According to UNESCO, the Belarusian language is in a catastrophic state. “It is under the potential threat of extinction” - this is the diagnosis received by the language of the indigenous population of the country, which was even indicated on a symbolic map called “World languages in danger”. Why does he disappear? The answer is simple: it is almost never used in everyday communication. A small part of the intelligentsia, part of the conscious youth and old people - these are the main speakers of the language, which was used by millions 50 years ago.
“Nasha Niva” counted five dozen reasons why today's youth do not want to speak Belarusian. To do this, we interviewed about 300 students of the country's main universities ( we spoke with someone in person, someone answered on Twitter and other social networks).
We have selected 50 of the most interesting answers: some of them are quite reasonable, others are primitive, but sincere, there are obscure and even offensive ones. But it is these answers that best reflect the "achievements" of the authorities in the development of linguistic culture and national consciousness.
You will not find an explanation in this material - only 50 answers to the question "Why don't you speak Belarusian?" Draw your own conclusions.
1). I don't know Belarusian at all.
2). They haven't taught me since childhood.
3). Nobody speaks to me in Belarusian, here I am the same way.
4). I don’t know enough that I could easily express myself in it.
5). There is not enough time to study it.
6). I spend a lot of time outside Belarus. The Belarusian language is simply not needed.
7). If I start talking, I will not be understood at work.
eight). School, university, family - everything is in Russian.
nine). Despite the fact that the language is beautiful, there is an opinion that only collective farmers speak it. It is unenviable to seem the same in the eyes of society.
ten). I do not fully feel that I am a Belarusian as a representative of the nation.
eleven). My parents never insisted that I take the Belarusian language seriously.
12). Do not know much. I am a perfectionist. Either I'm doing great, or I'm not doing it at all.
13). I have basic knowledge, I can even keep the conversation going. But somehow it is easier for me to communicate in English.
fourteen). There is no need and no sense in this.
15). This language is more suitable for grandparents, but not for young people.
16). There is no patriotism.
17). A system of communication in Russian or English has long been established, no matter if it is a store or an office.
eighteen). I like the Belarusian language, but it is not the leading one for me (acting or living).
19). I like Russian more.
twenty). At school he was allowed to skip.
21). I'm afraid they'll go to jail.
22). I do not like the sounds "g" and "h".
23). She entered honey and stopped.
24). I'm waiting for Apple to release IOS in Belarusian.
25). I'm embarrassed.
26). I talked for about 2 months. I'm tired of it. Hard.
27). My parents won't understand me if I suddenly start speaking Belarusian. They educate me all my life in Russian, and here I am "for the first time".
28). As soon as we join the EU - so immediately.
29). Today it is the language of the opposition. If you speak Belarusian, then you are going against the system.
thirty). I have enough of him in the subway.
31). There is little modern literature, there is nowhere to get knowledge.
32). Do not know! I envy the Ukrainians a little. Austria-Hungary helped them, as they still say in the West. And from us everything has been weathered long ago.
33). Politically insecure language.
34). What will change if I start talking?
35). He's a little funny.
36). It has become artificial today.
37). The language has not taken root in modern society, I personally speak the language of the majority.
38). I don’t recognize Trasyanka as a language, but I don’t know how to do it in another way.
39). "Belarusian language" is a Polish anti-Russian project. He has little more than nothing to do with the Belarusian people.
40). It is difficult to speak Belarusian when everything is in Russian.
41). Because there is no one just with.
42). I often use obscene language, but in Belarusian it is not. Seriously, I just don't know.
43) It is difficult to speak your native language, as its use is minimal, and some look at you as an alien.
44). To my shame, I can't normally. I think in Russian.
45). I don’t know very well, but it’s not quite decent to speak half-Russian-half-Belarusian.
46). I don't want to stand out, and practice is not enough.
47). Understand correctly, but somehow from birth I feel more Russian, although I myself am a Belarusian with a Polish surname. Somehow that direction is closer to my liking.
48). We have actually been part of the Russian Empire for 300 years. How can you speak Belarusian in such a situation?
