Relationship between language and national identity I 3221-S2-4MJ11S
During the seminar there is discussed the ethnic composition of the population of Belarus in different historical periods, with particular emphasis on the Polish minority. The attention is paid to the frequent identification of nationality with religion: Catholic - Pole, orthodox - russian.
There is presented the positive role of Belarusanisation processes (in the 1920's and 1990's) in forming the national consciousness and the destructive role of Belarusians Russification processes, both historical and current. Belarusian history proves that from all national identifying elements - the territory, economy, culture, psychology, etc. - the language was a major factor. It had priority over the territory, because the territory was defined on the basis of the language, and not vice versa. It is the language what became an important factor if not legal, it is a real recognition of Belarusians as a nation by the tsar in 1897, during the census of the Russian empire. The attention is paid on the timeliness of the Belarusian linguist Jazep Losik's statement who in the 1920's repeated to his students that, in the case of Belarus, the language defines politics, economy and social system. The resignation of the Belarusian language contributes to the rapid assimilation of Belarusians and unification with Russia.
The current language policy in Belarus is not conducive to the development of the Belarusian language. Official recognition of Russian as a second state language has led to the undeniable superiority over Belarusian Russian language when it comes to the sphere of use.
During the classes there are discussed factors affecting the national consciousness, identity (local and supra-local), and tolerance in Belarus and the importance of history and historical memory in the borderlands of Belarus. Border residents are aware of interference processes, they often called their own language "mixed," and even speak about the "mixed" world. In the minds of the inhabitants of rural borderlands of Belarus is rooted familiarity and locality, so they divide people into "their" and "foreign."
Particular attention is paid to language and linguistic awareness on the borderlands of Belarus. Sociolinguistic situation is presented in the Belarusian-Polish, Polish-Belarusian-Baltic, the Polish-Belarusian-Ukrainian and Belarusian-Russian borderlands.
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the course,
1. KNOWLEDGE: student understands and has an in-depth knowledge of
- subject and methodological characteristics of research in Belarusian studies as well as terminology used in this area
- main theories of literary and language studies and linguistics-based research methodologies
- basic trends in Belarusian studies
- the role of Belarus in the modern world and its influence on the development of Belarusian literature and the Belarusian language
- the process of the development of the literary language in Belarus
- the influence of politics and history on the development of the Belarusian literary language
- regional reasons for developing varieties of the Belarusian language
- characteristics of Belarusian literature or the Belarusian language in connection with other languages or literature of other countries
- subject and methodological characteristics of research in translation studies as well as terminology used in this area
- the significance of émigrés for the development of Belarusian culture and the Belarusian language
- the most significant notions and rules pertaining to the problem of copyright as well as the need to manage resources of intellectual property
2. SKILLS: student can
- use an advanced terminology of language studies in the process of analysing linguistic occurrences
- prepare comparative literary or linguistic analyses on his or her own, using relevant methods and research tools
- evaluate the correct usage of language structures in various utterances
- recognise complex language structures and assess them in terms of their correct usage
- evaluate the role of particular linguistic occurrences from the diachronic and synchronic perspective
- evaluate the role of particular linguistic occurrences against the background of the current socio-political situation in Belarus and its borderland
- present theories of researchers of Belarusian literature and the Belarusian language as well as draw conclusions about the development of the language and literature and present synthetic overviews
- use an advanced terminology of translation studies in the process of analysing translated works
- individually prepare analyses of translated works, following and comparing the latest research in the area
- evaluate the role of particular translators of Belarusian and Polish in the context of the process of the Polish and Belarusian cultural exchange
- identify the role of specific historical events for the development of Belarusian literature and the Belarusian language in the context of European history
- evaluate the role of Belarusian émigrés in shaping the language and literature as well as present conclusions, following the latest research in the area
- individually gain knowledge and broaden his or her research skills as well as increase competencies for the professional career
3. SOCIAL COMPETENCES: student is ready to
- identify and solve dilemmas about the profession
- take active part in initiatives undertaken to preserve cultural heritage, including the heritage of Belarus
- take regular part in cultural life, including the cultural life of Belarus, using various media and its forms
Assessment criteria
- presence and activity in the classroom,
- current preparation for classes,
- current oral and written tests, constituing the final exam.
Bibliography
1. Barszczewska N., Chaustowicz M., Timoszuk M. (red.), Kulturowo-językowe dziedzictwo Podlasia, t. 1-3, Warszawa 2016.
2. Bednarczuk L., Stosunki etnolingwistyczne na obszarze Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego, w: Dzieje Lubelszczyzny, t. VI. Lublin 1992.
3. Lycz L., Belaruskaja nacyja i mova, Mińsk 1994.
4. Sabalenka E., Nacyjanal’ny sklad nasel’nictva Belarusi, w: Pytanni bilinhvizmu i uzaemadzejannja mou, Mińsk 1982.
5. Smułkowa E., Białoruś i pogranicza. Studia o języku i społeczeństwie, Warszawa 2002.
6. Smułkowa E. (red.), Język a tożsamość na pograniczu kultur, Białystok 2000.
7. Smułkowa E., Engelking A. (red.), Pogranicza Białorusi w perspektywie interdyscyplinarnej, Warszaa 2007.
8. Snapkouskaja S., Szlachi vychavannja nacyjanal’naj samasvjadomasci u pedahahicznaj spadczyne Vaclava Lastouskaha, w: Belarusika – Albaruthenica 4, Mińsk 1995.
9. Sjańkevicz V., Da pytańnja pol’skae mjanszyni na Belarusi, w: “Zapisy” 14, New York 1976.
Additional information
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