CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC ROLES OF REGIONAL LANGUAGES IN MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Regional languages contribute notably to the formation of societal multilingualism and function as carriers of cultural identity. They are considered as active components of local linguistic ecologies. This article examines the cultural and linguistic roles of regional languages in multilingual communities, with a focus on Azerbaijan. Taking into consideration the linguistic landscape frameworks and sociocultural approaches, this study synthesizes Azerbaijani and international scholarship in order to develop an integrated understanding of regional languages as ecological agents. The findings demonstrate that regional languages serve a key function in translanguaging practices, intergenerational transmission and the reinforcement of community identity. There exist some challenges as well, including limited institutional support, the dominance of national and global languages, and underrepresentation of regional languages in digital platforms. Furthermore, the article highlights the practical implications which play an important role in the fields of education, policy and community initiatives targeted at maintaining regional languages within multilingual communities.