Language Attitudes of Residents of the Republic of Tatarstan: Similarity and Differentiation by Level of Education

In the interests of monitoring interethnic relations and ethno-cultural dynamics in the regions of Russia, the article focuses on the impact of education as a cultural capital on the linguistic representations, orientations and practices of residents of the Republic of Tatarstan. The aim of the study is to identify a measure of discrepancy or, on the contrary, similarity of the language attitudes of Tatarstan residents with secondary and higher education, solved on the basis of materials from a mass representative survey at the place of residence with a sample of 2,000 people. The research includes the tasks of assessing topical issues of linguistic self-determination, behavior and language policy in Russia and Tatarstan through the prism of differences in the educational potential of the population as far as previous studies left the education factor aside without special consideration. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that according to a significant array of measured variables of language attitudes, competencies and behavior, the positions of residents of the republic with secondary and higher education are similar. However, some differences can be seen with regard to the compulsory study of English and Tatar languages as academic subjects and a personal desire to study the Tatar language – holders of university diplomas demonstrate a higher disposition towards other languages, indicating their open-mindedness and focus on knowledge. However, this does not mean that the role of the Russian language, which dominates Russian universities and science, is reduced for them. It is the holders of secondary education who more often resort to the predominantly Tatar language in practice.

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