Paper abstract:

Addressing the case of Kazakhstan, this research explores economically “non-

dominant” languages with symbolic value becoming more dominant in a linguistic hierarchy

against the backdrop of more “powerful” language varieties, particularly in domestic

economic contexts. Through novel survey and interview data, addressing the usages of and

attitudes towards languages in employment and the workplace in Kazakhstan and the

concepts of language commodification and social dynamics of language use, it explores four

possible scenarios of language shift. It finds early evidence for a possible future language

shift towards Kazakh and a continued move towards English in economic, business,

employment, and workplace context. This is largely attributed to a general growing desire to

learn and use Kazakh for cultural and identity-based reasons and the significant numbers of

children now coming through Kazakh-medium of instruction schooling, as well as growing

interest in Kazakh language services and products. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is also

noted as a possible influence. It also identifies the factors limiting the development of Kazakh

in these fields and proposes means to rectify these issues, which could also be of benefit to

the general development and diversification of the Kazakh economy, as well as highlighting

potential future entrenchment of inequalities in Kazakhstan along linguistic lines.

Keywords: language policy, language shift, language and economy, commodification of

language, language value, linguistic capital, human capital