stratifikatsioonis

Stratifikatsioonis is a concept in Estonian and Finnish sociolinguistics that refers to the process of social class stratification among languages. It was introduced by linguist Toomas Maimets in the 1990s to describe the phenomenon of language use being closely tied to social status and economic position in Estonia.

In Estonia, the language divide is mainly between Estonian and Russian, with the majority of Estonians speaking the former and the majority of Russians speaking the latter. However, stratifikatsioonis is not limited to the Estonian-Russian language divide; it can occur between different dialects, accents, or even varieties of language within the same language family.

The concept of stratifikatsioonis suggests that language use is not a neutral or meritocratic concept, but rather it is closely tied to social status and economic position. For example, in Estonia, speaking Estonian is often seen as a marker of "Estonianness" and can be associated with greater social and economic standing. On the other hand, speaking Russian is often associated with being a member of the Russian-speaking minority, and in some contexts, it may be seen as less desirable or prestigious.

Stratifikatsioonis can have implications for language policy, education, and social integration. It highlights the need for language policies that promote linguistic equality and address the social and economic disparities between language groups. By recognizing the social and economic dimensions of language use, sociolinguists and policymakers can develop more effective strategies for promoting language equality and social cohesion.