The Komi-Permyak Language in the Linguistic Situation of Perm Krai

The article discusses the peculiarities of the functioning of the Komi-Permyak language in Perm Krai (Perm region). The study appears to be relevant due to the ongoing demographic changes, in particular, the reduction in the number of native speakers of the Komi-Permyak language, being the indigenous population of Perm Krai, the outflow of population from the territory of the Komi-Permyak District to large Russian-speaking locations, which may indicate ongoing changes in the linguistic situation in the region. For the study, we analyzed the results of surveys of native Komi-Permyak speakers conducted in 2015 and 2023-2024. For a comprehensive assessment of the language situation in Perm Krai in terms of the Komi-Permyak language, the key objective and subjective components were selected. Among the objective components of the language situation, we studied the Russian and Komi-Permyak languages proficiency factors, the use of Komi-Permyak and Russian in interpersonal and official communication situations. As a subjective component of the language situation, we considered the intergroup assessment by native speakers of the value and prestige of the Komi-Permyak language. The study has revealed the following: the number of Komi-Permyak speakers who consider this language to be their native language is decreasing; subjective assessments of the Komi-Permyak language according to the criteria ‘value’ and ‘prestige’ are low; Komi-Permyak is mainly used in interpersonal communication, while its use in the public-legal field is limited. From 2015 to 2024 the situation changed for the worse, which indicates a critical change in the status of the Komi-Permyak language in the language situation of Perm Krai.