Determinants of language use and language policies after "perestroika" (1991-2015): Tatar language in Russia and Russian language in Kazakhstan

Language preservation is one of the most important functions of a state. National language is one of the most crucial parts in a national identity development, strengthening or protection. Its loss might be one of the key challenges in a nation’s historical development. In order to design and implement a proper language policy one should identify factors influencing its loss, and, based on the findings, give recommendations for implementation of a proper policy. In the framework of this research, the author analyzed the language policies of Tatarstan and Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the two former parts of USSR took different roads in terms of their language policy development. The goal of this research was to identify the best language policy practices (on a more successful example of Kazakhstan), which would suite best the Republic of Tatarstan, through the study of the determinants of language use. To achieve this goal, the author conducted an analysis and comparison of language policies, programs and projects implemented after Perestroika until 2015 in both Tatarstan and Kazakhstan, and a review of previous empirical studies. The impact of socioeconomic status, cultural and social capitals on language use and their relevancy was also studied. As a result, the author identified the most important elements of the language policy of Kazakhstan, which could be borrowed and applied in Tatarstan, and provided recommendation on how the authorities of Tatarstan and of the Russian Federation should proceed in order to support and protect the titular language of the republic.