Mixed Language Usage in Belarus: the Sociostructural Background of Language Choice*
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Measuring Language Attitudes. the Case of Trasianka in Belarus
Measuring language attitudes. The case of Trasianka in Belarus Natallia Sender (Frankfurt/Oder) Abstract In contemporary Belarus there are currently two languages being predominantly used: Russian and Belarusian. Besides dialects and other varieties there is to be found a variety called Trasianka, which is widespread throughout the country. Trasianka can be considered as a variety built of elements from other varieties in Belarus, but mainly from Russian and Belarusian. Originally the term Trasianka stems from agriculture describing a 'mixed fodder of poor quality'. Language attitudes towards this variety have hardly been examined thus far. In a recent study based on the matched-guise technique, 227 Belarusian adolescents listened to and evaluated a female speaker reading the same text in Russian, Belarusian and Trasianka. When the speaker used Trasianka, she was given low ratings by test participants in matters of socio-structural issues such as profession and education. Regarding competence, the test participants assumed that the Trasianka speaker was less qualified, as shown by answers to a question on competencies in foreign languages. Finally, the test participants were more reluctant to accept the Trasianka speaker as a neighbor. With this responsiveness, they performed a bigger social distance. By these findings, there is ample reason to conclude that there are negative attitudes existing amongst today's population in Belarus regarding speakers of Trasianka. 1 Introduction When looking at the contemporary use of East Slavic varieties in Belarus the Russian language seems to be dominant in society at first blush. Russian can be found in state media, in the political area and in the economy. -
2. Historical, Cultural and Ethnic Roots1
2. HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND ETHNIC ROOTS1 General features of ethnic identity evolution history, to develop autonomous state structures, in the eastern part of Europe their lives have mostly been determined by out- side forces with diverse geopolitical interests. Differences may be observed between Eastern The uncertain political situation of past cen- and Western Europe in terms of the ethnogenesis turies gave rise – along the linguistic, cultural of the peoples and the development of their eth- and political fault lines – to several ethnic groups nic identity. In the eastern half of the continent, with uncertain identities, disputed allegiances rather than be tied to the confines of a particular and divergent political interests. Even now, there state, community identity and belonging have exist among the various groups overlaps, differ- tended to emerge from the collective memory of ences and conflicts which arose in earlier periods. a community of linguistic and cultural elements The characteristic features of the groups have not or, on occasion, from the collective memory of a been placed in a clearly definable framework. state that existed in an earlier period (Romsics, In the eastern half of Europe, the various I. 1998). The evolution of the eastern Slavic and ethnic groups are at different stages of devel- Baltic peoples constitutes a particular aspect of opment in terms of their ethnic identity. The this course. We can, therefore, gain insights into Belarusian people, who speak an eastern Slavic the historical foundations of the ethnic identity language, occupy a special place among these of the inhabitants of today’s Belarus – an identity groups. -
Polsko-Białoruska Lapsologia Glottodydaktyczna
Katedra Białorutenistyki Wydział Lingwistyki Stosowanej Uniwersytet Warszawski Radosław Kaleta Polsko-białoruska lapsologia glottodydaktyczna Warszawa 2015 Recenzenci Prof. dr hab. Hienadź Cychun (Narodowa Akademia Nauk Białorusi, Centrum Badań nad Kulturą Białoruską, Językiem Białoruskim i Literaturą Białoruską) Prof. dr hab. Ała Kożynawa (Białoruski Uniwersytet Państwowy, Katedra Językoznawstwa Teoretycznego i Słowiańskiego) Prof. UŁ dr hab. Grażyna Zarzycka (Uniwersytet Łódzki, Katedra Lingwistyki Stosowanej i Kulturowej) Nad książką pracowali Projekt graficzny okładki Jekatierina Kaleta Redakcja Magdalena Wanot-Miśtura Korekta Teresa Chylak-Schroeder Korekta tekstu białoruskiego Wolha Starascina Tłumaczenie na język angielski Anna Rędzioch-Korkuz Skład i łamanie Anna Semaniv Książka wydana ze środków Wydziału Lingwistyki Stosowanej Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego Katedra Białorutenistyki Wydział Lingwistyki Stosowanej Uniwersytet Warszawski ul. Szturmowa 4, 02-678 Warszawa www.kb.uw.edu.pl Druk i oprawa: Raphael Sp. z o.o. ul. Traktorzystów 28D, 02-495 Warszawa ISBN 978-83-60951-15-6 © Radosław Kaleta Projekt graficzny okładki Jekatierina Kaleta Redakcja Magdalena Wanot-Miśtura Spis treści Korekta Teresa Chylak-Schroeder Przedmowa autorska 11 Korekta tekstu białoruskiego Wolha Starascina Wstęp 15 Tłumaczenie na język angielski Anna Rędzioch-Korkuz I. Przegląd literatury przedmiotu 27 Skład i łamanie Anna Semaniv 1. Kształtowanie się koncepcji błędu językowego 27 2. Koncepcje teoretyczne i poglądy badaczy 32 2.1. Franciszek Grucza 32 2.2. Witold Cienkowski 36 2.3. Hanna Komorowska 39 2.4. Aleksander Szulc 42 2.5. Grażyna Balkowska 45 2.6. Bożydar L.J. Kaczmarek 46 2.7. Krystyna Chomicz-Jung, Urszula Żydek-Bednarczuk 48 2.8. Ewa Lipińska 49 2.9. Anna Dąbrowska, Małgorzata Pasieka 49 2.10.Ryszard Jedliński 52 3. Słownikowe definicje błędu językowego 56 4. -
