Language Standardization as a Form of Resistance in the Face of Russian Linguistic Colonialism (An Example of the Georgian Language of the 19th Century)
Language Standardization as a Form of Resistance in the Face of Russian Linguistic Colonialism (An Example of the Georgian Language of the 19th Century)

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the anatomy of the Russian linguistic colonialism in 19th-century Georgia and the nature, scale, and consequences of its influence on the functioning of the Georgian language. It analyzes the measures taken by Georgian figures of this period to raise the social status of the native language in the face of the challenges of Russian colonialism. It shows how in the changed socio-political situation as a result of the annexation of Georgia, they turned the standardization and codification of the language into one of the strong forms of resistance, with which they opposed the at-tempts of linguistic assimilation coming from the Tsarist government. The article sheds light on the fact that a correct vision of the advanced intelligentsia on language poli-cy and an adequate assessment of the dangers of colonialism often save the colonized languages from being swept away by the dominant language and from extinction. Their consideration of language as one of the main markers of national identity, on the one hand, and the perception of linguistic colonialism as a manifestation of Rus-sian cultural hegemony, the real goal of which was to introduce the imperial cultural norms, values, and ideologies in the colonized country, played an important role in improving the ecological environment of the Georgian language, overcoming the difficulties of the linguistic hierarchy. and, finally, to preserve the national identity.

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