Language in community-oriented and contact-oriented domains: the case of the Shughni of Tajikistan

This paper presents the results of sociolinguistic research conducted between July 2003 and August 2004 among the Shughni people living in the western part of Badakhshan in Tajikistan. The primary goals of the research were to investigate domains of use of and attitudes towards both Shughni and Tajik. Of particular interest is the correlation between levels of proficiency in Tajik and access to Tajik and the correlation between domains and patterns of language use. Data were gathered through a set of questionnaires, including language use questionnaires, language proficiency questionnaires, and a language attitude questionnaire.