Candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences Head of Socio-economic development and monitoring department Ob-Ugric institute of applied researches and development Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia S [email protected]
Abstract. The language situation is not something invariable, and represents difficult, multi-faceted, socially caused phenomenon which varies under influence of social factors. Use of native language is the base condition of saving the ethnic and cultural identity, because many components of ethno-culture (folklore, national culture, national literature, national ­ theatre etc.) exist due to its functioning.
Keywords. Native language, respondents, indigenous small peoples of North, knowledge of native languages, self-identification, public importance, use of native languages.