scholarly journals Legislative regulation of linguistic relationships in Ukraine

Author(s):  
Iuliya Makarets

The article focuses on the issue of legislative regulation of linguistic relationships in Ukraine. The ability of a national language to function as a means of consolidation and national identification depends to a large extent on state linguistic policy, political support that the language receives. The state legislation on language is indicative in this regard while it establishes the status of languages, the linguistic model and the linguistic regime. In accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, the Ukrainian language is a state language in Ukraine. The dynamics of the Ukrainian legislation on languages illustrates the inconsistency of the implementation of this constitutional norm. The article analyzes the milestones of its formation. The content of the basic laws in the sphere of linguistic relationships (Law of the USSR ‘On Languages in the Ukrainian SSR’ (1989), the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Principles of the State Language Policy’ (2012), which is invalid now, and the new Law of Ukraine ‘On the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as a State Language’ (2019)), the socio-political tendencies, that preceded their adoption, their evaluation by tpublic and world community as well as their consequences for linguistic situation in Ukraine are described. The possibility of official bilingualism approving is studied. The article analyzes historical, cultural and political preconditions for the adoption of official bi- or multilingualism by other states, acceptability of this linguistic model for Ukraine and possibility to overcome existing linguistic contradictions.

Author(s):  
Vesna Kosmajac ◽  

This paper presents a sociolinguistic analysis of the current linguistic situation in the Russian Federation. Preservation and development of the Russian language represents the national interest of the state. The Russian language has the status of a state language, but, given the large number of ethnic groups living on the territory of Russia, it must not jeopardise other national languages, as this could lead to inter-ethnic conflicts. Some of the key issues Russia is currently facing in this field are: the process of globalisation, the uncontrolled penetration of anglicisms into the Russian language, the adverse impact of the Internet and social networks on literacy, especially with the younger population. All valid rules of the Russian orthography are, in fact, prescribed by the Government of The Russian Federation. Laws regulating the area of language policy are the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Law on the Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation, and the Law on the State Language of the Russian Federation.


Author(s):  
A.Zh. Аmen ◽  
A.A. Кenzhegylova

Today, the formation of conditions for the development of the state language is one of the strategic tasks of the country's further development. And in this regard, the most important area of implementation of the language policy is the public life of the country as a whole. The new socio-political realities of Kazakhstan as a sovereign state require a language policy that meets the needs of the country's multi-ethnic population and takes into account the peculiarities of the language, demographic and political situation. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev attaches great importance to the problems of language and language policy in the country. In his work "To preserve memory and strengthen harmony", he points out that "... everything must be done to ensure that the language of the titular nation, as it is sometimes said, is in demand for life - in the public service, in production, in science, and in education, as well as Russian, should become a guide to action for all of us. The desire to respect other languages without showing concern for the native language means a lack of respect for the honor and dignity of one's own people. The independence of language also means the independence of every person's thinking and is a fundamental condition of state sovereignty." The problem of the state language, which has been the subject of heated discussions for many years, still cannot find a solution. Despite the fact that the Kazakh language has the status of the state language, we still do not dare to demand its knowledge from civil servants. The Supreme power has tried several times to introduce this rule without fail, but has met with active opposition. And this problem has not yet found its solution. The language policy of the state, the current situation and prospects for the development of the Kazakh language are always in the center of public attention.


2019 ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
T.O. Ryabchenko ◽  
D.V. Murach

The article deals with the peculiarities of becoming a constitutional-legal institute of the state language in Ukraine. The main part of the research is devoted to the analysis of the laws of origin of the considered institute, the prerequisites of the modern stage of its development, and therefore the generalization of the factors that led to the establishment and final consolidation at the legislative level of the status of the state language in the context of creating the national language of the people of Ukraine, the establishment of the Ukrainian political nation. Within the framework of this article, considerable attention is given to the characterization of the stages of the genesis of the institute of the state language, starting from the 9th to the beginning of the twentieth centuries. The author of the article emphasizes the conditions that contributed to the formation of regulations in the field of language policy in Ukraine. The subject of the study is the legal monuments of Ukraine, the legislation in force in the territory of Ukraine during the period under review, which regulated the language relations and, consequently, the approval of the state language as a legal institute. Critical analysis of the normative mechanisms of functioning of the Institute of the State Language was carried out. It is suggested to take into account certain features of the legal system, characteristic of a specific historical period of development of Ukraine. This approach, in the author’s opinion, is expedient, since it provides an opportunity to distinguish the main stages of becoming a state language as an institution of constitutional law and to understand the mechanism of constitutional and legal regulation of linguistic relations. At the same time, a chronological division of the process of formation of the state language institute into periods according to belonging to the stages of its formation was made. The regularity of the relevant division is determined, which defines the purpose of this study, and therefore, the legal characterization of the selected periods and stages of formation of the Ukrainian language, the search for regularities in their correlation. Keywords: constitutional-legal institute, state language, Ukrainian language, periods of formation of state language institute.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
A.D. Vasilyev ◽  

