Kazachstano lietuvių kilmės diasporos saitai su lietuvio etnine tapatybe ir lietuvių kalba

Abstract

This article focuses on the diasporas of Lithuanian Origin in Kazakhstan and their links with Lithuanian ethnic identity and the Lithuanian language. This research aims to answer the question of what strategies were chosen by three generations of the target diaspora to maintain Lithuanian identity and the Lithuanian language. Also, the paper is exploring the reasons that encouraged specific decisions and behavior of the target diaspora. The research material was 38 qualitative semi-structured interviews collected in November 2021 during the expedition in Kazakhstan. The interviews were qualitatively analysed using the adapted Bamberg’s (2011) Narrative Practice and Identity Navigation model. The analysis of the case of the diaspora of Lithuanian origin in Kazakhstan revealed that three generations of the diaspora have preserved their Lithuanian ethnic identity and expressed favorable attitudes towards Lithuanianness, Lithuania, and Lithuanians. However, the Lithuanian language, which is not necessarily considered part of the ethnic identity of the target group, was not maintained. It can be said that the second generation does not know the Lithuanian language. However, the third generation shows a more active relationship with the Lithuanian language and wants to learn it. There are various reasons why the Lithuanian language is not being passed down to the next generations, namely: 1) the consequences of social trauma, such as the abandonment of the first generation’s language as a survival strategy; state policies promoting Russification; 2) the formation of mixed families of deportees, 3) conflicts between the first generation and their relatives in Lithuania, the broken contacts reduced the possibilities of communication in Lithuanian; lack of available Lithuanian-speaking individuals to communicate with, as there are no larger Lithuanian communities; 4) the pursuit of economic prosperity and integration, particularly for those who voluntarily migrated to Kazakhstan, etc.Straipsnyje dėmesys sutelkiamas į Kazachstano lietuvių kilmės diasporą, jos saitus su etnine lietuvio tapatybe ir lietuvių kalba. Tyrimo tikslas – atsakyti į klausimą, kokias lietuviškos tapatybės ir lietuvių kalbos išlaikymo strategijas rinkosi kelios Kazachstano diasporos kartos ir kokios priežastys skatino konkrečius sprendimus. Tiriamoji medžiaga – 38 kokybiniai pusiau struktūruoti interviu, surinkti 2021 m. lapkritį ekspedicijoje Kazachstane, kurioje dalyvavo LMT remiamo projekto „Prievartinės migracijos iš Lietuvos diasporos Rytuose ir jų tapatybė: Užvolgio ir Kazachstano atvejai“ tyrėjų grupė. Atliekant kokybinę interviu analizę pasitelkta Michaelio Bambergo (2011) naratyvinės praktikos prieiga. Duomenų analizė atskleidė, kad trys diasporos kartos išlaikė savo lietuvišką etninę tapatybę ir reiškia palankias nuostatas lietuviškumo, Lietuvos, lietuvių atžvilgiu. Tačiau nebuvo išlaikyta lietuvių kalba, kuri nebūtinai laikoma etninės tapatybės dalimi