Browsing by Author "Inan, Kayhan"

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    Being a Young Speaker of the Gagauz Language in Post-Soviet Context
    (2023) Inan, Kayhan; Kirmizi, Gulin Dagdeviren
    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 semistructured 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.
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    'They Are Asking Me Why I Am Speaking Gagauz': Family Language Practices And The Level Of Linguistic (In)Security Of Adolescents Speaking An Endangered Language
    (2022) Dagdeviren-Kirmizi, Gulin; Inan, Kayhan
    In this study, the relationship between the family language practice and the level of linguistic (in)security of adolescent Gagauz speakers is examined in the context of an endangered language. To this end, a language-use questionnaire and linguistic insecurity scale were administered to 674 participants. The questionnaire included questions exploring demographic information, self-reported language skills, language acquired at home, parents' speaking proficiency and the language of interaction. The linguistic insecurity scale comprised (self)-evaluations of language practices, linguistic status and linguistic quality. Using a quantitative methodology, ten interviews were conducted. The findings show that the participants felt more secure while using Russian and there was a strong correlation between family language practice and linguistic insecurity perceived by the adolescent speakers. Moreover, language choice in interactions was found to be speaker-specific. In other words, as a part of the family language policy, the participants spoke Gagauz with their parents, siblings and grandparents. In some cases, however, the language choice was based on the ethnicity of the interlocutor and the language which friends and neighbours were speaking. It was found that although speakers felt secure and motivated to speak the Gagauz language, the use of Gagauz seemed to be limited to family contexts.