Belarusians' Pride: Our Country, Our Language

Belarus, formerly known as Byelorussia or White Russia, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. The country's name is derived from Belaya Rus, which means White Rus in Slavic languages. The term Rus refers to the historical region of Ruthenia, which encompasses Eastern Slavic territories of the medieval era, mainly present-day Belarus and Ukraine.

The Belarusian language, also known as Bielaruskaja mova, is one of two official languages in the country, alongside Russian. It is an East Slavic language with links to Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish. While Russian is predominantly spoken in Belarus, with about 72% of the population using it at home, there has been a resurgence in the use of Belarusian, especially among the younger generation in urban areas, as a form of protest against the country's political landscape.

Belarusians refer to their country as 'Беларусь' in their language

Belarusians refer to their country as Беларусь in their language. The country's name in English, Belarus, is derived from this. The language is also called Беларусь in Belarusian.

Belarusian is an East Slavic language and is one of the two official languages in Belarus, alongside Russian. It is also spoken in some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine by Belarusian minorities in those countries.

The language is written in the Cyrillic alphabet, which can be challenging for visitors to read. Less than a quarter of Belarusians speak Belarusian, with far more speaking Russian due to the country's Soviet past. However, Belarusian is making a comeback as more Belarusians return to their roots.

The name Belarus is closely related to Belaya Rus, which translates to White Rus in today's Russian language. The term Rus refers to the Eastern Slavic territories of the medieval era, which now mostly belong to Belarus and Ukraine.

Before Belarus gained independence in 1991, the country was known as Byelorussia or White Russia. The name Belarus, or alternatively Belarusan, was adopted following independence.

In some European countries, Belarus is referred to as translations of White Russia, such as Wit-Rusland in Dutch and Weißrussland in German. However, some countries have changed their naming policies to reflect Belarus's independence and sovereignty. For example, Sweden now uses the term Belarus in official communications, and German news magazine Der Spiegel has also started using the term.

In official documents of the United Nations and the country's constitution, the terms "the Republic of Belarus" or simply "Belarus" are used.

The country's name is derived from 'Belaya Rus', meaning 'White Rus' in Slavic languages

The country's name, Belarus, is derived from Belaya Rus, meaning "White Rus" in Slavic languages. This name has a complex history and has evolved over time. Initially, the country was called White Ruthenia, which can be literally translated as White Ruthenia. This name first appeared in German and Latin medieval literature, with the earliest recorded usage being in the chronicles of Jan of Czarnków in 1381, where he mentioned the imprisonment of the Lithuanian grand duke Jogaila and his mother at "Albae Russiae, Poloczk dicto".

The term "Rus" has a broader geographical and political meaning than just Russia. Rus, also known as Ruthenia, historically referred to the Eastern Slavic territories of the medieval era, which now mostly belong to Belarus and Ukraine. Thus, the name "White Rus" or "White Ruthenia" was used to describe these territories.

Over time, the name "Belarus" or "Belaya Rus" became associated with specific regions within the broader Rus territory. Before the Mongol invasions, White Rus was used for the Duchy of Rostov-Suzdal, conveying the ideas of freedom, greatness, enlightenment, and Christianity. Later, the name shifted to the Duchies of Vitebsk and Polotsk, and eventually, Polish geographer Jan of Stobnica expanded its meaning to encompass all the Rus' lands under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The name "Belarus" has undergone further transformations and has been influenced by political changes. During the period of the Russian Empire, the term "Belorussia" emerged, and the Russian Tsar was referred to as "the Tsar of All the Russias," asserting the Russian identity of the territories and their people. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the term "White Russia" caused confusion due to its association with the anti-Bolshevik military force known as the "White Russians" or "the Whites".

Following Belarus's independence in 1991, the country's official name became the "Republic of Belarus," and the use of "Byelorussia" was discontinued. This change aimed to emphasize the country's sovereignty and distinguish it from Russia. However, the name "Belarus" is still sometimes translated as "White Russia" in various languages, including Dutch, Afrikaans, and German.

The name "Belarus" is closely tied to the country's history, language, and culture. While it has evolved over time, the name continues to be a source of debate and discussion, reflecting the complex political and cultural landscape of the region.

Belarusian is an East Slavic language with links to Russian and Ukrainian

Belarusian, or Belarusan, is an East Slavic language with close links to Russian and Ukrainian. It is one of the two official languages in Belarus, alongside Russian. It is also spoken in some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine by Belarusian minorities in those countries.

