, and social networks.

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