49). It's more comfortable for me.
50). Does anyone need this?
Leave your comment. Let's formulate 50 ways to return life to the Belarusian language!
How do our young people feel about their native language and why don't they speak it?
February 21 is the International Mother Language Day. For Belarus, this is a rather “sick” holiday, because only a few speak the country's native language. Therefore, it is not necessary to argue that there are two state languages in the blue-eyed, alas: reality shows the opposite.
I speak ...
I speak only Russian, because everyone in my family speaks Russian, Belarusian is not used in any areas of my life.
Hourly perўсёI smash it on Russian mov,tamu into meaneyes i'm quickі z samaga dzyavalues. Matzi, grandma, syastra,іnshya relatives- mustache razmaulalі pa-ruska. And loveў yes Belarusian mov z'I'm inilasyaўjo va ssheedusrosse. Pa-Belarusian I'm bigўlayu taksama is frequent, asableivaў aposhnі hour. Yai Belarusianўnykh syabroў at myane hapae. Hto vedae, can you cali-nebudz zusim pass to mov.
RI am talking to Belarusian, I am more adchuvaya to the internal patrab. Kali perayshla on mov, then adchula, INTOgrowing upmorning canfl_kt.
AND
I speak Russian, because my close circle (relatives, friends) speak Russian. He studied at a Russian-language school.
I speak Russian. But if the situation requires it, I speak Belarusian fluently.
We grow up in a Russian-speaking environment and absorb what our family and society give us. My family is Russian-speaking, so is the society. My interest in literature and culture was instilled in me by a school teacher. Thanks to her, I changed my attitude towards the Belarusian language, became more interested in Belarusian culture, and when it came time to enter the university, the choice fell on the Belarusian department of the philological faculty (at the time of admission it was especially interesting for me).
I speak Russian, because the school was Russian-speaking, the kindergarten too, my parents speak Russian, everyone is familiar. I only know a couple of people who speak Belarusian ... I respect it, it's a beautiful language, but, alas, I myself don't speak it fluently.
I speak exclusively Russian, because my parents speak Russian, the school is Russian-speaking, the people around me speak Russian. It's so customary to communicate.
I spread the infection to the Belarusian language, the racial language is turned off. Perayshoў into Belarusian, more neiki moment. Not pavazhyuchi piles, tsyazhka pavazhats samoga syabe.
As we can see, the reason why young men and women choose Russian for communication is ... its dominance. Family, school - everywhere predominantly the language of Pushkin and Dostoevsky sounds, leaving the "honorable" second place for Mova Kupala and Karatkevich.
I would like to pay special attention to the school, where the minimum linguistic equality should reign. Moreover, it has recently become known that. Do young people think that in our educational institutions the same attention is paid to the study of both languages?
Elizaveta, university student (18 years old)
Everything is taught in the same way, but I was lucky from the Belarusian language: the classes were informative, rich and interesting, which helped me to pass the CT in Belarusian above 90 points. I cannot say the same about teaching Russian.
Ekaterina, an aspiring journalist (20 years old)
I zdaetstsa, INTO adnolcava. In May, the school had a speech in Belarusian language.
Nadine, an aspiring journalist (20 years old)
Peravaga, kaneshne, addazza ruskaj. I am looking for a magical revelation of documents and technical navuk on the Belarusian MOV.
ANDbitterness, woodcarver (27 years old)
Yes, basic knowledge is provided in the same amount.
Anna, Belarusian language teacher (27 years old)
I will give just one example (in my opinion, the most illustrative) from my school practice. Once, after giving a lesson in the Belarusian language, pupils of the 5th grade came up to me with the words: “We didn’t think, that the Belarusian language is so sweet and jumping, that it’s not kalkhoz’s zusim” ? " - “And ў pathatkovy school is a substitute for Belarusian language and reading ў we were classy gadzin”.
Veronica, housewife (27 years old)
Definitely not the same. Russian is the preferred language at school. All subjects were in Russian, except for the history of Belarus. It is simply necessary to correct the situation!
