Belorussian dialects (around Novogrudok, Braslav, Miors and Postavs) in historical sight

• Authors: Prokhorova S. , Desyukevich O.
• Languages of publication: RU

Abstracts

EN

The article aims to regard the linguistic situation on the territory around Novogrudok, Braslav, Miors and Postavs as succeeding to the linguistic situation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The linguistic situation is presented from linguists' standpoint and through the eyes of the native dialect speakers. They conceptualize their native dialect in conjunction with Polish, Belorussian, Russian; they have used to choose one of the languages depending on the situation. Interviewees denote that they experience a pressing need to have a perfect command of several languages. This very situation originates in the language situation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The native speakers of the dialect consider their language to be a mixed one. The Polish people inhabiting that territory conceptualize the Polish language as the sacred language of church. The citizens of the explored territory of the Vitebsk region as well as all the citizens of the border districts are characterized not only by the ability to choose the spoken language according to the situation but by a habit to deeply comprehend each speech act as well. Complicated language situation within which the interviewees exist from birth and which was inherited from the Middle Ages forces them to set a priority between the native dialect (plain language), Polish, Russian, sometimes Lithuanian depending on circumstances. The native speakers of the dialect entirely comprehend current situation on the territory they inhabit. First of all it is the characteristic feature of the elderly people who maintain their own dialect. Young people speak Russian in general, though they can speak both Belarussian and Russian and understand Polish speech. The language situation on the territory of the Vitebsk and Novogrudok regions as stated above inherits the situation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which is being searched now as an experience of interaction and enriching of several languages within one and the same country.

Keywords

EN

GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA - LINGUISTIC HERITAGE; LINGUISTIC SITUATION IN BELARUS

Discipline

• PHILOLOGY_&_LINGUISTICS: PHILOLOGY & LINGUISTICS

• Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Slawistyki PAN
• Journal: Acta Baltico-Slavica
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 31
• Pages: 205-212
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Prokhorova S.

author

Desyukevich O.

• S. Prokhorova: Belarussian State University, Philological Faculty, K. Marks st. 31, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07PLAAAA02515224