Abstract:

Kazakhstan is one of the most diverse countries in terms of ethnic and linguistic issues.

The study of language trends is relevant in connection with the active deve¬lopment of the national language policy and due to the aggravation of the language situation in the country.

The paper traces the vital issue of Kazakhstani language policy& planning facing society today and marked by the growing division by languages.

The aim of the research is to examine the language situation, implementation of the language policy and grassroots processes that can promote to overcome these differences and achieve consensus. The analysis is conducted on the basis of the present complicated language situation noted by contradictory policy of Kazakhstani authorities, certain tensions with Russia and its ideologists’ militant criticism towards the limitation of the Russian language use and Kazakh nativists towards the expansion of Kazakh language use.

Actually Kazakhstan has been always considered an example of peaceful coexistence of Kazakh, Russian and English languages. Language policy and planning are defined as the government-controlled activity of official organizations, mass media and educational institutions. However, at present language policy and planning are being transformed and realized from below as non-governmental, grassroots activities facilitated via Internet, mass media, public meetings, protest actions, etc.

The basic arguments that lay behind this paper are:

- contradictions of the official governmental language policy,

- debates and conflicts on language policy that arise between the government insisting on an official language and the individual, family and community which support the revival, preservation and use of their heritage, native languages,

- migration (Russian relocants, Kazakh returnees, etc.),

- technology development, diverse exchanges and the society’s growing awareness,

- commitment and ability of members of the community/society to accept and use a language based on their preferences or needs,

- major directions to overcome language problems: expansion of grassroots, bottom-up initiatives towards language policy and planning and the development of the trilingual trajectory and trilingual education in Kazakhstan.

The accent is also given to the conceptualization of trilingual education, i.e. simultaneous teaching in three languages - Kazakh, Russian and English in the context of the existing policy that can contribute to overcoming the indicated language divisions.

Keywords: language policy; language planning; grassroots processes; bottom-up initiatives; heritage languages, trilingual trajectory, trilingual education