The second generation of immigrants from the USSR almost does not read in Russian

The general attitude of young Russian-speaking Americans towards the language is “rather positive,” Sam Kliger is convinced. Photo: Denis Terekhov

American sociologist Sam Kliger, who is studying the Russian-speaking community of the United States, in interview with Forum tellsthat immigrants who came to America at a relatively young age (the so-called “generation and a half”) practically do not read or write in Russian. The situation is even more complicated with the “second generation,” that is, with those who were born in the United States in immigrant families.

“Children go to kindergarten, to school, they are socialized in an English-speaking environment, and English is their first language. At the same time, they also retained Russian thanks to their family – grandparents, parents, TV,” says Kliger. — They understand Russian speech perfectly, at least at the everyday level, they speak with varying degrees of success - some better, some worse. But they can no longer read and write. And Russian classics are read in English.”

At the same time, according to the head of the research institute RINA (Research Institute for New Americans), the general attitude of young Russian-speaking Americans towards the language is “rather positive.” Moreover, being Russian and speaking Russian is now “a little cool” for many of them.

“Interesting things happen: in companies they recognize each other by some signs - either by habits, or by the nuances of clothing. The main thing is that they are drawn to each other, which was absolutely not the case before. They show off Russian words, they can swear... And those around them treat them with interest - as those who know another language, who have some special memories, knowledge, their own or received from their parents,” explains Kliger.

As the sociologist says, despite attempts to communicate at the everyday level, it is difficult for them to learn to read and write, since learning the Russian language requires considerable effort, and “only a few are ready to put it in.” In various Russian schools and children's educational centers, it is difficult for people from Russian-speaking families to learn the language perfectly, since for this, Kliger is convinced, they need to “write dictations and read Anna Karenina.”

Sociologist Sam Kliger about how Russian-speaking people are changing in America