Anna Verschik
Tallinn Pedagogical University
Abstract. The article describes how various mechanisms of interference proposed by Thomason function in Russian-Estonian contact situation in present-day Estonia. In addition to code-switching, borrowing and L1 transfer Thomason considers code alternation, passive knowledge, “negotiation” and deliberate change as mechanisms of interference. The sociolinguistic situation in Estonia has radically changed since late 1980s, so that more and more Russian-speakers use Estonian. Passive knowledge of Estonian, alongside with various “negotiation” strategies and deliberate change are to be investigated in depth because these mechanisms are likely to bring about changes in the local variety of Russian and, possibly, in Estonian as well.
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