LANGUAGE AS THE ACTIVE SUBJECT OF PEOPLE’S HISTORY

Svitlana Yermolenko
Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine, Professor, Dr. Sci. (Philol.), Head of the Department of Stylistics, Culture of the Language and Sociolinguistics, Institute of the Ukrainian Language of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
4 Hrushevskyi St., Kyiv 01001, Ukraine
Е- mail: kultura-slova@ukr.net

Heading: Researches
Language: Ukrainian

Abstract: The article’s author is exploring the views of Mykola Kostomarov, a scientist and a representative of the intellectual history of 19th century Ukraine, on the determinative signs of Ukrainian identity through its distinct language, folklore, mentality and cultural uniqueness. Kostomarov insists upon recognition of the Ukrainian language as a valid member of the Slavic group. He factually rejects the meaning of the word narodnost’ (“nation”), represented in the official government ideology of the Russian Empire in the triad “pravoslaviye, samoderzhaviye, narodnost’” (“orthodoxy, self-government, nation”). The historian proves the existence of not one but two Ruski (“Russian”) nations – that is, not only Velykoruski (“Great Russian”, or Russian), but also Maloruski (“Little Russian”, or Ukrainian) nation. He refers to written records and to people’s “live history” (folklore, fiction), and calls the Ukrainian language a reliable source of cognition of national mentality, national symbols, and national history.

Kostomarov, a representative of the romantic branch of Ukrainian historiography, defended the existence of a Ukrainian identity and its right to create original literature in its own language. He accentuated the necessity of Ukrainian language usage in local schools and churches. The historian sees connection between the social standing of the Ukrainian language and further development of the Ukrainian culture, religion, national education and literature.

Keywords: Ukrainian Language, people’s mentality, national symbols, national history, identity of culture, education of people.

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