Daria, artisan artist (26 years old)
No, more attention is paid to Russian. Almost all subjects were taught in Russian, all teachers are Russian-speaking. I heard Belarusian only in Belarusian lessons.
Mikhail, programmer (23 years old)
Kaneshne, the monetary situation ў in the teaching settings is not unique. School I, і Universitet razmaўlyayuts first is important to the couple. Tamu chakats, INTO moladz raptam zagavoryts pa-Belarusian not treba - geta іluzіі.
If you look at the situation objectively, the school does not contribute to the introduction of the Belarusian language into the student's speech use. Yes, knowledge is laid, but in order for it to sound loudly on the street - this is clearly not enough.
Here is an example of what happens to the knowledge of the Belarusian language in a person who studied it at school at the level that is available now.
One instead of two
However, it is stupid to blame the fact that Belarusians do not speak Belarusian, only educational institutions. The problem originates much higher, at least at the stage when the Russian language received equal rights with the Belarusian language.
But what if the situation is changed and priority is given to native language - to make Belarusian the only state language?
Elizaveta, university student (18 years old)
I feel bad about it. Let the choice remain for everyone! I morally support the Belarusian-speaking population of the country, but there are more opportunities with the Russian language.
Ekaterina, an aspiring journalist (20 years old)
Fecesand that's how it goesand if you are trying to get it, then I am for Belmova!
Nadine, an aspiring journalist (20 years old)
Padtryml_vayusuch a change, cali getatychytsa movNS.
ANDbitterness, woodcarver (27 years old)
The state language should be the Belarusian language. But it is not worth canceling Russian. If you leave one language, I think it will not be entirely correct. The Belarusian and Russian nationalities are strongly intertwined with each other, deeply rooted in the past. I believe that both languages have a right to exist in our country.
Anna, Belarusian language teacher (27 years old)
I am not opposed to Belarusian being the only language in the country. But adequately assessing the situation, I understand that this is a utopia.
Veronica, housewife (27 years old)
Oh, tough question... Probably, I am against one state language, since each person should have a choice. I like that in our country there is an opportunity to express your thoughts in two languages.
Daria, artisan artist (26 years old)
Against this, because I am used to speaking Russian. My whole family is Russian-speaking.
Mikhail, programmer (23 years old)
Kaneshne, I am for toe, the Belarusian MOV has become a dzyarzhany! Geta raise up the minds of the mighty with wickedness! Hatsya, I mean, a napkin of budze tsyazhkavat for Russian people ...
February 21 from year to year makes us think about the "Shakespearean" question: to speak or not to speak? However, on the 22nd, we all begin to prepare for the men's holiday - - and forget about the language problem. On February 24, the turmoil starts over the upcoming first day of spring and so on ad infinitum ...
"If you want to change the world - start with yourself." A good aphorism that every citizen of Belarus who is concerned about the language situation in the country can take as a guide to action. However, if this thought would appear among the people who are at the helm and have much more opportunities to speed up the solution of the problem, then already on the next holiday of our native language we would not be ashamed of not being able to speak.
There are two official languages in our country. Russian is used by the majority. Belarusian is less in demand for a long number of reasons: you do not like the sound and melody, there is no motivation and desire to learn, shyness, lack of patriotism ... The leader of the Drum Ecstasy group Philip Chmyr adds here a dislike of imposition. The musician believes that the current MOVA propagandists are acting incorrectly, forming a persistent dislike for the Belarusian language. The next issue of Friday's "Informat" tells about the substitution of concepts and the need to follow the example of the Ukrainians.
Who is this?
This is a Minsker who grew up in a Russian-speaking environment. Now Philip is a member of the well-known Belarusian group Drum Ecstasy. In his free time from music, he is engaged in advertising. Assuming that the majority of the Belarusian intelligentsia lives on Facebook, two years ago Chmyr provoked its angry seething with one short post. The text was literally the following: Miles of fire-breathing comments quickly grew beneath him. Over the past time, Philip has not changed his point of view.