Belarusian shares many grammatical and lexical features with other East Slavic languages, and there is a degree of mutual intelligibility between Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian. Belarusian descends from Ruthenian, a language spoken from the 13th to 18th centuries, which in turn descended from Old East Slavic (10th to 13th centuries).

The Belarusian language has historically been known by several names, including Byelorussian, Belorussian, and White Russian. The name "Belarusian" was adopted after the country gained independence in 1991. The language is written using a variant of the Cyrillic script, which was first used for the Old Church Slavonic language. The modern Belarusian alphabet consists of thirty-two letters.

Belarusian has two main dialects: the North-Eastern and the South-Western. There is also a transitional Middle Belarusian dialect group and a separate West Polesian dialect group. The North-Eastern dialect is characterized by a soft-sounding "R" and strong akanye, while the South-Western dialect is characterized by a hard-sounding "R" and moderate akanye.

While Belarusian is the native language of most Belarusians, Russian is more widely spoken due to the country's Soviet past. However, there has been a growing movement to revive the Belarusian language, and it is gaining more support from the government and various institutions.

Belarusian is closely related to Ukrainian, with which it shares many similarities in phonology, grammar, and vocabulary. Both languages have a degree of mutual intelligibility and are descended from Ruthenian. However, Belarusian also has some unique features that set it apart from Ukrainian and other East Slavic languages. For example, Belarusian phonology includes 45 to 54 phonemes, with 6 vowels and 39 to 48 consonants.

The language is spoken in some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine

The Belarusian language is spoken in some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine by Belarusian minorities in those countries.

Belarusian is an East Slavic language, closely related to Russian and Ukrainian. It is one of the two official languages of Belarus, alongside Russian. However, the dominance of Russian in Belarus has historically pushed Belarusian to the sidelines. In 1999, about 36.7% of Belarusian citizens (3.7 million people) declared Belarusian to be the language spoken at home. By 2009, this number had dropped to 11.9% (698,000 people).

The history of Belarus has been marked by repeated changes of rule and influence from neighbouring countries, which has impacted the use of the Belarusian language. Before Belarus gained independence in 1991, the country was part of the Soviet Union and previously the Russian Empire, with Russian being the dominant language. During this time, the Belarusian language was suppressed and often associated with the rural, uneducated classes.

Following independence, the Belarusian language experienced a revival, becoming the sole official language of Belarus. However, this policy of "Belarusization" was unpopular with large parts of society, and in 1995, a referendum was held which resulted in Russian being given equal status as an official language. Since then, the use of Belarusian has continued to decline, with Russian becoming the dominant language in most areas of public life.

In addition to Russian, there are several minority languages spoken in Belarus, including Polish, Eastern Yiddish, Ukrainian, and Trasianka, a mix of Russian and Belarusian.

In Belarus, Russian is predominantly spoken over Belarusian

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of over 9 million people. It shares borders with Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, and Latvia. The country has a diverse ethnic population and has historically been ruled by other countries and kingdoms, which has influenced the languages spoken there today.

Belarus has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. Belarusian is an East Slavic language that shares many grammatical and lexical features with Russian and Ukrainian. It is spoken in some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine by Belarusian minorities. It is also known as 'White Russian'.

Despite being one of the official languages, Russian is predominantly spoken over Belarusian in Belarus. This is due to several historical, political, and social factors. Firstly, the country's past as part of the Soviet Union has resulted in a large number of locals speaking Russian. Secondly, the influence of Russia and Poland throughout history, especially during the 19th century, led to the introduction and dominance of Russian and Polish as the official languages in the educational system. Belarusian was considered a language of the lower classes during this time.

Although there was a revival of the Belarusian language in the late 19th century, and it gained popularity again after the country's independence in 1991, its use has declined since. This is partly due to the equal status given to Russian as an official language following a controversial referendum in 1995, which resulted in an increased use of Russian throughout the country. Additionally, the current political regime has been accused of discriminating against Belarusian speakers and not providing enough support for the language.

According to a 2009 study, 72% of Belarusians speak Russian at home, while only 11.9% actively use Belarusian. Many Belarusians, especially in urban areas, now consider Belarusian a "rural and uneducated" language. The number of first graders being taught in Belarusian has significantly decreased over the years, and there are no Belarusian-language universities in the country. Efforts by language support groups to revive literacy in Belarusian have had limited success.

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