Problems of preserving the languages of the peoples of the North Caucasus in the modern period

Abstract

The paper analyzes the language policy and its implementation in the North Caucasus in the modern period. The experience of the work of the state authorities and educational institutions in the language sphere is studied. It is noted that in Russia the problem of preserving the languages of the peoples of the country, including the peoples of the North Caucasus, became urgent after the native (national) languages were excluded from the federal educational standard. After some discontent, amendments were adopted to the articles of the law ‘On education in the Russian Federation’. Students in Russian schools were provided the opportunity to study Russian as a native language along with the possibility of receiving education in their native languages from among the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation. The subjects of the Russian Federation have sufficiently developed laws and regulations that ensure the preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the North Caucasus. The paper investigates the factors that negatively affect functioning of the languages of the peoples of the North Caucasus, and the role and significance of the Russian language in interethnic relations.