Ethnic Identity as a Dynamic Process: Ethnic Identity Parameters

The processes happening in the Russian society, such as globalization and urbanization, as well as its demographic situation have had a significant impact on ethnic groups and communities, including their ethnic identity. The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristics of ethnic identity and perceptions of ethnic minority groups, in particular, of Russian Germans living in the Russian Federation (Glazov, Vyatka-Kama region). To achieve the goal, the study used the field research methods to collect the linguistic material; sociolinguistic questioning and interviewing; socially differentiated analysis of the language material. The study analyzes the following ten parameters of ethnic identity in relation to the Russian Germans of Glazov: common historical fate, shared territory, religion, mode of life, family patterns, folklore, traditional crafts, behavior standards, psychological makeup, and ethnic language. The findings of the study suggest that ethnic identity of the Russian Germans is a changeable dynamic category. Certain distinctive characteristics of ethnic identity are developed under the influence of objective reasons (political system, ethnic policy of the state, territorial administration), as well as personal and subjective reasons (preserving the language, culture and traditions). This article will be of interest to researchers in the field of German dialectology and German speech islands. Keywords-German ethnic community, characteristics of ethnic identity