KAMAZ 20 years after

Abstract

The article presents the results of a sociological study devoted to the language, development of ethnic culture and optimization of inter-ethnic relations in the KamAz work teams (Naberezhnie Chelny) in 1990-s as well as the results of the repeated survey conducted in May-June 2014. Over the recent two decades an environment where people can choose their language in the kindergartens and schools have been formed; however the ethno-cultural needs of young people have been decreased. Polyethnic population of the city supports the activities of the national and cultural centers, public and pre-school institutions with in-depth study of language and culture. The ethno-cultural development of the city and republic in the post-Soviet period led to the improvement of the language skills among the urban population of the titular ethnic group including those who studied in the Russian-language school; however, the bilingualism was not achieved. According to the author, it is caused by objective (no demand for the Tatar language; its low prestige) and subjective reasons; psychological changes in the mind of the Tatars and Russian population should also be taken into consideration.