G5 Doctoral dissertation (article)
Russian speakers' acculturation in Finland and Latvia : the role of language and news media engagement (2023)
Khalimzoda, I. (2023). Russian speakers' acculturation in Finland and Latvia : the role of language and news media engagement [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Jyväskylä. JYU dissertations, 708. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-9788-5
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Khalimzoda, Ilkhom
eISBN: 978-951-39-9788-5
Journal or series: JYU dissertations
eISSN: 2489-9003
Publication year: 2023
Number in series: 708
Number of pages in the book: 1 verkkoaineisto (82 sivua, 43 sivua useina numerointijaksoina, 23 numeroimatonta sivua)
Publisher: University of Jyväskylä
Publication country: Finland
Publication language: English
Persistent website address: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-9788-5
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Abstract
This study uses the acculturation framework to engage in a comparative exploration into the acculturation of Russian speakers’ in Finland and Latvia, with a particular focus on media engagement and language preferences. Specifically, I trace the historical trajectory of Russian-language media and the development of the diaspora in Latvia and Finland, spanning from the Russian conquests of Latvia (1710) and Finland (1809) to the 2020s. Acculturation is operationalized in terms of cultural involvement (CI) and cultural preference (CP), following the model proposed by Carlson and Güler (2018), and complemented by news media and language use domains. This dissertation consists of three articles. Drawing on survey data from both countries (N = 224), the study revealed that participants’ CI and CP orientations tended toward a middle point, indicating a state of biculturality. In terms of media use, the overall analysis suggests predominantly higher engagement with non-Russian news media sources compared to Russian ones. However, a closer examination revealed nuanced findings. In terms of language, this research also identified a significant relationship between participants’ CI scores and language proficiency. Going beyond proficiency, the language most frequently used outside the home emerged as a key factor explaining a substantial proportion of the variation in both CI and CP. Applied beyond its original context in the USA, the CI and CP scales proved reliable when tested in the context of Russian speakers in Latvia and Finland. Such measures benefit from creative complements, as exemplified here by the inclusion of language and news media aspects atop acculturation. Possible theoretical and practical implications of the findings are also discussed.
Keywords: Russian speakers; acculturation; adaptation (change); language skills; digital media; migration (demography); doctoral dissertations
Free keywords: Finland; Latvia; accidental diaspora
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2023