• info@ukrmova.iul-nasu.org.ua
  • +38 (044)-278-12-09
  • Print ISSN 1682-3540
  • e-ISSN 2707-5249
» Journal Ukrainian Language – № 2 (90) 2024 » Journal Issues » 2018 » Journal Ukrainian Language №2 (66) 2018 » Language conflict in Ukraine: the ways of settlement

Language conflict in Ukraine: the ways of settlement

Journal Ukrainian Language №2 (66) 2018
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

Heading: Researches
Language: Ukrainian

Abstract: The paper considers specific character of the language policy in Ukraine determined by the confrontation between two political forces, namely the state and pro-Russian ones. The history of the conflict intensification is considered in relation to the passing by the Verkhovna Rada in 2012 the Law “On the Principles of State Language Policy”, in which the “European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages” manipulatively used to grant the Russian language status equal to that of the state language in a significant part the territory of the country.

The paper contains the results of a mass survey conducted in 2017, in the part determining the conflict level of the bilingual situation in the country. The data of survey indicated ambivalent nature of the mass consciousness. On the one hand, most citizens do not see the conflict in the coexistence of two languages in all spheres of public life. On the other hand, most respondents want to see their country Ukrainian-speaking in the future. Two-language development of Ukraine is supported by the two times smaller group of respondents. Changes in the attitude of Ukrainian citizens to the coexistence of two languages as compared to the survey conducted in 2006 are also demonstrated by the distribution of replies to the question concerning compulsory language proficiency. Absolute majority of respondents considers it compulsory to have a command of Ukrainian, while similar requirement as for the Russian language was supported by three times less respondents.

Particular attention is paid to the enlightening of the activities of numerous public organizations to protect the state status of Ukrainian language, as well as to the changes in Poroshenko’s attitude to the bilingual situation in Ukraine under the pressure of civil society.

Keywords: linguistic situation, linguistic conflict, linguistic law, state language, bilingualism.