Dialect Contact and Convergence in Contemporary Hutsulshchyna By
Coming Down From the Mountain: Dialect Contact and Convergence in Contemporary Hutsulshchyna By Erin Victoria Coyne A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Slavic Languages and Literatures in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Johanna Nichols, Chair Professor Alan Timberlake Professor Lev Michael Spring 2014 Abstract Coming Down From the Mountain: Dialect Contact and Convergence in Contemporary Hutsulshchyna by Erin Victoria Coyne Doctor of Philosophy in Slavic Languages and Literatures University of California, Berkeley Professor Johanna Nichols, Chair Despite the recent increased interest in Hutsul life and culture, little attention has been paid to the role of dialect in Hutsul identity and cultural revival. The primary focus of the present dissertation is the current state of the Hutsul dialect, both in terms of social perception and the structural changes resulting from the dominance of the standard language in media and education. Currently very little is known about the contemporary grammatical structure of Hutsul. The present dissertation is the first long-term research project designed to define both key elements of synchronic Hutsul grammar, as well as diachronic change, with focus on variation and convergence in an environment of increasing close sustained contact with standard Ukrainian resulting from both a historically-based sense of ethnic identification, as well as modern economic realities facing the once isolated and self-sufficient Hutsuls. In addition, I will examine the sociolinguistic network lines which allow and impede linguistic assimilation, specifically in the situation of a minority population of high cultural valuation facing external linguistic assimilation pressures stemming from socio-political expediency. -
Quiet Revolution? Belarus After the 2006 Presidential Election Elena Korosteleva
This article was downloaded by: [Korosteleva, Elena] On: 7 July 2009 Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 912935200] Publisher Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713635808 Was There a Quiet Revolution? Belarus After the 2006 Presidential Election Elena Korosteleva Online Publication Date: 01 June 2009 To cite this Article Korosteleva, Elena(2009)'Was There a Quiet Revolution? Belarus After the 2006 Presidential Election',Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics,25:2,324 — 346 To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/13523270902861038 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13523270902861038 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. -
(Ruthenian Or Rusyn) Language in Poland Lemkos
The 17th Meeting of the Baltic Division of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names Warszawa, 29 June – 01 July 2015 Maciej Zych Commission on Standardization of Geographical Names Outside the Republic of Poland Romanization rules for the Lemko (Ruthenian or Rusyn) language in Poland Lemkos (Ruthenians or Rusyns) is an ethnic minority which has been recognized in Poland on the basis of the Act of 6th January 2005 on national and ethnic minorities and on the regional languages. The act mentions, in addition to the Lemkos, 9 national minorities: Belorussian, Czech, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Jewish; 3 ethnic minorities – Karait, Roma, and Tartar; as well as one regional language – the Kashubian language. The Act lays down, among others, that traditional names in a minority language for localities, physiographic objects and streets may be used as “additional names” alongside geographic names established in the Polish language. To date (as of 1st June 2015), additional names have been introduced in 1204 localities and parts of them located in 57 communes. There were introduced: 27 Belarusian names, 359 German names, 779 Kashubian names, 9 Lemko names, and 30 Lithuanian names. Additional names in minority languages appear on road signs, they are also used on some maps. Pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of Administration and Digitization of 14th February 2012 on the national register of geographical names, the Surveyor General of Poland shall maintain the database of the National Register of Geographical Names. In the Register, among others, officially adopted names in minority languages shall be listed. -
Language Management and Language Problems in Belarus: Education and Beyond
