F. G. Safin Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa State Petroleum Technical University, Ufa, Russian Federation, failsafin@mail.ru
E. F. Idrisova Ufa University of Science and Technology, Ufa, Russian Federation, sunny_elianna@mail.ru

ABSTRACT
Introduction: modern trends in the development of languages of three Finno-Ugric peoples – Mari, Mordovian and Udmurt – in the Republic of Bashkortostan are considered. Based on the comparative historical method, the vector of movement of ethno-linguistic
processes among the three Finno-Ugric peoples at the turn of the XX–XXI centuries is revealed. Data from ethno-sociological research among the Finno-Ugric peoples of Bashkortostan made it possible to study in more detail their linguistic competencies and speech activity.
These indicators play a key role in shaping their ethno-linguistic identity.

Objective: to identify modern trends in ethno-linguistic processes among the Finno-Ugric peoples of Bashkortostan and in the republics of the Urals-Volga region of the same name, affecting the change in their ethnic identity. These indicators play a key role in shaping their ethnolinguistic identity.
Research materials: data from the All-Union (1989) and All-Russian population censuses (2002, 2010, 2020), statistics, as well as articles on this problem and the results of ethno-sociological research.
Results and novelty of the research: for the first time, a comprehensive study of ethno-linguistic changes among Finno-Ugric peoples in Bashkortostan was carried out. In the course of the work, data from recent censuses and the results of an ethno-sociological survey were compared. It has been established that the data of the last two censuses of 2010 and 2020. demonstrated ambiguous changes in the number and ethnolinguistic self-identification of Finno-Ugric peoples throughout the country. It was revealed that for the period between 2010 and 2020. there is a slight decrease in the number of Finno-Ugric peoples. At the same time, during this time period, in comparison with the previous census period (from 2002 to 2010), there is a slight increase in the share with the native language of one’s nationality. With increasing urbanization, it can be assumed that the scope of Finno-Ugric languages will decline, which will also affect ethnic and linguistic self-identification.
Key words: Mari people, Mordovian peoples, Udmurt people, Bashkortostan, Mari El, Udmurtia, Mordovia, native language, Russian, language assimilation, ethnic language identity
Acknowledgments: the study was carried out within the framework of state assignment № 1022040500508-1-6.1.1 IEI Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Socio-economic adaptation and social well-being of ethnic groups in the Ural-Volga republics (using the Republic of Bashkortostan as an example)”.
For citation: Safin F. G., Idrisova E. F. Ethno-linguistic identity of the Finno-Ugric Peoples of Bashkortostan // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2026; 16 (2/65): 371–383. DOI: 10.30624/2220-4156-2026-16-2-371-383