Cultural Influence On Russian Culture

Each language shapes its own culture within a country by allowing people to create an unique identity. Migration from other places, from history, has contributed to the richness in diversity of cultures, ethnicities and most importantly, languages, in developed countries. Prominently in Russia, the native people acquire descent from numerous ethnicities around the world such as Turks, Iranians, early Mongols, Turks, Jews, and Samoyeds (Central Intelligence Agency). Due to the vast cultural influences that impact Russian culture, distinct languages and cultures were bound to emerge from these outside influences from history. Currently, there are over 180 minority languages developed in Russia (BBC). While there is evident language diversity
Russia is currently undergoing a massive case of cultural assimilation where the language and Russian ‘culture’ is ideally centralized while ignoring the diversity that shaped Russian ‘culture’ first (Bridge). Globalization and urbanization driven by technology leads people to give up their traditional languages plus culture. People are inclined to switch to a different language and give up their heritage altogether if it ensures social and economic stability (Seyfeddinipur). Although acculturation to national languages provides simple adaption to predominant culture and lifestyles, language and cultural assimilation in Russia (such as centralization of the national language to Russian) yields significant problems such as endangerment of minor Russian languages, cultural identity loss, and the destructive system of Russification.

Minor Russian languages are on the brink to becoming endangered due to mass assimilation to popular culture in Russia. Tuvan, a minor Russian language, acquires an average of 235,000 native speakers (Rymer). While it is not currently an
Russification is a form of cultural assimilation process during which non-Russian communities, voluntarily or not, give up their culture and language in favor of the Russian one (Trueman). The term refers to both official and unofficial policies for national minorities in Russia, aimed at Russian domination. Russification was constructed in 1770 and still continues today in present-day Russia. Most of these “non-Russian” communities are areas that seceded from Russia but maintain strong Russian culture. Current Russian president, Vladimir Putin, supports Russification to the extent of forcing former Russian areas to accept the dominant Russian culture and learn the central language, Russian. Putin reiterates the seemingly positive aspect of Russification,“This civilizational identity is based on preservation of Russian cultural dominance, which is not only carried by ethnic Russians, but all carriers of this identity regardless of nationality. This is the cultural code that has, in the recent years, been subject to some serious trials, which people have tried and continue to try to break” (Bridge). While Russification displays a sense of unity within the country and other surrounding areas, imposing a different culture or language on a group of people removes their culture they have established within their own community.