Issues of language policy are constantly relevant for any state, including Russia, which is a multinational country as stated officially. According to the current constitution, the Russian language is the state language of the Russian Federation; amendments to the 2020 Basic Law have finally and justly established the state-forming status of the Russian people. Naturally, the current speech-communicative processes in different spheres of life of society give rise to various conflicts. This also applies to the field of official communication – lawmaking, law enforcement, legal procedures, etc. Therefore, the sporadic attention of the authorities to the use of the Russian language as a state language is understandable. This was the key in the agenda of the meeting of the Russian Language Council, held on November 5, 2019 under the personal chairmanship of the President Vladimir V. Putin. However, the meeting participants did not pay due attention to a number of rather obvious problems that arise in this regard. Among them are, in particular, the pressing tasks of clearly differentiating stable varieties of the use of the national language and their normative labelling, some methodological principles of practical lexicography, probable linguodidactic innovations and specific forms of their implementation; finally, issues of juridical linguistics and of legal nature. The purpose of the article is to analyze the terminological aspect of language policy in Russia. As a result, it is obvious that the term “state language” should be filled with a clear conceptual content. This will also strengthen its place in the public consciousness.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-169
Author(s):  
N. P. Medvedev ◽  
L. N. Krasnov

The article is devoted to the study of the influence of the language policy on political stability in Ukraine. The article examines the current provisions of the Ukrainian legislation related to the development of language policy, as well as the provisions of the latest draft laws on the status of languages in Ukraine. The authors have analyzed recent trends in the development of language policy, which are a source of destabilization in modern Ukraine.The problem of ethno-political stability becomes one of the key problems for the modern Ukrainian state. This issue was on a par with socio-economic issues and foreign policy interaction. Its scientific analysis is necessary to determine the impact of the state language policy implemented in Ukraine on the development of all regions of the country, which have significant differences in their national composition, history and traditions. In this context, the study of this issue has not only theoretical but also practical importance.One of the draft laws regulating the language sphere assumes that foreign citizens who intend to obtain Ukrainian citizenship will have to take exams in the Ukrainian language. The required level of proficiency will be determined by the national Commission on the standards of the Ukrainian language. It will be created if the bill is passed by Parliament. This Commission will be entrusted with the task of determining the necessary level of proficiency in the state language for the persons willing to occupy certain positions.The bill provides for the introduction of mandatory use of the state Ukrainian language by various authorities. It provides for the use of the Ukrainian language not only for documentation, but also for pre-election campaigns carried out at the expense of the state budget. The main trends that occur in the language sphere of Ukraine prove that they are part of the processes that occur in all the former republics of the USSR. They include the revival of interest in the national language and national culture, the desire to expand the social functions of the national language in different spheres of communication in each of the newly independent states and constitute a part of the process of statehood assertion.


Author(s):  
Tetiana Prystupenko

The relevance of studying the features of language policy implementation in Ukraine at the legislative level is based on the increasing understanding of Ukrainian language importance as an integral component of ensuring a nation’s identity and unity of the people as well as supporting for statehood. The main objective of the article is to study the implications and prospects for implementation of the language policy in Ukraine, taking into account the latest legislative innovations. The methodological framework provides for the use of methods of analysis, synthesis and a systematic approach for a comprehensive consideration of the processes of implementation of national language policy at the legislative level. To study the changes in the legislative regulation of language policy during the period of independence of Ukraine, the methods of study of documents and retrospective analysis were applied. The attitude of scientists to the situation of bilingualism has been also studied using the methods of comparison and generalization. As a result of the research, it was revealed that formation of a clear language policy is an essential condition for promoting the cohesion of a multi-ethnic Ukrainian society, inasmuch as the existing situation of bilingualism leads to a disunity of the nation. Although the Ukrainian language is defined by the state at the constitutional level, however, its introduction into all spheres of public life until 2014 was quite slow, especially in the eastern and southern regions. Since 2010, the language policy was actually aimed at reducing the use of the Ukrainian language and the dominance of Russian in the information and cultural space of Ukraine. Since 2012, Ukraine had a law that provided for legitimization of “regional languages” in certain areas (it was declared as unconstitutional one in February 2018). The prospect of implementation of language policy at the legislative level is adoption of the Law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language” (passed the first reading on October 4, 2018), which defines the Ukrainian language as the only state language, establishing the requirements for fluency in the Ukrainian language and its use in the work of state authorities and public areas.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 137-154
Author(s):  
Hugo W. Campbell

