| Abstract [eng] |
This Master’s thesis examines a highly relevant sociolinguistic and communicative issue: the linguistic integration of the Russian-speaking immigrant diaspora, which has expanded significantly in recent years, within the context of a hostile informational environment. The aim of the research is to investigate the explicit (consciously declared) and implicit (unconscious) linguistic attitudes toward the Lithuanian language among Russian-speaking immigrants who arrived in Lithuania between 2020 and 2025, and to identify the links between these attitudes and disinformation narratives hostile to the Lithuanian language. For this study (N = 28), an innovative, original three-level experimental model was constructed, incorporating a sociolinguistic questionnaire, audio association priming, and a Single-Target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT). This comprehensive tool allowed for the measurement of not only the respondents' overt declarations but also their deep-seated cognitive reactions, measured in milliseconds. The research revealed a significant gap between the pragmatic explicit declarations of Russian-speaking immigrants and their implicit cognitive processes. The research revealed that continuous contact with a Lithuanian-speaking environment (e.g., at work or in children's educational institutions) enhances the respondents' subjective evaluation of their language skills; however, it does not automatically guarantee a similar improvement in implicit associations and their underlying attitudes. While these remain moderately positive, they are characterized by cognitive friction. ST-IAT measurements revealed high cognitive friction when responding to institutional jargon (abstract international words) compared to rapid reactions to everyday vocabulary. A key piece of evidence regarding the impact of the informational field was the established statistically significant negative correlation between the recognition of the disinformation narrative concerning the "forced" requirement to learn Lithuanian and unconscious resistance to the language. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that state language image-building and integration communication avoid excessive institutional jargon, prioritizing everyday vocabulary and the creation of positive emotional associations. This approach would help neutralize barriers formed by disinformation and foster a safer, more encouraging relationship with the Lithuanian language. While the research sample (N = 28) is considered a limitation that prevents broad statistical generalizations, the data obtained nevertheless allow for the identification of essential trends in the linguistic attitudes of Russian-speaking immigrants and successfully verify the effectiveness of the constructed ST-IAT model. |