REFERENCES

  1. Constitution of Ukraine: Law dated June 28, 1996 No. 254к / 96-ВР. The Database Laws of Ukraine of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80 (Application date: 05.03.2018).
  2. On amendments to some laws of Ukraine regarding the language of audiovisual (electronic) media: Law of Ukraine dated May 23, 2017 No. 2054-VIII. “Legislation of Ukraine of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/ 2054-19  (Application date: 10.03.2018).
  3. About Languages in the Ukrainian SSR: Law of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic dated October 28, 1989, No. 8312-11. Database Legislation of Ukraine of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/8312-11 (Application date: 17.03.2018).
  4. On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Television and Radio Broadcasting” (regarding the proportion of songs in the state language in music radio programs and radio broadcasts): Draft Law dated June 16, 1966, No. 3822-d. The official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://w1.c1rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=59423 (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  5. On maintenance of functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state: Draft Law from 09.06.2017 № 5670-d. The official webportal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://w1.c1rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=61994 (Applying Date: 03/23/2018).
  6. About Languages ​​in Ukraine: Draft Law dated December 19, 1966, No. 5556. The official web-portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://w1.c1rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=60750 (Application date: 12.03.2018).
  7. On the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language and the procedure for the use of other languages ​​in Ukraine: Draft Law dated January 19, 2017 No. 5669. The official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://w1.c1rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=60952 (Application date: 28.03.2018).
  8. The State Program for the Development and Functioning of the Ukrainian Language for 2004 – 2010, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of October 02, 2003 No. 1546. Government Portal. URL: https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/npas/2940284 (Application date: 30.03.2018).
  9. On Approval of Comprehensive Measures for the Comprehensive Development and Functioning of the Ukrainian Language: Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated September 8, 1997 No. 998. Database Legislation of Ukraine of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/998-97-%D0%BF (Application date: 18.03.2018).
  10. About the State program of development of the Ukrainian language and other national languages ​​in the Ukrainian SSR for the period up to 2000: Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR dated February 12, 1991 No. 41. Database Legislation of Ukraine of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/41%D1%80-91-%D0%BF (Application date: 18.03.2018).
  11. The decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine dated 02/28/2018 in the case on the constitutional petition of 57 people’s deputies of Ukraine regarding the compliance of the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality) with the Law of Ukraine “On the Principles of the State Language Policy”. Government portal. URL: http://www.ccu.gov.ua/sites/default/files/docs/2-p_2018.pdf (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  12. Azhnyuk, B.M. (2017). Language legislation and linguistic planning in modern Ukraine. Linguistics, 4, 28 – 40 (іn Ukr.).
  13. Boris Lozhkin received the Russian State Award for his contribution to media development. Telekritika. 2013. July 11. URL: http://www.telekritika.ua/profesija/2013-07-11/83232 (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  14. Velyka, Anastasia. (2012). Ukrainian language in the student environment of Odessa (based on questionnaires). Language and Society, 3, 251 – 256. URL: http://sociolinguistics.lnu.edu.ua/ua/issues/03/29.pdf (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  15. Statement by the President of Ukraine on the presentation of the National Taras Shevchenko Prize of Ukraine in 2018. Official online representation of the President of Ukraine. 2018. March 9th. URL: http://www.president.gov.ua/news/vistup-prezidenta-ukrayini-na-ceremoniyi-vruchennya-nacional-46226 (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  16. Efremov, Symonenko and Grynevetsky offer the Council to determine the procedure for the use of languages ​​in Ukraine. Ukrainian news. September 7th, 2010. URL: http://ukranews.com/en/news/55729-yefremov-symonenko-y-gryneveckyy-proponuyut-radi-vyznachyty-poryadok-vykorystannya-mov-v-ukraini (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  17. Zalizniak, G., Masenko, L. (2001). Language situation in Kyiv: the present day and the future. Kyiv (in Ukr.).
  18. Ledid, Natalia. (2017). “Matryoshki” are coming. Ukrayina moloda. No. 35 (March 21). URL: www.umoloda.kiev.ua/number/3136/180/109830/ (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  19. Marusik, Taras. (2017). Hybrid language policy of Ukraine: between social wolf-sanitary and ostrich-power. Radio Svoboda. December 3. URL: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/28892391.html (Application date: 31.03.2018).
  20. Language policy and language situation in Ukraine: analysis and recommendations. 2nd form. (2008). Kyiv (in Ukr.).
  21. Osnach, Sergey. (2015). The language component of the hybrid war. Portal of language policy. June 13th. URL: http://language-policy.info/2015/06/serhij-osnach-movna-skladova-hibrydnoji-vijny/ (Application date: 30.03.2018).
  22. Podolyak, Iryna. (2017). Language insanity. The Ukrainian Week. 18 (494), May 4, 16. URL: http://tyzhden.ua/Columns/50/191480 (Application date: 14.03.2018).
  23. Poroshenko: The language question should not be on the agenda of the election campaign. Zbruc. 2018. March 9th. URL: https://zbruc.eu/node/77426 (Application date: 22.03.2018).
  24. The Transfrontier Age of Communism: Interview with A. Mikhnik and V. Havel. Index. 2001. № 13. URL: http://www.index.org.ru/journal/13/gavel1301.html (Application date: 22.03.2018).
  25. Yanukovych promised to take care of the comfort of Russian compatriots. UNIAN. May 27th, 2010. URL: https://www.unian.net/politics/362125-yukovich-obeschal-pozabotitsya-o-komforte-rossiyskih-sootechestvennikov.html (Application date: 30.03.2018).
  26. Fishman, J. (1967). Bilingualism With And Without Diglossia: Diglossia With And Without Bilingualism. Journal of Social Issues. Vol. 23. Issue 2, 29 – 38. URL: https://ru.scribd.com/doc/132791231/Joshua-Fishman-Bilingualism-with-and-without-diglossia-diglossia-with-and-without-bilingualism (Application date: 30.03.2018).
  27. Matveieva, Natalya. Bilingualism and Diglossia Among the Students of Kyivs Universities (in print).