In the multilingual community of Surinam the official language is Dutch. This language has occupied the official status during almost three centuries of colonial government, the intermediate stage of self-government (as part of the kingdom of the Netherlands from 1954 through 1975) and after complete independence in 1975. Though the status of official language did not change, a different language policy had to be adopted with respect to different role components in each of four historical periods. The language policy adopted in each of these periods can be considered the result of social changes which took place, and of attitudinal changes with respect to the functioning of other languages in the community. The changing role of the Dutch language in the four periods is discussed in terms of its changing socio-linguistic profile. The first change was that from an ethnic group specific position (the European population only) to an obligatory position which concerned the whole population. In each of these two periods Dutch was used in relation to all main functions (communication* education., religion and literature). During the period in which Dutch played the ethnic specific role the language Sranan was used as a promoted language to perform the same functions for the slave population of the 17th, 18th and 19th century. This language was also used as language of communication between the Europeans and the slaves. The social change from a slavery society to a society of citizens only had forced the governement to discourage the use of Sranan and to consider Dutch the only language in the country. This obligatory position was eventually disregarded in favor of a partial role of the Dutch language in a multicultural society. The recognition by the government of a multitude of cultural ambitions has led it to accept the possibility of the sharing of functions among languages. Especially with respect to intergroupcoinmunication and literature, the recognition-of the role of Sranan as national language became the main feature of this period. However, the emergency of Surinam-Dutch, as a variety (xized language) of the Dutch language used by the majority of the Dutch speaking community in Surinam, has given the governement of the new republic of Surinam an opportunity to promote cultural integration by means of this language variety. Though this too will have to share functions with Sranan (inter-group communication, literature, etc.), it is suggested that a stan-dardized version might not only change its promoted language status into that of national official language but also give a better criterion to judge and to stimulate performances in education and literature.


1981 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 60-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Braj B. Kachru

In the political divisions within South Asia there has traditionally been no organized effort for language policies.1 Language was essentially related to one's caste, village, district, and state. Beyond this, one identified with languages associated with religion (Sanskrit or Arabic), or learned and literary texts (mainly Sanskrit and Persian). At the time of Indian independence (1947), one task of the new government was to unravel the status and position of almost 560 sovereign states which were ruled by an array of mahārājās, nawābs, and lesser luminaries, depending on the size and the revenue of each state and subdivision. Each state state was a kindgom unto itself, and such political divisions did not foster a national language policy. In India, the largest country in South Asia, four languages were used for wider communication as bazār languages or languages of literature and intranational communication: Hindi (and its varieties, Hindustani and Urdu), Sanskrit, Persian, and later, English (cf., for Sanskrit, Kachru and Sridhar 1978; Sharma 1976; for English, Kachru 1969; 1982a). The Hindus tended to send their children to a pāṭhśālā (traditional Hindu school mainly for scriptural education) for the study of the scriptures and some basic knowledge of the śāastras (Sanskrit instructional texts, treatise), and the Muslims tended to send their children to a maktab (traditional school for Koranic instruction). The denominational schools (vidyāZaya) provided liberal arts instruction in Sanskrit, Persian, Hindi, Arabic, or in the regional languages.


1976 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndon Harries

ABSTRACTThe decree of 4 July, 1974, by President Kenyatta, proclaiming Swahili as the national language of Kenya is discussed with reference to questions of feasibility and expediency. The alternatives to the President's decree are considered, and reasons for the decision are suggested.Comparison of the status of Swahili in the capital cities of Kenya (Nairobi) and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) is made to illustrate the special difficulties confronting the Kenya government in making the President's decree effective. The parliamentary response is crucial, but the dominance of English in Nairobi, the capital city, where Swahili has not always been much valued, indicates a wider gap between intention and the possibility of fulfilment than in Dar es Salaam.The need for proficiency in Swahili is viewed in the Kenya situation, and this is related to what is linguistically appropriate. The nationalization of Swahili results in secularization of a language that found its normal expression in the setting of Islam. What is linguistically appropriate in Swahili on the national level is often inappropriate to members of the Swahili coastal community. Kenyans are likely to opt for their own modifications of Standard Swahili, basing this on the Mombasa dialect, but up-country Swahili is the foundation upon which greater proficiency can be achieved. (Language planning, language policy, regional and social stratification of varieties, Swahili; Kenya, Tanzania.)


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document