• info@ukrmova.iul-nasu.org.ua
  • +38 (044)-278-12-09
  • Print ISSN 1682-3540
  • e-ISSN 2707-5249
site Institute of the Ukrainian Language
» Journal Issues » 2019 » Journal Ukrainian Language – №3 (71) 2019 » LANGUAGE POLICY OF UKRAINE IN 2017 – 2019

LANGUAGE POLICY OF UKRAINE IN 2017 – 2019

Journal Ukrainian Language – №3 (71) 2019
DOI: doi.org/10.15407/ukrmova2019.03.040
UDC 81’272

Larysa Masenko
Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Institute of the Ukrainian Language of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
4 Hrushevskyi St., Kyiv 01001 Ukraine
Е- mail: masenko14@gmail.com

LANGUAGE POLICY OF UKRAINE IN 2017 – 2019

Heading: Researches
Language: Ukrainian

Abstract: The paper considers the adoption of the law “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language” by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on April 25, 2019 as the greatest achievement of the state language policy. The most important norms of the use of the Ukrainian language as the state language implemented by this law are analyzed. The countermeasures to the procedure of the adoption and implementation of the law by the pro-Russian deputy corps part are also clarified.

With respect to the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2019, the provisions in the programs of presidential candidates and parties addressing the country’s language issues and proposed solutions, are considered.

The election program of Petro Poroshenko as well as his great role in granting Tomos on the autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church and implementation of a series of supporting actions for Ukrainian culture have demonstrated the evolution of the Poroshenko’s attitude to the language policy tasks. From tolerating bilingual development of the country at the beginning of his presidency, he has moved to the Ukraine-centered position in his last years in the post.

Yulia Tymoshenko promised to provide a state financial support for the “cultural and spiritual development of the people, preservation and enhancement of its cultural heritage” in the case of winning the elections. Particular attention in her program was given to the promotion of the Ukrainian culture abroad.

In his program, Volodymyr Zelensky avoided mentioning the language issues. Such position is obviously explained by his intention to gain electorate support both in the western and eastern regions. According to the election results, the strategy chosen by Zelensky and his team has proven to be successful.

The paper also evidences the fallacy of the thesis about 135 nations in Ukraine, present in the Inna Bohoslovska’s program.

Most of the 22 political parties taking part in the 2019 parliamentary election process avoided mentioning language issues.

Only two parties with opposite political orientations, namely the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” and the Opposition Platform – For Life, have paid considerable attention to the language policy problems.

Keywords: language policy, language legislation, state language, Russian language, national minorities languages.

 