Language Management and Language Problems in Belarus: Education and Beyond Markus Giger Institute of the Czech Language, Prague, Czech Republic Maria´n Sloboda Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic This article provides an overview of the sociolinguistic situation in Belarus, the most russified of the post-Soviet countries. It summarizes language policy and legislation, and deals in more detail with language management and selected language problems in Belarusian education. It also contributes to the work on language planning by applying Jernudd’s and Neustupny´’s Language Management Theory, particularly the concept of the language management cycle, to analysis of sociolinguistic issues in Belarus. doi: 10.2167/beb542.0 Keywords: Belarus, bilingual education, language management, language problems Introduction Belarus (or Belorussia/Byelorussia) became independent in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its independence was not welcomed with much enthusiasm by the population that had strong emotional and cultural ties with Russia and the Soviet Union. Starting in 1994, this attitude resulted in political changes, which returned the country to the Soviet patterns of government, economy, social life, and linguistic development. The majority of the population of Belarus prefers to use Russian, although they declare to be ethnically Belarusian. Nevertheless, Belarusian is not limited to a minority group, members of the Russian-speaking majority also use it for symbolic functions. The language is still an obligatory subject in all Belarusian schools and has the status of a state language alongside Russian. This situation is a result of sociohistorical processes which have taken place in the Belarusian territory and which we will describe briefly in the Historical Background section. -
Regime and Churches: What Is Therebetween? Religion In
Issue 8 (38), 2013 RELIGION IN BELARUS: LIMITED INDEPENDENCE Since the concept of secular state has become a issue of “The Bell” is dedicated to answer these standard in a Western world long time ago, the questions. position of the Church is not very much discussed while speaking about the political issues. How- In the first article Anton Radniankou analyses the ever, there are tendencies of the rising interest of three biggest confessions in Belarus and reveals the Putin’s regime on involving Russian Orthodox their connection with the regime. He states, that Church to strengthening its power. while the Orthodox Church is the most familiar Anton Radniankou is a project to the government, Protestants are the least loyal manager of the Local Foundation And we might find similar approach of the Belar- to A.Lukashenka. “Interakcia”. He also edits intellec- usian regime. A.Lukashenka calls the Orthodox tual online magazine IdeaBY. Church as the main ideologist of the statehood, In the second article Natallia Vasilevich takes while remaining a non-believer – some kind of a deeper look into relations between Orthodox Natallia Vasilevich is a politi- strange “Orthodox atheist” composition. More- Church and the regime. She finds out that there cal scientist, lawyer and theolo- over, the Russian Orthodox Church authorities are different groups among the Church branches, gian. She is director of Centre have a direct influence on the Belarusian Church, which position ranges from pro-Russian to pro- “Ecumena” and editor of website forming its shape and ideology. It is clear that Nationalist wings. All in all, it is mostly influ- “Carkwa”. -
Contours and Consequences of the Lexical Divide in Ukrainian
Geoffrey Hull and Halyna Koscharsky1 Contours and Consequences of the Lexical Divide in Ukrainian When compared with its two large neighbours, Russian and Polish, the Ukrainian language presents a picture of striking internal variation. Not only are Ukrainian dialects more mutually divergent than those of Polish or of territorially more widespread Russian,2 but on the literary level the language has long been characterized by the existence of two variants of the standard which have never been perfectly harmonized, in spite of the efforts of nationalist writers for a century and a half. While Ukraine’s modern standard language is based on the eastern dialect of the Kyiv-Poltava-Kharkiv triangle, the literary Ukrainian cultivated by most of the diaspora communities continues to follow to a greater or lesser degree the norms of the Lviv koiné in 1 The authors would like to thank Dr Lance Eccles of Macquarie University for technical assistance in producing this paper. 2 De Bray (1969: 30-35) identifies three main groups of Russian dialects, but the differences are the result of internal evolutionary divergence rather than of external influences. The popular perception is that Russian has minimal dialectal variation compared with other major European languages. Maximilian Fourman (1943: viii), for instance, told students of Russian that the language ‘is amazingly uniform; the same language is spoken over the vast extent of the globe where the flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics flies; and you will be understood whether you are speaking to a peasant or a university professor. There are no dialects to bother you, although, of course, there are parts of the Soviet Union where Russian may be spoken rather differently, as, for instance, English is spoken differently by a Londoner, a Scot, a Welshman, an Irishman, or natives of Yorkshire or Cornwall. -
