The place and role of language in disapora formation

The goal of the present article is an attempt to define the place of the national (mother) tongue in the formation and safeguard of diasporas. To achieve the set goal the author offers an explanation and a more precise definition of diasporas phenomenon which demands a list of key characteristics of classical and modern diasporas. The following analysis results in the statement of the fact that none of the given characteristics includes the mother tongue as a necessary precondition of diasporas formation.

diaspora, mother tongue, language of diaspora, diaspora characteristics, (Russian) language abroad, ethnical community, transnational community