- Why don't you speak Belarusian?
I do not know him. This is the only explanation. If I knew the Belarusian language, I would speak it. And I don't even try.
- Were there any inclinations in this direction?
I spoke Belarusian while studying language and literature in the Soviet school. And he was one of the best in the class in this regard. True, I spoke French just as well at school.
You see, I am a citizen of Minsk, I have been active since the seventies. And no one here spoke Belarusian. Even both school teachers of this language communicated with each other in Russian. I spent the summer at writers' dachas, communicating there with the grandchildren of writers. And their grandfathers only spoke Belarusian to each other, and Russian to us. Apparently, they just wanted to convey information in an accessible way that apples cannot be taken [smiles].
- What did you have in your certificate in Belarusian?
In the final exam - five. True, the currently existing Belarusian is not at all similar to the one that we taught at school. In this respect, it is very difficult for me. Look: there was always Chyrvonazornaya street, but suddenly it became Chyrvonazorkavaya. What the fuck, you ask? Or there was always "Not a prytulyatstsa", when suddenly it became "Not a pryhilyatstsa". Newspeak. It seems to me that some words are openly dragged from dialects. Even my "Belarusian" friends say that with Newspeak, too much has begun.
Now the guys promoting MOV are divided and decide how to tell them correctly. Listen, in order for me to start learning a language, decide between yourself what exactly I should learn. And then I, maybe, will deal with this issue. In the meantime, decide your internal affairs.
- The year before last, you wrote on your Facebook: "I hate the Belarusian language, like everything that is imposed on me."
For several hours I painfully chose the wording in order to exclude the daub. My goal was friends, among whom there are enough admirers and propagandists of the Belarusian language. I wanted to hook these guys and show that the methods with which they are trying to promote "Mova" will lead nowhere.
Let's take as an example the introduction of compulsory religious education in Russia. Many are very worried about this. And I say that this is just fine. The effect that compulsory communist education had in the Soviet school can hardly be overestimated. The people who taught Marxism-Leninism received a powerful inoculation and no longer fall into this nonsense. We will never revive any Stalinist moments.
So for a religious education, you can be completely calm. Merlin Manson, by the way, went to a Catholic school. If at a certain moment you make something obligatory - for example, religious education - then you will receive a persistent (especially when it comes to puberty and protest) rejection of absolute atheists who will not give a damn about this whole topic.
If you want to promote the Belarusian language, do it smartly. We have already gone through the forced Belarusianization of Poznyakovo. So my message is very simple: if you impose something, you will get hatred in return.
- What exactly bothers you?
I don't like the obligation. The country where I live has two official languages. This means that I can choose the one that suits me.
There is a global circus that shows itself very well in the art scene. Look. All art directors, artists and the bulk of the curators are Russian-speaking. They make a description of the project in Russian. Then professional translators translate all this into English and Belarusian. At the same time, the Russian version is hidden. I come and start asking: “Guys, I know you wrote the annotation in Russian. Give it to me, please. " But I get nothing. This is what causes a negative reaction.
This is false. And falsity always infuriates. Here's more about the circus. Bar counter. On the one hand, there are Russian-speaking bartenders, on the other, Russian-speaking visitors. The order is in progress. Visitors to each other: "Would you like some coffee?" - "Will". - "Dzve kava, kali weasel". Bartenders among themselves: "Of good". - "Brew some coffee, please." This circus does not popularize MOVA.
After the publication of my post about the Belarusian language, some familiar businessmen took a pose: "Ah well! Then we will speak with you only in Belarusian ”. This was followed by the Belarusian, as it seemed to them, the text. Then I answered: “Guys, I can speak this Belarusian too. Even better. Do not disgrace yourself, please. " Go to the courses first, and then open your mouth.
By the way, seven years ago my wife was unable to gather a group of six people for such courses. And now young people have a fashion for the Belarusian language. It's good. Interest groups must exist. Just don't force me. I do not want. I just stand up for my right to call the Russian language "matchynai movay". Everything is very simple: “matchyna mova” is not necessarily the Belarusian language, it is the language your mother speaks.
