Language shift in employment and the workplace in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Addressing the case of Kazakhstan, this research explores the possibility of an economically “non-dominant” language with symbolic value becoming more dominant in a linguistic hierarchy against the backdrop of more “powerful” language varieties, particularly in domestic economic contexts. Through novel survey and interview data, addressing the usages of and attitudes towards languages in employment and the workplace in Kazakhstan and the concepts of language commodification and social dynamics of language use, it explores four possible scenarios of language shift. It finds early evidence for a possible future language shift towards Kazakh and a continued move towards English in these contexts. This is largely attributed to a general growing desire to learn and use Kazakh for cultural and identity-based reasons and the significant numbers of children now coming through Kazakh-medium of instruction schooling, as well as some interest in Kazakh language services and products. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is also noted as a possible influence. It also identifies the factors limiting the development of Kazakh in these fields and proposes means to rectify these issues, which could also be of benefit to the general development and diversification of the Kazakh economy.