Historical Encyclopedia
The linguistic features of Ukraine represent a unique complex associated with centuries-old history, cultural traditions, and geographical features of the region. Ukraine is a multilingual country where both Ukrainian and Russian languages are used. However, Ukrainian is the state language, which is significant for the formation of national identity and cultural continuity. In this article, we will examine the main linguistic features of Ukraine, their historical development, and current state.
The Ukrainian language belongs to the East Slavic group of the Indo-European language family and is related to Russian and Belarusian. It has a rich history beginning with Old East Slavic, used in Kievan Rus from the 10th to the 13th centuries.
Since the division of Rus into three parts — Great Rus, Belarus, and Little Rus — the Ukrainian language began to develop independently. In the 16th to 18th centuries, when various state entities existed on the territory of Ukraine, such as the Zaporizhian Sich, Hetmanate, and others, the Ukrainian language gained its specificity and became the foundation of cultural and political identity. During this time, a literary tradition in the Ukrainian language was also formed, with works from authors such as Ivan Kotliarevsky, Taras Shevchenko, and others.
After Ukraine joined the Russian Empire in the 18th century, the Ukrainian language faced restrictions. In the 19th century, there was an attempt to unify the language, which led to the increased influence of the Russian language. However, in the 20th century, especially after gaining independence in 1991, the Ukrainian language began to actively develop and strengthen as a key element of national identity.
Currently, the Ukrainian language is the state language and is used in official documents, television, education, and other areas of life. The Constitution of Ukraine guarantees the right to use the Ukrainian language, and its role in the public life of the country increases year by year.
The Russian language in Ukraine has a long history and is widely used in everyday life, especially in cities and eastern regions of the country. This is due to the historical influence of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, during which Russian became the primary language of communication, science, and education.
Before gaining independence in 1991, Russian was de facto the main language in Ukraine. In the Soviet Union, Russian was mandatory in schools, enterprises, mass media, and government service. However, despite the dominance of Russian, the Ukrainian language continued to exist in everyday life, especially in rural areas, and was preserved in folk traditions, culture, and literature.
After gaining independence, the Ukrainian language was enshrined as the state language, but Russian continues to be an important element in the lives of many Ukrainians, especially in eastern and southern regions, as well as in major cities like Kyiv and Odesa. In recent decades, there has been a trend towards increasing the role of the Ukrainian language in media, education, and culture, which affects the use of Russian in public life.
Multilingualism is an important feature of the linguistic situation in Ukraine. In addition to Ukrainian and Russian, other languages are used in the country, such as Crimean Tatar, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, and others. These languages are spoken by national minorities residing in Ukraine who preserve their linguistic traditions.
The Crimean Tatar language is the language of the Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea, which had official recognition in the Republic of Crimea (before the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014) and is used in cultural and public life. Since the return of Crimea under Ukraine's control in 1991, the Crimean Tatar language has become part of Ukraine's cultural heritage, and there are programs for its preservation and promotion.
In the western regions of Ukraine, such as Transcarpathia and Bukovina, Hungarian and Romanian are used. These languages also have official recognition at the local level and are actively used in school education, media, and communication with the local population. Additionally, in some regions of Ukraine, Polish and Bulgarian languages are preserved, which also highlights the multilingual component of the country's cultural diversity.
Multilingualism in Ukraine is becoming an important issue of state policy. The problem of harmonious coexistence of different languages and cultures in the country is discussed at various levels, and initiatives to improve the linguistic situation, ensure minority rights, and support multilingualism exist.
After gaining independence, Ukraine developed a policy aimed at protecting and promoting the Ukrainian language. In 1989, the Law of Ukraine on Language was adopted, which ensured citizens' right to use the Ukrainian language in government, education, science, and culture. The law established the status of the Ukrainian language as the state language and required all official institutions and authorities to use it in their activities.
One of the key steps in language policy was the adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On Language" in 2012, which regulated the use of languages in various spheres of life. This law ensured official status for the Ukrainian language but also allowed the use of Russian and other languages in everyday life and at the local level in regions with a high number of speakers of those languages. However, in 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity and events related to the annexation of Crimea, amendments were made to the legislation strengthening the role of the Ukrainian language and increasing its use in official and public spheres.
Since 2017, a number of laws have been adopted aimed at enhancing the use of the Ukrainian language in media, education, and government administration. For example, the language quota law for television obliges TV channels to provide a certain share of programs in the Ukrainian language. Additionally, the Ukrainian language is actively used in new media, social networks, and cultural projects, contributing to its popularity among youth.
The language of education in Ukraine is an important aspect of national policy. The country has a system of education in the Ukrainian language in state schools, but there is an opportunity for education in other languages, especially for national minorities. Currently, schools with instruction in Russian, Crimean Tatar, Hungarian, Romanian, and other languages operate in Ukraine.
In recent years, there has been a trend towards increasing the role of the Ukrainian language in the education system, which is linked to the national course aimed at strengthening national identity. In universities and at all levels of education, the main language of instruction is Ukrainian, but for foreign students and in some specialized educational institutions, the use of other languages, such as English, Russian, and others, is possible.
One of the most important steps for improving proficiency in the Ukrainian language is the school curriculum, which involves learning the Ukrainian language from the first grade. This program aims for children to master their native language from an early age and become full-fledged citizens of Ukraine, proficient in the state language.
The linguistic situation in Ukraine is the result of centuries-old history, cultural traditions, and political transformations. The Ukrainian language today is a key element of national identity and plays an important role in state and public processes. However, Russian and other languages continue to be significant for many Ukrainians, especially in the eastern and southern regions of the country.
Ukraine's language policy is aimed at strengthening the position of the Ukrainian language in public life and ensuring the rights of national minorities. In the future, it is important to continue to develop the language as a tool for national unity while respecting the cultural and linguistic diversity that exists within Ukraine.