Towards Linguistic Diversity Management in the Baltic States
Publisher: ECMI Volume: 28 pages, pdf Description: Estonian and Latvian languages were important components of local identity and statehood. A low level of proficiency in local languages by minorities was perceived as a constant threat to the unity of relevant societies. These concerns were intensified by a rapid increase in the minority population under Soviet rule. Positive changes in the level of minorities' proficiency in local official languages have not yet been awarded with considerable attitudinal changes in regard to minorities among members of the majority population. Russian is the mother tongue for one third of the total population in Estonia and Latvia (see Tables 1, 2 and 3 in the Appendix), and ethnic Estonians and Latvians still consider themselves as minorities vis-à-vis Russians or Russian-speakers.