Contested Languages: On Multilingualism in Europe and National Identity

The article, based on the collective monograph «Contested Languages: The Hidden Multilingualism of Europe» (2021), edited by M. Tamburelli and M. Tosco, analyses the language situation in the modern world using the example of the European countries. Attention is paid to the issue of the contested languages that usually do not receive state support and are endangered. The interests of the speakers are not taken into account in the political, economic and cultural programs. This fact causes concerns of the general public, scientists, and officials involved in language policy. Currently there is an increasing tendency to identify languages that is based on socio-political considerations rather than linguistic criteria. The purpose of the article is to consider the issues of hidden multilingualism. The issue of contested languages is relevant for Russia as well, whose citizens use 159 native languages, excluding dialects.

Europe, European Union, Russia, European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, languages of uncertain status, language policy, security, national (self) identification