Does Belarusian-Ukrainian Civilization Belong to the Western Or the Latin Civilization? Piotra Murzionak
Comparative Civilizations Review Volume 78 | Number 78 Article 5 4-2018 Does Belarusian-Ukrainian Civilization Belong to the Western or the Latin Civilization? Piotra Murzionak Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/ccr Part of the Comparative Literature Commons, History Commons, International and Area Studies Commons, Political Science Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Murzionak, Piotra (2018) "Does Belarusian-Ukrainian Civilization Belong to the Western or the Latin Civilization?," Comparative Civilizations Review: Vol. 78 : No. 78 , Article 5. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/ccr/vol78/iss78/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Comparative Civilizations Review by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Murzionak: Does Belarusian-Ukrainian Civilization Belong to the Western or t Comparative Civilizations Review 41 Does Belarusian-Ukrainian Civilization Belong to the Western or the Latin Civilization? Piotra Murzionak Abstract The aim of this article is to further develop the idea of the existence of a distinct Belarusian-Ukrainian/Western-Ruthenian civilization, to define its place among Western sub-civilizations, as well as to argue against the designation of Belarus and Ukraine as belonging to the Eurasian civilization. Most of the provided evidence will be related to Belarus; however, it also applies to Ukraine, the country that has had much in common with Belarus in its historical and cultural inheritance since the 9th and 10th centuries. Key words: designation, Belarus, Europe, civilization Introduction The designation of a modern country or group of countries to one or another civilization bears two aspects. -
The Ukrainian Weekly 2014, No.16
www.ukrweekly.com THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine Shevchenko bicentennial marked at U.N. Putin reveals plans for conquest, against backdrop of Russian aggression as his saboteurs invade Ukraine by Zenon Zawada Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Deshchytsia, U.S. Secretary of State John KYIV – Russian Federation President Kerry and EU High Representative for Vladimir Putin all but declared war on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ukraine this week as the Ukrainian govern- Catherine Ashton. ment and media offered ample evidence As The Weekly was going to press, the that he dispatched armed saboteurs to the complete results of the negotiations had yet Ukrainian mainland starting on April 12. to be revealed. [Preliminary information They worked with pro-Russian Ukrainian released in Geneva indicated that some sort separatists in invading state buildings and of agreement to defuse tensions had been military bases in eastern Ukraine. As of reached and that it involved granting amnes- April 17, 20 government buildings in the ty to members of armed groups who agreed Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts were to leave the public buildings they had seized, under their control. Mr. Putin denied the as well as disarming “all illegal armed presence of his forces in Ukraine, just as he groups.”] The main Russian demand is fed- had with Crimea a month earlier. eralization of Ukraine, which is unequivo- Yet that didn’t stop him from revealing cally opposed by the interim Ukrainian gov- his plans for Ukraine during an April 17 live ernment that is backed by the West. -
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Morphosyntactic analysis of Surzhyk, a Russian–Ukrainian mixed lect A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY Kateryna Kent IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Nancy Stenson Adviser August 2012 © Kateryna Kent 2012 i Acknowledgements I am grateful for the assistance of the following professors: o Dr. J.P. Marcotte for his invaluable guidance on the earlier drafts of this dissertation. o Dr. Nancy Stenson for many hours of time and guidance. Her knowledge and expertise in the area of language contact and field research made this dissertation possible. I would like to thank my research participants in Ukraine for providing me with hours of corpus data and for sharing their life stories with me. Their stories enriched me professionally, culturally, and spiritually. I would like to thank my colleagues from the Classical Private University in Ukraine for their help with collecting data and recruiting research participants for my study. I would like to thank my parents, Viktor and Svitlana Dyatlov, for help and support throughout these years of graduate studies. They spent countless hours helping me recruit the research participants, driving me to my research sites all over Ukraine, and watching my son so that I can spend time writing. Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Daniel, and my son, Motya, who watched me sit in front of the computer and write, who supported me through all of the difficult times and stress that dissertation writing can cause. I love you both.