This substitution of concepts is not necessary. Because there is so much of that.
Let's say we had a population census. And then the intelligentsia staged a campaign: they say, write in the forms that your language is Belarusian. People do not speak Belarusian every day, but they wrote that they do. And now they link to that data. But this is fake, fake. I do not like it.
- How many people in your environment constantly use the Belarusian language?
One is Lyavon Volsky. And my circle of acquaintances is quite wide. At the same time, I am not talking about the professional Belarusian language. Because I have friends who honestly call themselves professional Belarusians.
More about Lyavon. I always tell him: "I like the way you talk, but I don't fucking understand." When the seething about my position on the language arose, the only person who began to switch to Russian in communication with me was Volsky. Lyavon is an intelligent person. And for others, rejection of my position is a pose. Well, the pose is the pose.
- What was the most radical reaction to your performance?
There were calls, there were messages, there was rudeness, there were threats. I took screenshots, I keep. I can put everything out. In general, I like to "screenshot", I have a large collection. Nevertheless, I often call the police about improper parking, smoking in public places, fights. This is my civic position. Therefore, I record everything.
They wrote to me something like "If you speak Russian, blow to Russia." But this is ordinary fascism. If a person does not speak Belarusian, one cannot conclude that he does not love his homeland. Substitution of concepts again. I love my homeland. I'm putting things in order here. I call the police here, make the students throw cigarette butts into the trash, take them out, extinguish them if the gobies are not extinguished, and throw them away again. To love your homeland is at least not to spoil where you live. We all love to refer to good Germany. And Germany is an order that people establish around themselves. That's all.
At the same time, if we return to the reaction to my post, I remained in the black. On the street, people stopped me and said: "Thank you for your position." The situation is that I, a representative of the Russian-speaking majority, defend the right to speak Russian, receive information in Russian and defend myself against any attacks about the Russian language. And they are.
And again: I am not against the popularization of the language, but it is being carried out incorrectly.
- How will be correct?
If you make a really fantastic movie, the Russians will immediately translate it, and the Swedes will immediately titrate it. The majority of people will watch the film in Russian after a while. That is, the language will not save the cinema. If you write very good books in Belarusian that really deserve interest outside the republic, the same thing will happen. They will be translated into Russian. Because there is a giant country nearby with a powerful language.
That is, “Belarusian-speaking asyaroddze” decides which Belarusian language is the most Belarusian in our country, and then starts recording songs?
Of course. After that, the language can become fashionable. If young people are interested in the language, we need to support it. But don't force. The main thing is to respect each other and not impose anything on anyone.
- Any fashion has its own vulgar excesses ...
That's all that is happening now - this is a vulgar overkill. Let's take a menu of some establishments with Belarusian and English texts. We come to the same Lithuania, where absolutely anti-Russian sentiments exist, but we find signs in Russian there. Why? Because there are a lot of Russian tourists and because you have to earn money.
I have purely professional claims, for example, to the Adnak festival. I call it "Give Mr. ... well, another chance." Why do a special language-limited festival? This is ugliness from a professional point of view. And the task of advertising is to sell and make information convenient in order to capture a person.
It's good when the language is used for business. Here is the Khatni kvass. Everything is clear: this is our kvass, Belarusian. Product identification occurs through language. This is drop dead. This is a cool tool. And advertising, for example, Samsung in Belarusian is absolutely incomprehensible to me. It turns out that we limit the distribution of the product only to the Belarusian-speaking audience, which is in the minority. From a professional point of view, this is wrong. It is wrong to use advertising as educational bullshit. Advertising is about selling and promoting. So is the menu. You know, there are cafes in Minsk where I don't order food, because I don't understand what they offer me.
- Is the situation in which, in ten years time, this interview will be done in Belarusian, is it real?
For my part, no. Just because I'm lazy. This interview could have taken place in Belarusian in 1993. In 1989 we could speak French as well. But no longer [smiles].
