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Mordasov M., Smirnova A., Vlakhov A. Our Komi, Their Komi: Izhma Komi Identities through Language Ideologies

M. Mordasov
HSE University
Moscow, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0001-5222-4821
E-mail: matveimordasov@gmail.com

 

A. Smirnova
HSE University
Moscow, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0003-1161-2830
E-mail: a.a.smirnovaaa@gmail.com

 

A. Vlakhov
HSE University
Moscow, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0002-9099-8235
E-mail: avlakhov@gmail.com

 

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ABSTRACT. This paper uses ethnolinguistic methodologies to analyze the identities of Izhma Komi, the northernmost subgroup of the Komi people. Some actors, such as ethnic activists and representatives of the academic community, distinguish and contrast the communities of the Izhemsky District with all other Komi based on language, constructing a distinct Izhma Komi identity and claiming the special status for the Izhma dialect. However, neither linguistic arguments nor the authors’ field data obtained during the 2021-2022 expeditions do not support these views. The overwhelming majority of community members consider the Izhma idiom to be a variety of Komi-Zyrian but not an independent language. Using M. Silverstein’s concepts of linguistic ideologies and M. Bucholtz and K. Hall’s “identity through language”, we determine two major linguistic ideologies behind the identity of the Izhemsky District Komi. In this context, linguistic ideologies are sociocultural constructs that interpret the local residents’ language behavior and attitudes. One is the ideology of locality, built on the opposition of the “local” idiom and the supra-local standard. The other is the ideology of mixture, when the local idiom is identified as “mixed” with Russian as opposed to “pure” Komi spoken in the south. Based on such analysis, conclusions are drawn on the current status of the Izhma Komi identity.

 

KEYWORDS: Komi, Izhma Komi, Izhemsky District, identity, language ideologies, ethnicity construction

 

DOI 10. 312 5 0/2 618 - 8 6 0 0 -2 02 3 -3 (21) -12 5 -142
УДК 39

 

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