According to the 2002 national census, the Udmurt republic has approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. Of those, only 29.3%, around 500,000 people, are native Udmurt. 7% of the population is Tartar and 3.5% are of other ethnic groups. With Russian as a majority in the republic, making up 60.1% of the population, cultural assimilation is a rampantly growing issue for the native Udmurts.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classified 131 out of the 162 languages spoken in Russia to be endangered. As of the 2010 census, the Udmurt language is considered “definitely endangered”.
In 1926, 99% of Udmurts were fluent in the language; by 1989, this number had dropped to 70%. Today, only 59% of Udmurts speak their native language. But this significant plummet in language fluency is not the cause of cultural assimilation, but an effect.
As early as the 18th century, during a movement to convert Udmurts to Christianity, those who learned Russian disconnected with their Udmurt roots and identified as ethnically Russian. And today, Udmurt is rarely spoken in ethnically heterogeneous urban areas. It is not taught in schools, leading to little exposure of the language towards younger generations. The Udmurt language, when used at all, is mostly spoken by the elderly, in rural Udmurt villages, and in musical tradition.
During our time in the Udmurt Republic, we were lucky enough to experience the culture of the Udmurt people firsthand. We danced and sang to their traditional music. We cooked, but mostly ate, the native cuisine. We even had a language lesson with local students. From this program, I learned the importance of embracing culture. Whether in Los Angeles, California or Ozh Purga, Udmurtia, celebrating life, family, heritage, and friends is a crucial prerequisite for happiness.
-Josie A.
In 1926, 99% of Udmurts were fluent in the language; by 1989, this number had dropped to 70%. Today, only 59% of Udmurts speak their native language. But this significant plummet in language fluency is not the cause of cultural assimilation, but an effect.
As early as the 18th century, during a movement to convert Udmurts to Christianity, those who learned Russian disconnected with their Udmurt roots and identified as ethnically Russian. And today, Udmurt is rarely spoken in ethnically heterogeneous urban areas. It is not taught in schools, leading to little exposure of the language towards younger generations. The Udmurt language, when used at all, is mostly spoken by the elderly, in rural Udmurt villages, and in musical tradition.
During our time in the Udmurt Republic, we were lucky enough to experience the culture of the Udmurt people firsthand. We danced and sang to their traditional music. We cooked, but mostly ate, the native cuisine. We even had a language lesson with local students. From this program, I learned the importance of embracing culture. Whether in Los Angeles, California or Ozh Purga, Udmurtia, celebrating life, family, heritage, and friends is a crucial prerequisite for happiness.
-Josie A.
Sources: Education in Udmurt and Chuvash as minority Languages in Russia
Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1" [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
World Directory of Minorities: Udmurts
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/02/19/Udmurts.pdf
Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1" [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
World Directory of Minorities: Udmurts
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/02/19/Udmurts.pdf