Sociolinguistic aspects of Tungusic

This chapter focuses on the current sociolinguistic status of the Tungusic languages in Russia: (Siberian) Ewenki, Neghidal, Ewen, Oroch Udihe, Nanai, Ulcha, and Uilta. Language endangerment has become an increasingly important topic in general linguistics only since the 1980s. Considering the fact that almost all Tungusic languages are not spoken at home any more, the children can only study their ethnic languages at schools, where learning begins from zero level. While reflecting a change in the attitude towards ethnic languages, they are also conditioned by the unavailability of competent teachers in many remote settlements. In public opinion, the ethnic languages are increasingly often regarded as a mere attribute facilitating the process of cultural acquisition, rather than as a functional means of communication. Book publishing activity in minority languages is traditionally comparatively developed in Russia. The only sphere where all Tungusic languages are still used is in cultural and folklore activities.