Russian language returns to Georgia

The popularity of studying the Russian language has increased in Georgia. Experts think this trend is natural, due to historic traditions and the useless attempts of the previous authorities to impose English on people as an alternative to Russian.

One of the leading Georgian linguists, PhD (philology), professor of Tbilisi State University, Kakha Gabunia, told Vestnik Kavkaza about the reasons for President Saakashvili’s failure in the linguistic sphere.

-          Why do you think interest in studying Russian is growing?

-          It is not only because it is easier and cheaper to learn the Russian language in Georgia than English or French, even though this fact should be considered as well. However, the main reason is the environment, i.e. family, school, communication, the information space, and many other components. The generation which received an education in the USSR and grew up in the relevant linguistic environment still dominates the social life of the country. The key moment is to pass a linguistic tradition down from parents to children. In a family where parents speak Russian fluently, it is easier for children to learn Russian than English or French.

-          Then why is the number of those who want to learn Russian growing just now?

-          It is a result of political factors – the change in power and an improvement in the rhetoric toward Russia, as well as attempts to approach the northern neighbor. 35% of respondents think it is necessary to study the Russian language for quick professional and career growth. However, this necessity existed under the previous authorities as well, but changes in foreign policy and relations with Russia turned a theoretical opportunity into a certain function.

The former authorities tried to influence the linguistic situation mechanically, and this led to a slowdown of natural processes. The linguistic topic was a taboo under Saakashvili’s governance. The number of Russian schools and Russian sectors were reduced artificially. They took an opportunity away from children. And this is a violation of a fundamental European norm: a positive cannot be established by destroying an existing positive; and one shouldn’t take away opportunities and rights from a person, even if it is motivated by the creation of an alternative.

Nobody is against in-depth study of English, but it shouldn’t be done to the disadvantage of the Russian language, which is spoken by millions of Georgians, considering a favorable social environment.

-          What are the components of “the favorable environment”? One of my friends said that his five-year-old son learnt Russian by watching cartoons dubbed into Russian.

-          Do you know many children who have learnt English by watching cartoons in English? It is simplification. We shouldn’t connect such a complicated question with one aspect only. That’s how some officials of Saakashvili’s administration thought: we will show American movies without translation, forbid movies in Russian, and people will begin speaking English.

-          Many representatives of our generation really quote favorite American movies in Russian.

-          Yes, but we shouldn’t overemphasize this factor. It is necessary to combine many motivations, the great number of important and secondary impetuses, so as a result we will achieve an all-round spread of language rather than establish an environment where this or that foreign language dominates, like the Russian language used to dominate in the Soviet period.

Rating the factors, I would stress two very important ones – school and family. And they complement each other. English couldn’t replace Russian in the last 10 years, despite intensive teaching in schools, and a gap appeared – they learned English in schools, but their parents didn’t speak English.

Third place is taken by the information space. So there can be no “revolutions” in the linguistic sphere, while Saakashvili’s policy was not only illusive, but also counterproductive.

-          Sometimes they say that a small country should choose one of great world languages to be its “political language”, i.e. a language of communication with the world and a means of participating in global processes. What do you think about the bilingualism theory?

-          I think it’s absolutely normal. But I would say it is not bilingualism, but multilingualism. In our situation it is quite real that a common Georgian speaks both Russian and English. It is incorrect to say that one is more important than the other. The domination of this or that language depends on the economy, first of all, and people’s demands. Any artificial interference in the process is senseless and counterproductive.

-          I remember that some linguists promoted the theory that bilingualism and multilingualism prevent a child from forming a firm ethnic-national consciousness, i.e. a national identity…

-          It’s nonsense! This racist theory doesn’t deserve even serious discussion. The theory was supported by nationalists who fought against the USSR, i.e. for political reasons. The problem is pedagogical. However, it has nothing in common with forming ethnicity or national identity.