The Linguistic Landscape in the Former de facto NagornoKarabakh: (Post-) Soviet Transition and the Status of the Russian Language.

Following the Soviet Union's dissolution, Russian was transformed from a lingua franca to a symbol of imperial Russia. However, in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), it served as a crucial tool in preserving Armenian identity and culture amidst Azerbaijan's efforts to marginalize Armenians in the region. Many Armenians stayed in Karabakh due to Russian language education, opting for preservation over Turkification. The research question is: How has the role of the Russian language evolved in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in the post-Soviet period, particularly in regard to preserving Armenian identity and culture? This investigation utilizes ethnographic observations in Nagorno-Karabakh, registration of a variety of signed artifacts, and linguistic landscape and critical discourse analysis. Its findings reveal the active use of the Russian language on public signs perhaps even as late as 2023, pointing to the significance of Russian for various purposes. However, this era may have come to an end, marking a potential shift in linguistic dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]