Preserving Linguistic Diversity in Russia Discussed at KBSU

The All-Russian scientific conference with international participation, «Minority Languages ​​in the Modern World,» was held at the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov. The event was timed to coincide with the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages ​​and the 95th anniversaries of the births of prominent linguistic scholars, Professors Mukhamed Apazhev and Dzhamaldin Kokov.

The conference was attended by philologists, linguists, and students from various regions of Russia, as well as international specialists.

In his welcoming address, Muslim Tamazov, Director of the KBSU Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities, emphasized the relevance of the conference topic:

«In the context of globalization and digitalization, the preservation and study of languages ​​is particularly important. For our university, as one of the key scientific and educational centers in southern Russia, this is a priority.» The university’s long-standing partner, Professor Rafael Guzmán Tirado, Doctor of Philology at the University of Granada (Spain), also welcomed the conference. In his video address, he noted the successful history of collaboration with KBSU in the study of minority languages ​​and emphasized the importance of continuing this work at the international level.

Following the plenary session, the conference continued in three thematic sections.

In the section «Problems of Bilingualism and Language Didactics,» experts discussed a wide range of issues: from methods of teaching national languages ​​to the influence of the digital environment and social media on the language practice of the younger generation.

In the section «Ethnocultural and Linguacognitive Aspects,» speakers presented research demonstrating the profound connections between language, thought, and traditional culture. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of oral folklore, specialized terminology, and the linguistic worldview.

In the section «The Language of Folklore and Literary Texts,» scholars examined how linguistic heritage and cultural codes are preserved and transformed in literature—from the Nart epic to the works of contemporary authors.

The conference demonstrated that the study and preservation of linguistic diversity remains an important area of ​​research, requiring the combined efforts of linguists, philologists, cultural scientists, and educators. Following the forum, participants agreed to strengthen cooperation in fieldwork, digital documentation of languages, and the development of modern educational methods.