According to Russian authorities, the number of speakers of all local languages in the Volga region is rapidly declining, with the exception of the Russian language. The situation of the Finno-Ugric languages is particularly noteworthy. The number of Udmurt speakers has decreased by 21% between the last census periods, the number of Komi-Permyak speakers has fallen by 35%, and the number of Mordvin speakers (as the authorities refer to the combination of Erzya and Moksha languages) by 44%. On the eve of International Mother Language Day, as part of the Idel.Realii project Inside Out, the organisation spoke with Finnish sociolinguist Annika Pasanen about the situation of Finno-Ugric languages in Russia and Finland, and how the situation has changed since Vladimir Putin came to power. According to the expert, who was involved in projects for the preservation and development of Finno-Ugric languages in Russia, the political situation changed drastically in the early 2000s, when it gradually became impossible to implement language projects in pre-school educational institutions.

– Were you surprised by the 2021 census data regarding Finno-Ugric languages?

– Unfortunately, I must say no, because the trend has been negative for a long time. The situation is currently very dire.

– In the early 2000s, you were one of those who helped Finno-Ugric peoples introduce a methodology called “language nests” in kindergartens. What was this methodology and was it fully implemented?

– “Language nests” are one of the most effective ways to revive an endangered language. It should be understood that this is not a Finnish methodology or innovation; it is an international methodology. It was first used in New Zealand to revive the Māori language. It was used because that language was threatened with extinction – the younger generation was no longer using it. From New Zealand, this methodology arrived here in Finland. A “language nest” is a very simple thing. It is a kindergarten group where, from the first day, only the endangered language is spoken to the children. In this way, children start to understand it very quickly; the adults systematically speak only in that language, and the children learn the language from them.
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