The discursive construction of Russian-German identity

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This sociolinguistic study employs qualitative interviews to explore discursive identity construction among russlanddeutsche Aussiedler, focusing on university students at the Universität Mannheim. Utilizing a social constructionist perspective, the analysis incorporates Positioning Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis to reveal how interviewees construct group identities, relate to language, and position themselves concerning contemporary German societal discourses, including resistance to these narratives. Ethnically German but residing in Russian/Soviet territories for generations, Aussiedler have unique claims to German citizenship and began returning to Germany after enduring repression under Soviet rule. Their emigration peaked in the late 1980s and 1990s as travel restrictions eased. Despite expectations of acceptance as Deutsche unter Deutschen [Germans among Germans], they often face categorization as 'the Russians.' A common sentiment among them is: In Russland waren wir Deutsche, hier sind wir Russen [In Russia we were Germans, here we are Russians]. This group experiences a stigmatized identity in both Russia and Germany, making them a compelling subject for identity research. The thesis examines the concepts of stigma and hybridity, beginning with their migratory, legal, and linguistic history, followed by theoretical and methodological frameworks. The majority of the work analyzes qualitative interview data thr