They say, my language is living the rest of

Its quite epoch: it’s time for it to disappear.

For me though it is always dear,

Like morning dew, like tears, like dawn.

P. Pancahnka 

Today in the world there are many wonderful languages. Some of them attract with their beauty and uniqueness, others – with their melodiousness. However, every person has only one language, which is referred to as native. It is in this language that he or she communicates with relatives, friends, and acquaintances. And it is very appalling when a person begins to forget his or her native language, and does not respect it anymore.

During the last 9 years on February 21, all nations have been celebrating International Day of the Native Language. Bangladesh became the first to advance this initiative. It was in this country that 5 students died on February 21, 1957, when defending their right to pursue education in their native language. Today our multicolored and many-voiced world has more than 6,000 languages. Half of them are under threat of disappearance. The international foundation UNESCO established the International Day of the Native Language so that at least during this day people would speak these languages and remember these languages. 

UNESCO

For the past 9 years on February 21, all nations have been celebrating the International Day of the Native Language. Bangladesh was the first one to advance this initiative. It was in this country that on February 21, 1957, five students perished while defending their right to pursue education in their native language. 

However, it is the responsibility of the speakers of any language to think one more time about the fate of that only language, which we call our native, in which we think, in which we pronounce our first word.

Even though today our language might be strong, widespread, and defended by laws, there is no guarantee that even tomorrow it won’t find itself among those three thousand, which are about to disappear. 

Native language does not require much. However, since you have already been calling it your native, since you consider it to be your native – you should feel at least some responsibility towards it. Think at least sometimes about your language. If even half of those 74%, who named the Belarusian language their native during the last census, think about its fate it means that everything is not lost yet. At least one day, during its official international holiday.

If you hear the Belarusian language, whether the contemporary literary version, mixed “trasyanka,” or a local dialect, know, all of these expressions represent our Belarusian language. Do not turn away, accept it. The Belarusian language should have a place in its nation. And it should not be subordinate in its own country. Instead, it should illustrate the eternal presence of the Belarusians on their land. Our parents, grandparents, and grand-grand parents accomplished a lot for the Belarusian language to become accepted as equal among other world languages.

February 21 represents another excuse to think about the fate of the Belarusian language and the fate of the Belarusian people.

A Quote from Vital Dabranach

The Belarusian language and I – we are a single whole. In my heart lives hope that our language will become a language, which millions of the Belarusians want to see.

Whoever you are – a man or a woman, a grown-up or a young person, a villager, a student, a worker, a teacher, a soldier, an engineer, or a businessman – know that the Belarusian language is your best appearance, your best clothing, your soul.

The young people, who are not indifferent to the fate of their nation and its culture, intend to join in the celebration of the International Day of the Native Language. Young people are safeguarding this honorable treasure; they are keeping their native language in their heart and soul. Various initiatives will be taking place on February 21: meetings with literary writers, Belarusian musicians, preparation of different improvisations, interesting contests, and flesh mobs. All these undertakings will be aimed at making young people interested in the culture and history of their nation.

You should also join those, who are thinking about the future of the Belarusian language. Speak Belarusian language, for tomorrow our language will be necessary for you, your children and grandchildren. Speak Belarusian, so that people could see your faithfulness to your own language. Speak with a friendly smile, with trepidation – and others will also want to speak your language. And do not be ashamed if you are speaking less than thoroughly. Language is a living entity; it gets rooted at a place where it senses the presence of human desire. Know, yesterday you might not have spoken Belarusian at all, today you are speaking “trasyanka,” tomorrow you will be speaking the literary language.

People who serve the country on a bureaucratic post will thank you because they will be learning from you. And your close and remote neighbors will feel your self-esteem and will respect you even more.

Leader of the youth project “Voka” (Eye), civil journalist, editor of the internet-resource www.moladz.org Vital Dabranach calls you to join the celebration of the International Day of the Native Language: “I love my native language very much because it is beautiful and melodious, because it gave people what they cannot live without. I love my native language because it is the best in the entire world. I will fight for it. The Belarusian language and I, we are a single whole. In my heart lives hope that our language will become what the millions of Belarusians want it to be. And the politics of Belarusization will not help it as much as the real feeling of our language and culture, which should come to all the people separately, and open hidden doors of their hearts. It goes without saying, right now the Belarusian language is living through very difficult years and only we can change the situation. Young people can build the future of our nation. That is why I call everyone to join the undertakings, which will take place in the entire nation on February 21. I think, every person should believe that after a cold spring and winter always comes a blooming spring and summer warmth, and our free-reigning Belarusian language will yet be flowing and ringing.”

Congratulations with the holiday of the native language!

www.moladz.org