There was a time when our Riga made the same impression on tourists. "Why is there nowhere and nothing in Russian written in your country - all the same there is Russian speech around, and your question will be answered in Russian?" Indeed, even in the menu of restaurants popular among tourists, they wrote only and exclusively in Latvian.
And the locals had to explain to the guests about our national peculiarities - about the law on the state language and cautious entrepreneurs, and so on, so on ...
Now we have these difficulties with translation and excesses, it seems, in the main, already behind us - graduates of our Russian schools en masse began to speak Latvian, and regardless of nationality. Yes, and foreigners in Riga bars-restaurants are no longer a nightmare in the Latvian language: the restaurant and hotel business in Latvia has grown to respect the client, communicating in a language that he understands.
Everything is different in Belarus. There are two official languages here - Belarusian and Russian. Moreover
Russian in Belarus received the status of the state language as a result of a referendum: in the mid-90s, more than 80 percent of all participants in the referendum voted for.
After all, the linguistic situation in the country is special, unique in its own way for the former post-Soviet space.
About 15 percent of the population consider themselves Russian in Belarus, but two-thirds of the Belarusian-speaking residents choose Russian in their family and everyday life. And only 6 percent of Belarusians constantly use the Belarusian language. However, sociological studies and census data give different figures. But on the streets of Vitebsk, for example, the predominance of Russian visitors immediately catches the eye.
Experts believe that the language situation in Belarus today resembles that of Ireland.
The country has been free from political dependence on Great Britain for a long time, but English clearly dominates here. And Irish, although it is considered the state language, is supported only by the efforts of the national intelligentsia.
Lost in translation
In my presence, one of my colleagues asked a Belarusian philology student: does anyone speak Belarusian here?
Yes, it turns out, say the writers, journalists, representatives of the nationally oriented intelligentsia. In rural areas, many people speak, but hardly in pure Belarusian.
Rather - depending on the geography of the region - on a local mixture of Belarusian with Russian, Ukrainian or Polish.
And if it's so easy on the street to address a person in Belarusian, then what? Most likely, he will answer you in Belarusian, but this is not a fact. On Pushkin Street, where on the occasion of the city's holiday and weekends, craftsmen and Vitebsk artists were set up tables with souvenirs, we got into a conversation with a local resident Ivan. Including - about the Belarusian language.
Ivan also says to me: they say, it happens that he himself is reproached that he is a Belarusian, but for some reason he speaks Russian.
But what good is it to him, offering a product, to speak with a person in a language that he does not understand at all? ..
After all, there are townspeople and a lot of tourists on a pedestrian. And the Russian language is equally understandable to everyone. The native language of my interlocutor is Belarusian, and he speaks Russian in most situations in life. Which fully confirms the statistics.
... and the joy of recognition
By the way, both the Latvian and Lithuanian speech in Vitebsk also sounds quite often. In any case, over the course of three days in the city, I happened to meet my compatriots more than once. Vitebsk is still geographically very close to Latvia - it's only 230 km from our Kraslava, and even less to the border.
Cross-border cooperation between Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus is developing, and the Vitebsk region is geographically included in such programs.
The Belarusian holiday Kupala is like our Ligo. Photo: Vasily Fedosenko, Reuters / Scanpix
Latgale has a lot in common with Vitebsk region.
There are family and friendship ties, the habit of visiting each other or buying overstock with neighbors is still preserved, the price difference is great.
Look at how many cars with Belarusian license plates are parked at the Daugavpils shopping center on weekends! By the way, we were in Vitebsk just in those days when journalists from Belarus who wrote about tourism were visiting Latvia - including Kuldiga and Riga.
Take a curious look at Vizit Jurmala's Facebook page, how fun the Belarusians are learning Latvian on this trip: and the vocabulary is completely different from the one taught at school, but the most suitable for strengthening friendship and cooperation!
Language as a national flavor
In Vitebsk I met people in national "embroidered shirts" - just on the street, in a crowd of passers-by. Occasionally, but met. But basically there was an impression that the bright signs of Belarusian originality were transferred to the region national flavor, such as is shown mainly on patriotic holidays and to foreign tourists.
