Being a Young Speaker of the Gagauz Language in Post-Soviet Context

Year 2023, Issue: 60, 379 - 397, 20.12.2023

Kayhan İnan Gülin Dağdeviren Kırmızı

https://doi.org/10.21563/sutad.1405543

Abstract

The concept of identity assumes great importance in the context of endangered languages. In this study, the identity perceptions of Gagauz adolescents were investigated using Bucholtz and Hall's (2005) sociocultural linguistic approach. To this end, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with three adolescent Gagauz speakers who had distinctive profiles in terms of Gagauz identity. Bucholtz and Hall's indexicality principle, specifically the use of WE- and THEY- references, was taken into consideration in the analysis of interviews held with young Gagauz speakers. In the semi-structured interviews, the participants responded to specific questions that probed self-identification, the relationship between the Gagauz language and ethnicity, the future of Gagauz people and Gagauz language, and perceived linguistic (in)security when speaking Gagauz and Russian languages, as well as language choice at school. The findings show that the participants have different profiles and use various indexical references and linguistic strategies regarding group membership. The influence of Russia and the Russian language on Gagauz identity is salient in social life, bureaucracy, and politics. As a result, the strong identification with ethnic identity and perception of Gagauz identity does not help maintain the Gagauz language in Gagauzia.

Keywords

Gagauz Language, Russian Language, Young Speakers, Identity, Endangered Languages.

Sovyet Sonrası Bağlamında Genç Bir Gagauzca Konuşuru Olmak

Abstract

Kimlik kavramı, tehlike altındaki diller bağlamında büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada Gagauz gençlerin kimlik algıları Bucholtz and Hall (2005) tarafından geliştirilen sosyokültürel dil bilimsel yaklaşım kullanılarak araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla, Gagauz kimliği açısından farklı profillere sahip üç Gagauz konuşuru genç ile yarı yapılandırılmış derinlemesine görüşme gerçekleştirilmiştir. Genç Gagavuz konuşmacılarla gerçekleştirilen görüşmeler, Bucholtz ve Hall'un dizinsellik ilkesi çerçevesinde özellikle BİZ ve ONLAR referanslarının kullanımı bakımından analiz edilmiştir. Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme kapsamında katılımcılar, Gagauz dili ve etnik köken arasındaki ilişkiye, Gagauz halkının ve Gagauz dilinin geleceğine, okuldaki dil seçimlerinde Gagauz ve Rus dillerine yönelik dil bilimsel güven algılarını betimlemeye ilişkin soruları yanıtlamıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, katılımcıların konu ile ilgili farklı profiller çizdiği belirlenmiştir. Grup üyeliği ve kimlik bağlamında görüşmecilerin ilişkin çeşitli dizinsel referanslar ve dil bilimsel stratejiler kullandıkları görülmektedir. Rusya'nın ve Rus dilinin Gagauz kimliği üzerindeki etkisi sosyal hayatta, bürokraside ve siyasette belirgindir. Sonuçlar, Gagauz kimliğinin güçlü bir şekilde etnik kimlikle özdeşleştirilmesinin ve Gagauz kimliği algısının, Gagauz dilinin Gagauz Yeri’nde sürdürülmesine yardımcı olmadığını göstermektedir.

Keywords

Gagauzca, Rusça, Genç Konuşurlar, Kimlik, Tehlike Altındaki Diller.

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