1. What is the demography of the language?
The Chechen language, or Tsjetsjeens, is a branch of Vainakh of the Northeast Caucasian language family (Nakh-Daghestanian) and has an approximate number of 1.2 – 1.5 million speakers. According to Thompson (2013), the language can be found in the Republic of Chechnya (Russia), Dagestan, Georgia, and can also be found in Central Asian countries like Turkey and Jordan as a result of the Chechen diaspora.
2. What historical events led to the physical threats that the language faces?
Many events that lead to majority of the physical threats that the language faced were from Russia. In the 18th century, Russia put forth effort to conquer many indigenous people and their land areas. When it came to the Chechens, much of the Chechen’s resistance to the Russians was led by charismatic Muslim leaders. Conversion to Islam resulted in participation in this resistance movement and solidified Chechen national consciousness of their language and culture through the religion. However during Soviet occupation in the early 20th century, approximately half of …show more content…
During Soviet occupation, approximately half of the Chechen population was either killed or deported. The Chechen language, culture, and nationality was banned during this era. In the 1930s, nearly 20% of the Chechen population was killed from purges and forced collectivization by the Soviets. In 1944, another 25% or so Chechens died from starvation and disease. This occurred when a mass deportation of Chechens was initiated and sent on their way to Kazakhstan or Siberia. Families were torn apart and children received little education or exposure to the Chechen language. As a result of this colonization, mass migrations, etc. (ties to answer #2), generations of Chechens who were deported became Russian-dominant bilinguals with very limited proficiency in
The Chechen language, or Tsjetsjeens, is a branch of Vainakh of the Northeast Caucasian language family (Nakh-Daghestanian) and has an approximate number of 1.2 – 1.5 million speakers. According to Thompson (2013), the language can be found in the Republic of Chechnya (Russia), Dagestan, Georgia, and can also be found in Central Asian countries like Turkey and Jordan as a result of the Chechen diaspora.
2. What historical events led to the physical threats that the language faces?
Many events that lead to majority of the physical threats that the language faced were from Russia. In the 18th century, Russia put forth effort to conquer many indigenous people and their land areas. When it came to the Chechens, much of the Chechen’s resistance to the Russians was led by charismatic Muslim leaders. Conversion to Islam resulted in participation in this resistance movement and solidified Chechen national consciousness of their language and culture through the religion. However during Soviet occupation in the early 20th century, approximately half of …show more content…
During Soviet occupation, approximately half of the Chechen population was either killed or deported. The Chechen language, culture, and nationality was banned during this era. In the 1930s, nearly 20% of the Chechen population was killed from purges and forced collectivization by the Soviets. In 1944, another 25% or so Chechens died from starvation and disease. This occurred when a mass deportation of Chechens was initiated and sent on their way to Kazakhstan or Siberia. Families were torn apart and children received little education or exposure to the Chechen language. As a result of this colonization, mass migrations, etc. (ties to answer #2), generations of Chechens who were deported became Russian-dominant bilinguals with very limited proficiency in