We have heard the same beautiful Belarusian MOV - in lively and figurative speech and in a song version - only once, and in a museum. Thanks to Raisa Gribovich, actress of the Vitebsk National Academic Drama Theater named after Yakub Kolas!
How delicious she speaks and sings beautifully!
Raisa Gribovich, actress of the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater. Photo: Tatiana Odynya / Russian TVNET
We were lucky to listen to it by pure chance. Some important Chinese guests were expected in the Repin estate Zdravnevo near Vitebsk. And while they were driving - Raisa Stepanovna and the participants of the Vitebsk festival "PhotoKrok" sang wonderful with all her heart.
"Vitebsk residents" or - "Vitebsk residents"?
The residents of the city have another linguistic and principled dispute: how should they call themselves correctly?
In Minsk, the townspeople are Minskers, in Moscow - Muscovites, and in the city of Vitebsk - who? ..
There are two colloquially practiced variants - Vitebsk residents and Vitebsk residents. Moreover, both are considered to be practically equal in rights. Those who come from hereditary townspeople in several generations are in favor of "Vitebsk".
And they tell, by the way, such a story. When the city of Vitebsk - even under Soviet rule - was preparing to solemnly celebrate its 1000th anniversary, the chaste party members considered it completely indecent in the "Vitebsk" this very " fucking"... And they began to intensively introduce into the minds and speech of Vitebsk residents a new" Vitebsk citizens "...
So the old-timers consider one of the names imposed by philologists-ideologists at the behest of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus. Maybe this is true, or maybe fiction, no one will say for sure.
Embroidered shirts, Belarusian character and the memory of the war
Having declared its independence, Belarus clearly did not follow the path of creating an ethno-national state. Or rather, already during the presidency of Alexander Lukashenko, she abandoned this path. There are, of course, today individual actions to promote signs and symbols of national identity to the masses. And they enjoy state support.
Humanly attractive shares are also among them. For example,
This year the kids born on the eve of the Independence Day were given gifts with the meaning: “Padars of nemalyatsi vyshyvanka” - this is the name of the recent action in Belarusian.
Starting from June 15th, the newborns received embroidered shirts with traditional Belarusian ornament.
Many signs play the role of a talisman, so they presented wonderful clothes to parents in different regions of the country of kids.
But for people it is rather exotic.
The historical memory, the memory of the old war, sacred to Belarusians, is another matter - today you cannot imagine the Belarusian character without it.
When you admire the modern city of Vitebsk, you cannot even imagine that after its liberation by Soviet troops, there was no city in this place ... Of the 180 thousand people of its pre-war population ... 118 people remained. More than 90 percent of the housing stock has been destroyed ...
The American allies are said to have sent a commission to assess the damage. And, having visited the ruins of Vitebsk, they said: dead, they say, this is a city and there is no such force that could bring it back to life ... That's when not only a savvy guide tells you about all this, but many townspeople, including very young, then you understand something important, real, important about the city and the townspeople.
Memorial in honor of Soviet soldiers, partisans and underground workers of the Vitebsk region. Image Credit Flickr User tjabeljan
"And be sure to go to the" Three Bayonets "! .." My acquaintance Ivan, an artist from Vitebsk pedestrian, a young bartender and many other people all three days advise that in Vitebsk you should definitely see
... Three Bayonets is a memorial complex in honor of Soviet soldiers, partisans and underground fighters in the Vitebsk region, built in Soviet times, and now replenished with old military equipment and turned into an open-air park-museum.
Late Sunday evening is not the best time to visit such places. But, one has only to climb the stairs with the embankment crowded with beer rows, as you can see: there are people here even at night.
Illuminating a flashlight, a late family with children examines the park's military equipment ... Teenagers with bicycles stand for a long time by the eternal flame. Young guys wander, serious conversations talk ...
Here is such a strange city - Vitebsk.
According to UNESCO, the Belarusian language is on the verge of extinction, although half a century ago it was actively used by millions of people.
