Imperial Nation as a Minority Population (U04470)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-4-U04465

The aim of this course is to analyse the state of the Russian language and the cultural identity of Russian speakers in the post-Soviet space, with the focus on Latvia and Ukraine. The course will examine the language policy, educational issues and legal structures that shape the inter-relationship between Russian speakers and non-Russian speakers in Latvia and Ukraine. The course will combine several theoretical approaches used in psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics with the examination of various research findings and statistical analysis obtained through interdisciplinary projects undertaken since the break-up of the Soviet Union. The issue of identity and integration of Russian speakers will be studied within the historical context highlighting the differences between the Soviet and post-Soviet cultures.

? Keywords : Language; language policy; integration; Soviet legacy; post-Soviet space; cultural identity; Russian language.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Pass in Russian Studies 2 Entry to honours in Russian Studies; and at the discretion of the course organiser.

? Costs : None

Subject Areas

Home subject area

European Languages and Cultures - Russian Studies, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Thursday	13:10	13:50	Central
Tutorial	Thursday	14:00	14:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will acquire general knowledge about
linguistic and cultural environment created by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991; they will get a good insights into some post-soviet trends related to the Russian language and Russian speakers; they will learn about cultural and educational policies that affect Russian speakers in Latvia and Ukraine; students will also learn about important sociological, linguistic and psycholinguistic theories that are applicable to the cultural identity of Russian-speaking community in Latvia and Ukraine; students will be able to understand the legacy of the Soviet imperial past and analyse it in an appropriate socio-political context.