REFERENCES

  1. Law of Ukraine dated April 25, 2019 No. 2704-VIII. On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language. The official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/ laws/show/2704-19 (Accessed 03.09.2019).
  2. Draft Law dated July 16, 2019 No. 10459. On the declaration of expiration of the Law of Ukraine dated April 25, 2019 No. 2704-VIII “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language”. The official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/ pls/zweb2/ webproc4_ 1?id=&pf3511=66220 (Accessed 02.09.2019).
  3. Draft Law dated May 31, 2019 No. 10355. On the languages ​​in Ukraine. The official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=66031 (Accessed 03.09. 2019).
  4. Law on the language: who and where will have to speak Ukrainian. (16.07.2019). Channel 24. URL: https://24tv.ua/rada_pidtrimala_zakonoproekt_pro_movu_hto_ i_de_musitime_spokit_ukrayinskoyu_n1042268 (Accessed 02.09. 2019).
  5. Lyubka, Andrii. (05.05.2019). Zelensky is the best example of the need for the law on the language. Radio “Svoboda”. URL: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/ 29921168.html?fbclid=IwAR1sDXrCEE (Accessed 04.09.2019).
  6. Marusyk, Taras. (30.08.2019). Attempts to slow down the new language law are historically futile. Radio “Svoboda”. URL: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/ 30135043.html (Accessed 03.09.2019).
  7. Marusyk, Taras. (17.05.2019). Ukraine has won a historic victory on the language-civilization front in the war with Russia. Language Policy Portal. URL: http://language-policy.info/2019/05/ukraina-zdobula-istorychnu-peremohu-na-movno-tsyvilizatsijnomu-fronti-u-vijni-z-rosijeyu/ (Accessed 08.28.2019).
  8. Masenko, Larysa. (2018) Language conflict in Ukraine: The ways to resolve it. Ukrainian language, 2, 20 – 35. URL: http://ekmair.ukma.edu.ua/ bitstream/handle/ 123456789/14723/Masenko_Movnyi_konflikt_v_Ukraini.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (Accessed 04.09.2019).
  9. Masenko, Larysa. (07.07.2019). Ukrainian language and elections in Ukraine. “Russian World” is trying to advance. Radio “Svoboda”. URL: https:// www.radiosvoboda.org/a/30041620.html (Accessed 04.09.2019).
  10. The election program of the candidate for the post of the President of Ukraine O.Yu. Vilkul. Peace and development: 4 steps to success (12.02.2019). LB. ua. URL: https://lb.ua/news/2019/02/12/419551_peredviborna_programa_oleksandra. html (Accessed 05.09.2019).
  11. The election program of the candidate for the post of the President of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko «New course of Ukraine» (11.02.2019). LB. ua. URL: https:// lb.ua/news/2019/02/11/419453_peredviborna_programa_yulii.html (Accessed 05. 09.2019).
  12. The election program of the political party “All-Ukrainian Union “Motherland”. The web site of the All-Ukrainian Union “Motherland”. URL: https://ba.org.ua/programm/ (Accessed 03.09.2019).
  13. The election program of the political party “Servant of the People”. The web site of the party “Servant of the People”. URL: https://sluga-narodu.com/ program (Accessed 03.09.2019).
  14. The election program of Petro Poroshenko “The great state of free and happy people”. The official web site of the Central Election Commission. URL: https:/ /www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/vp2019/wp005pt021f01=295pt001f01=720.html (Accessed 13.02.2019).
  15. The election program of the political party “European Solidarity” “Protect the European future of Ukraine!” The web site of the party “European Solidarity”. URL: https://eurosolidarity.org/program/ (Accessed 02.09.2019).
  16. The election program of the political party “Opposition Platform – For Life” “Peace! Responsibility! Care!” The web site of the party “Opposition Platform – For Life”. URL: http://zagittya.com/en/page/programma.html (Accessed: 02.09. 2019).
  17. The political program of the political party “Voice”. The web site of the party “Voice”. URL: https://goloszmin.org/program/victory (Accessed 03.09.2019).
    18. Program of the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” – the program for the protection of Ukrainians. The web site of the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda”. URL: https: // svoboda.org.ua/party/program/v/ (Accessed: 02.09.2019).
  18. The election program of the candidate for the post of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko (11.02.2019). LB. ua. URL: https://en.lb.ua/ news/ 2019/02/11/419445_peredviborna_programa_petra.html (Accessed 04.09.2019).
  19. The election program of the candidate for the post of the President of Ukraine Inna Bohoslovska. The online platform Election.com.ua. URL: https://election. com.ua/2019-bohoslovska/ (Accessed: 04.09.2019).
  20. Sklyar, Volodymyr. (2007). The realities of the ethnic composition of the population of Ukraine. Slovo Prosvity, 42.
  21. “One should take it out of the parenthesis” – the team of Zelensky told about their attitude to the draft law on the Ukrainian language (02.04.2019). Channel 5. URL: https://www.5.ua/polityka/treba-vynesty-za-duzhky-u-komandi-zelenskoho-rozpovily-iak-stavliatsia-do-zakonoproektu-pro-ukrainsku-movu-189717.html (Accessed 03.09.2019).
  22. Which parties will defend the language (and which one) if they go to the Rada (22.06.2019). Ukrainian space. URL: http://prostir.co.ua/yaki-partiyi-zahyshhatymut-movu-i-yaku-yakshho-potraplyat-u-radu-26186/ (Accessed 03.09. 2019).