Publication

This working paper analyzes the reasons behind Moldova’s linguistic divide, which seemingly translates into a resistance to the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which Moldova signed in 2002 but has yet to ratify. The authors conclude that because neither Russian nor Romanian/Moldovan has achieved dominance, the the latter is defined as the state language, linguistic antagonism remains. Should the charter be signed, Russian would be designated a minority language, an expression that does not convey the same prestige of the Soviet-era 'language of inter-ethnic communication'.