The Ukrainian language

Text 5

THE MONUMENT TO T.G. SHEVCHENKO

Text 4

The monument is a multifigured composition. The bronze figure of T. Shevchenko dominates over 16 figures. The statue is full of dynamics. Powerful inner force is seen in the whole statue: in a slightly bent head, in the energetic gesture of the right hand clenched in a fist, in the strong-willed wrinkle between eyebrow and in a severe and angry stare. The brightly expressed sculpture may be learned easily even from the large distance. The figures which twine round the pedestal are two times smaller than that of Shevchenko. They are seen better from a small distance. Actors of Kharkiv theatre ‘Beresil’ N.M. Uzhviy, A.M. Buchma, I.A. Maryanenko, A.I. Serdyuk and others helped the sculptor very much in creating the figures similar to Shevchenko’s images. The monument symbolizes people’s struggle against oppressors and glorifies free labour and the youth of new Ukraine.

According to the Constitution, Ukrainian is the state language of sovereign independent Ukraine. It is also spoken by Ukrainians living in other countries of the former Soviet Union and in Ukrainian diasporas in Canada, Australia, the USA, Great Britain and other countries of the world. Ukrainian is an independent and original unit of the Slavic branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Together with Russian and Byelorussian it forms the East Slavic group of languages.

The history of the Ukrainian language is divided into three periods:

1) the old period (10 – 12^th centuries), when the basic literary language of Kievan Rus was Church Slavonic, to which popular elements were added slowly but regularly;

2) the middle period (14 – 18^th centuries), when the so-called literary language of the 17^th century was formed which was a mixture of different elements. Russian influence and pressure put an end to this development and led to its decline in the second half of the 18^th century.

3) the modern period (19 – 20^th centuries), when the literary language was reconstructed and based entirely on the popular language.

The fact that the literary Ukrainian language did not develop in urban centres and for the most part is based on the variety spoken in the countryside, has largely determined the peculiarities of its vocabulary which includes a lot of words and phraseological units describing village life and work, folklore, emotionally coloured elements, etc.

Under the Soviet power the linguistic policy for Ukraine was at first Russifying. Then from 1926 up to 1930, the so-called “Ukranization” policy was introduced. At that time much was done in preparing and publishing new dictionaries, opening Ukrainian schools, theatres, cinemas and newspapers. But then the general policy was changed again, and “de-Ukrainization” began which lasted practically till the time of “perestroika”. During that period the majority of Ukrainian philologists and a number of writers and poets who fought for the rights of the Ukrainian language, found themselves in exile or in prison.

Now that Ukraine is independent, the Ukrainian language, traditions and culture are experiencing their rebirth.

according to – відповідно до

Slavic – слов’янський

influence – вплив

pressure – тиск

decline – занепад

entirely – цілком

urban – міський

peculiarities – особливості

exile – вигнання, заслання

rebirth – відродження

Дата добавления: 2014-11-29