Language shift in Srednekolymsk district: a sociolinguistic analysis of Even and Sakha Language

Within the context of the global crisis of language shift, investigating the mechanisms of language shift in vulnerable language ecologies, such as the Russian Arctic, is of paramount importance. This article presents a sociolinguistic analysis of the dynamics of language shift among the Even and Sakha-speaking population of the Srednekolymsk District, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The primary aim of this research was to identify the specific features of language shift and the extent of this process based on original field materials. The empirical foundation comprises data collected during expeditions to eight settlements in the district in 2025. A mixed-methods approach was employed, which included linguistic biographies, a picture description task to analyze spontaneous Sakha speech, and the narrative “Bridge Story” task to assess the language proficiency of the younger generation. The theoretical framework is grounded in the principles of critical sociolinguistics and Lenore Grenoble’s multi-level model of language shift, which considers the interplay of macro-, meso-, and micro-factors. The results reveal a profound, multi-level shift in these settlements: the Even language has almost completely lost its everyday communicative function, surviving only in marginal symbolic and ritual niches, while the Sakha language is undergoing intense Russian influence, manifesting in syntactic calquing, lexical interference, and simplification of the morphological system, particularly in the speech of children and adolescents. A significant finding is the identified potential for establishing stable everyday bilingualism among a portion of high school students. Practically, the study provides evidence for developing Arctic language policies and revitalization programs that promote functional bilingualism through coordinated institutional, educational, and community measures