Language Shift and Attitudinal Dynamics Among Ukrainian Female War Refugees in Lithuania

Abstract

This article examines the change in language attitudes and practices among Ukrainian war refugees who arrived in Lithuania seeking for shelter. Russia’s invasion into Ukraine forced thousands of civilians to seek asylum globally. Within the Baltic countries, Lithuania became an especially tempting locality for the refugees because of the language factor. Most Ukrainians are bilinguals, with Russian as part of their linguistic repertoire, which facilitated communication with Lithuanians due to their shared history of using Russian during the soviet era. The issue of language in Ukraine has deep historical roots. This study describes the way two main languages in Ukraine (Ukrainian and Russian) have coexisted during various stages of the nation’s independent history. To understand the evolving language attitudes and preferences of Ukrainian war refugees, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Lithuania in the summer of 2023. It is noteworthy that all participants were women, reflecting the unique characteristic of the 2022–2023 Ukrainian refugee wave, which consisted predominantly of women and children. For the majority of the research participants— primarily from the eastern regions of Ukraine—Russian is their first language. The study results reveal that although many Ukrainian refugees initially rely on Russian to facilitate communication, the majority are gradually transitioning to Ukrainian. The data suggest that this shift cannot happen instantly, considering the diverse multinational and multilingual profiles of Ukrainians. However, the traumatic experiences of enemy’s occupation, refuge, lost family members and homes have significantly impacted individuals’ aspirations to undergo linguistic and identity transformations. Most of the participants stress an urgent need to preserve the Ukrainian language and culture, as the most powerful factors of their national identity.