Homemaking in the Russian-Speaking Diaspora

Examines the material culture of Russian-speaking migrants Investigates human-object relations from a multidisciplinary vantage point Applies theories tested in fields as diverse as anthropology and sociology, consumer and market research, sociolinguistics and semiotics Draws on data from in-depth interviews and group discussions, photographs, social media and participant observation Looks at the experiences of Russian-speaking immigrants in a range of countries including Australia, Finland, Greece, Japan, Israel, Turkey, Uruguay and the USA Bringing together scholars specialising in Russian studies, linguistic and cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics and ethnolinguistics, this collection examines the discursive practices in which migrants' homes are framed, negotiated and constructed to reveal the complexity and ambivalence of home as a concept and as a phenomenon of social life. By examining migrants' stories about moving home, the book explores the stages of linguistic and cultural adaptation. It demonstrates that immigrants' homes are semiotic storehouses revealing their owners' past and present as well as aspirations for the future. It presents the first multifaceted investigation of the interdependence of materiality and emotions and materiality and language use by Russian-speaking immigrants.