EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF INTEGRATION PROCESSES ON THE ETHNOPOLITICAL COMPETITION OF LANGUAGES IN THE BALTIC REGION

Abstract

The impact of integration processes on language learning and usage is traditionally evaluated in the literature through the prism of sociolinguistics or soft power. This article proposes a new conceptual approach based on measuring various aspects of competition between languages. The language integration and monopolisation indices and the multilingualism coefficient serve as measurement tools. The approach is tested on the situation in the Baltic region of the EU. The article uses data from Eurostat, Eurobarometer, and the Baltic statistical offices to analyse the performance of Baltic language markets by assessing the impact of EU integration on the use of languages in the region. The findings show a growing tendency towards multilingualism in countries participating in integration associations. Integration bodies, however, do not give one language precedence over others but encourage the interpenetration of the languages of their leading economies. The main factor behind the demand for a language is the strength of commodity and labour markets in the country where it is spoken. The article concludes that close economic and political integration stimulates heterochronous processes in supranational associations. The first one is increasing monopolisation in the language market of the association and the language markets of its sub-regions. The second process is a decrease in monopolisation in national language markets.