Detachable Subdivision
"Rivne Professional College of
National University of Life
and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine"
Language is a precious treasure of the people
Ivan FRANKO
International Mother Language Day has been celebrated annually on February 21 since 2000. The day was established in November 1999 at the XXX session of the UNESCO General Conference with the aim of protecting linguistic and cultural diversity.
The history of the day has a tragic beginning. On February 21, 1952, in Bangladesh (East Pakistan), the authorities brutally suppressed protesters who were protesting against the government's ban on the use of their native Bengali language in the country. After the declaration of independence of Bangladesh in 1971, this day is celebrated in the country as Martyrs' Day, honoring the memory of those who died for their native language.
Language is the history of a people, its worldview, the intellectual and spiritual result of several thousand years of evolution of each ethnic group. There is no people without its language and culture.
Language is the most important means of communication between people and knowledge of the world, and the transmission of experience from generation to generation.
Since February 21, 2000, this day has also been celebrated in Ukraine.
According to Article 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine, “The state language in Ukraine is the Ukrainian language.” Ukrainians have constantly fought for the right to write, read, and speak their native language throughout their history, and now they have once again come to its defense. The enemy knows well that by taking away the language, he will appropriate the soul of the people, its culture, traditions, and history. So let us protect, cherish, and value it, because language is the most important national treasure.
Interesting facts about the Ukrainian language.
- The modern Ukrainian language has about 256 thousand words;
- In the Ukrainian language, a noun has 7 cases, one of which is the vocative case;
- In the Ukrainian language, the largest number of words begin with the letter “P”;
- The least used letter of the Ukrainian alphabet is the letter “F”;
- The Ukrainian language is rich in synonyms. For example, the word “horizon” has 12 synonyms: horizon, sky, sky-line, edge of the sky, horizon
- The Ukrainian language has a large number of diminutive forms. Even the word “vorogy” can sound like “vorozhenky”;
The library and information center has opened a book exhibition “Language. Culture. Identity.” We invite you to view it.
Svitlana ANDRIYCHUK,
Lead Librarian of the BIC
