SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS OF THE PERCEPTION OF SURZHYK

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of Surzhyk as a linguistic phenomenon and the peculiarities of its perception by speakers. It has been established that Surzhyk is most often associated with colloquial speech, foreign borrowings, dialects, jargon, macaronic language, and mixed language forms. The study presents various definitions of this phenomenon proposed by authoritative Ukrainian linguists. The definition of Surzhyk as a mixed form of Ukrainian-Russian (or Russian-Ukrainian) speech is taken as a basis. The historical preconditions for the emergence of Surzhyk have been analyzed. Since a traditionally established negative attitude toward Surzhyk prevails in linguistics, the article provides quotes from prominent linguists that support this position. Special attention is given to the manipulative aspect of Surzhyk’s use and the arguments explaining its perception as an indicator of language incompetence. The empirical basis of the study consists of the language biographies of students who changed their place of residence due to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Most respondents relocated from regions where Surzhyk predominated. Based on students’ responses, their attitudes toward Surzhyk were characterized. The study revealed that most respondents view Surzhyk positively or neutrally, sometimes even equating it with a dialect. Some students perceive Surzhyk not as a form of the national language but as a separate language, which some even consider their mother tongue. Notably, there are also respondents who believe that, at present, Surzhyk is a significantly better alternative than using the Russian language. Based on the analysis of language biographies, it has been established that most respondents do not perceive Surzhyk as a threat to the state language due to its widespread use. The study suggests that, firstly, Surzhyk serves as a transitional stage from Russian-speaking to Ukrainian-speaking identity, meaning that as speakers improve their proficiency in Ukrainian, they will eventually adopt it fully. Secondly, the necessity of enhancing language education among young people is emphasized as a crucial tool for preserving and developing the Ukrainian language.