Social Aesthetics of the Karelian Language: Covert Prestige and Performative Practices

Abstract

The article explores the social aesthetics of the Karelian language, its covert prestige, and performative practices in the context of Russian language dominance. I examine how language ideologies, historical stigmatization, and speakers’ emotional experiences shape contemporary forms of Karelian language use. Special attention is paid to performative practices in the public sphere, such as folk ensembles and music projects (e.g., Karelian rap), as well as the performative practices of everyday life. These practices allow the language to retain its symbolic and practical significance even as it loses its day-to-day communicative function. The study is based on materials from sociolinguistic expeditions conducted in the Republic of Karelia between 2019 and 2024, demonstrating how the Karelian language adapts to modern conditions, becoming an element of the cultural field and a tool for creative self-expression.