Historical grammar of the Belarusian language with elements of the history of the language 3221-S1-0GHEJL21K
Ethnographic-language borders of Belarus result from settling processes of Eastern-Slavonic tribes and their accumulation on the Baltic substrate. Scholars agree that there are two tribes most important for the origin of the Belаrusian language territory determining language distinction of two basic Belаrusian dialects – these are the Krivichs and Dregovichs tribes. The territory inhabited by the Krivichs is the area of the present north-eastern dialect and the land where the Dregovichs used to live is the area of the present south-western dialect. We need to remember however that ethnographic-language borders changed depending on assimilation processes present in the area inhabited by the following tribes: Dregovichs, Drevlians, Krivichs, Poleshuks, Severians, Vyatichi. Archeological, hydronymical, anthropological, ethnological and other data led to creating the theory of the substrate origin of the Belаrusians whose core is the fact that the Slavs gradually assimilated the Balts in the Belаrusian area being under the influence of the Baltic substrate at the same time. The main reason for the origin of Eastern-Slavonic languages was regrouping which took place in two dialectal zones: Kiev-Polesian and Polotsk-Ryazan. The article presents the features which on the one hand contrast two Belarusian dialectal massifs: north-east and south-west and on the other hand – indicate the historical connections of both dialects with earlier dialectal areas: Polotsk-Ryazan and Kiev-Polesian.
The development of the Belarusian language can be divided into three main periods: pre-written Proto-Belarusian (6-12th c.), written Proto-Belarusian (13-15th c.) and Belarusian with written texts (since 15th c.) The conditions of the development of Belarusian deteriorated towards the end of the 17th century with an increasing role of Polish in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, Polish and Belarusian influenced each other, as shown by the works of Polish and Belarusian writers of the 18-20th centuries born on what is now Belarusian territory.
Belarusian dialects (south-western and north-eastern ) are the foundation of centemporary literary Belarusian language. The role of dialects was greater or lesser throughout different historical periods and to a great extent depended on the place of birth or residence of writers who willingly used the vocabulary of their native dialect reflecting its phonetic and morphologic features. The first peron to codify the Belarusian language was Branislau Tarashkyevich who published the first grammar of contemporary literary Belarusian in 1918.
The course is to present the phonetic and morphological systems of old Belarusian language and modern Belarusian literary language and acquaint studenst with linguistic changes that are taking place in these systems. Show the evolution of Belarusian language on the basis of those peculiarities and give it its practical application (analysis of linguistic phenomena in texts, searching for changes in the texts, an understanding of phonetic changes).
Student workload
30h participation in classes, 1 ECTS.
15h participation in exercises 0,5 ECTS.
15h preparation to pass, 0,5 ECTS.
Total: 3 ECTS.
Type of course
Mode
Requirements
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the course,
1. KNOWLEDGE: student understands and has an advanced knowledge of
- subject and methodological characteristics of research in Belarusian studies as well as terminology used in this area
- the complex nature of a natural language, especially Belarusian
- regional and stylistic varieties of the Belarusian language
2. SKILLS: student can
- evaluate the role of linguistic occurrences against the historical background
- present theories of researchers of Belarusian literature and the Belarusian language as well as draw conclusions about the development of the language and literature
- identify the significance of specific historical events for the development of Belarusian literature and the Belarusian language
3. SOCIAL COMPETENCES: student is ready to
- bear the responsibility for preserving cultural heritage, including the heritage of Belarus
Assessment criteria
A pass is granted based on:
-preparation for each seminar meeting and for active participation;
-final comprehension check.
The student has the right to 2 unexcused absences, each subsequent one requires justification. The lecturer decides on the recognition of absence. Exceeding excused and unexcused absences by 50% of classes may be grounds to fail the course. The conditions for passing the course on the resit exam are the same as on the ordinary of exam.
Bibliography
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