"It is under the potential threat of extinction" - this is the diagnosis from UNESCO that the language of the indigenous population of Belarus received, which was even indicated on a symbolic map called "World languages in danger".
Why does he disappear? The answer is simple: it is almost never used in everyday communication. A small part of the intelligentsia, part of the conscious youth and old people - these are the main speakers of the language, which was used by millions of people 50 years ago.
“Nasha Niva” counted 50 main reasons why today's youth do not want to speak Belarusian. For this, about 300 students of the country's leading universities were interviewed (they talked to someone in person, someone answered on Twitter and other social networks).
The editors chose 50 of the most interesting and most common answers: some of them are quite reasonable, others are primitive, but sincere, there are obscure and even offensive. But it is these answers that best reflect the "achievements" of the authorities in the development of linguistic culture and national consciousness.
We offer 50 possible answers to the question “Why don't you speak Belarusian?”:
1). I don't know the language at all.
2). They haven't taught me since childhood.
3). Nobody speaks Belarusian to me, here I am the same way.
4). I don’t know so well that I could easily express myself in it.
5). I don’t have time to study it.
6). I am outside Belarus a lot. The language is simply not needed.
7). If I start talking, I will not be understood at work.
eight). School, university, family - everything is in Russian.
nine). Despite the fact that the language is beautiful, there is an opinion that only collective farmers speak it. It's hard to be the same in the eyes of society.
ten). I do not fully feel that I am a Belarusian as a representative of the nation.
eleven). My parents never insisted that I be serious about mov.
12). Do not know much. I am a perfectionist. Either I'm doing great, or I'm not doing it at all.
13). I have basic knowledge, I can even keep the conversation going. But somehow it is easier for me to communicate in English.
fourteen). This is unnecessary and meaningless.
15). This language is more suitable for grandparents, but not for young people.
16). There is no patriotism.
17). A system of communication in Russian or English has long been established, no matter if it is a store or an office.
eighteen). I like the language, but it is not the leading one for me (acting or living).
19). I like Russian more.
twenty). school he was allowed to skip.
21). I'm afraid they'll go to jail.
22). I do not like the sounds "g" and "h".
23). She entered honey and stopped.
24). I'm waiting for Apple to release IOS in Belarusian.
25). I'm embarrassed.
26). I talked for about 2 months. I'm tired of it. Hard.
27). My parents won't understand me if I suddenly start speaking Belarusian. They educate me all my life in Russian, and here I am "for the first time".
28). As soon as we join the EU - so immediately.
29). Today it is the language of the opposition. If you speak Belarusian, then you are going against the system.
thirty). I have enough of him in the subway.
31). There is little modern literature, there is nowhere to get knowledge.
32). Do not know! I envy the Ukrainians a little. Austria-Hungary helped them, as they still say in the West. And from us everything has been weathered long ago.
33). Politically insecure language.
34). What will change if I start talking?
35). He's a little funny.
36). It has become artificial today.
37). The language has not taken root in modern society, I personally speak the language of the majority.
38). I don’t recognize Trasyanka as a language, but I don’t know how to do it in another way.
39). "Belarusian language" is a Polish anti-Russian project. He has little more than nothing to do with the Belarusian people.
40). It is difficult to speak Belarusian when everything is in Russian.
41). Because there just isn't anyone.
42). I often use obscene language, but in Belarusian it is not. Seriously, I just don't know.
43) It is difficult to speak your native language, as its use is minimal, and some look at you as an alien.
44). To my shame, I can't normally. I think in Russian.
45). I don’t know very well, but it’s not quite decent to speak half-Russian-half-Belarusian.
46). Difficult to stand out and practice is not enough.
47). Understand correctly, but somehow from birth I feel more Russian, although I myself am a Belarusian with a Polish surname. Somehow that direction is closer to my liking.
48). We have actually been part of the Russian Empire for 300 years. How can you speak Belarusian in such a situation?
49). It's more comfortable for me.
50). Does anyone need this?
As they say, draw your own conclusions.