MULTILINGUALISM MODEL IN THE AZERBAIJANI LANGUAGE ENVIRONMENT: FUNCTIONAL DIVISION OF AZERBAIJANI, RUSSIAN, AND ENGLISH

Abstract

This article analyses the Azerbaijani environment for the functional usage and division of three languages as English, Russian and Azerbaijani. It also throws a quick glance onto the conditions of shaping the multilingual conditions in Azerbaijan, makes analyses related to the historical backgrounds. The author reasons the historical in-country language situations and brings the convincing examples of the second language preference by the country speakers. It is stated that the main postulation from the sociolinguistics view in this choice is not connected with accepting or ignoring this or other language, but but also the issue of which areas, by which social groups, and for which communicative purposes these languages are used. It also underlines that from a sociolinguistics point of view, the position of languages in society is determined not only by their legal status, but also by their functional load. However, the diffusion of Global Languages is also considered as the inevitable stampede towards English, the counter-pressures in the form of ethnic efforts to reverse or slow the process, the continued determination of nation-states to assert national identity through language, and, in an opposite direction, the greater tolerance shown to multilingualism. The article highlights that the dominance of language in the functional division is especially clearly observed in the case of Azerbaijan, because Azerbaijani language is the main means of national statehood and social integration. It further argues that the concept of state language is not limited to the sphere of official administration. The state language also serves to form national memory, cultural heritage and a sense of social unity. The author brings forward the major argumentation that, in the conditions of globalization, the position of the national language should be strengthened not only by its protection, but also by its use in modern scientific and technological fields. This idea expresses one of the main principles of modern language policy: the national language should be not only a carrier of the past, but also a means of communication for the future. The spread of English in Azerbaijan has some positive sociocultural consequences. However, some scholars are not unanimous referring to the European policy about dominance of English language or World Englishes. Finally, the article resumes that the functional division of the trilingual situation is shaped as following: “-Azerbaijani language - internal sociocultural integration; - Russian language - historical and regional information relations; - English language - global communication and international cooperation”