The impact of urbanization on the transmission of the culture and language of the Sakha people: a sociological analysis
V.S. Efimov, A.V. Lapteva, and E.I. Mikhailova
Siberian Federal University, North-Eastern Federal University
E-mail: expert.sfu@gmail.com
Keywords: Northern peoples, Sakha, Yakut, urbanization, demographic changes, cultural changes, culture transmission, language transmission.
Abstract: The article discusses the impact of urbanization on the transmission of Sakha people identity, culture, and language in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Based on the results of a sociological survey, ethno-cultural identity of villagers and fi rst and second generation urban dwellers is assessed. People living in towns, especially the descendants of townsfolk, show signifi cant differences from the villagers in several respects: they plan to have fewer children, are less related to tribal clans, their ethnic identity is transformed, they are adopting Russian as an everyday language and are less involved in folk culture. It is predicted that the impact of urbanization will fully manifest itself 20–25 years later following a rise in the share of second generation urban dwellers in the Sakha population.