Ludmila Isurin Books

The volume presents a selection of contributions related to integration, adaptation, language attitudes and language change among young Russian-speaking immigrants in Germany. At the turn of the century, Germany, which defined itself as a mono-ethnic and mono-racial society, has become a country integrating various immigrant groups. Among those, there are three different types of Russian immigrants: Russian Germans, Russian Jews and ethnic Russians, all three often perceived as "Russians" by the host country. The three groups have the same linguistic background, but a different ethnicity, known as "nationality", a separate entry in Russian official documents. This defined the immigration paths and the subsequent integration into German society, where each group strives to position itself in relation to two other groups in the same migrant space. The book discusses the complexities of belonging and (self-/other) assignment to groups as well as the attitude to language maintenance among young Russian-speaking immigrants.

The book presents a broad interdisciplinary perspective on the contemporary Russian immigration to three countries: the United States, Germany, and Israel. The changes and transformations in three domains, i.e., cultural perception, self-identification, and attitudes to first language maintenance, are explored through the Acculturation Framework that allows bringing together these essential aspects of immigration. A separate look at Jewish and Russian ethnic groups within the so-called "Russian" immigration as well as its interdisciplinary nature sets this book apart from other studies on recent immigration from the former USSR.