Professor Alexander Polikarpov on issues with preserving indigenous languages

The year 2022 has been declared the Year of Folk Art and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Peoples in Russia. The languages of indigenous small-numbered peoples remain an important element of the country’s culture, while some of them are endangered. What is the state of the languages of the peoples of the North today? When did a writing system appear in the Nenets language? What actions do scholars take to preserve these languages? Alexander Mikhaylovich Polikarpov, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Translation Studies and Applied Linguistics Department at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University (NArFU), Member of the Board of the Union of Translators of Russia (UTR), Head of the Council for Translation Activities using the Languages of the Peoples of Russia under UTR Board, answers these questions.