Film screening for International Mother Language Day
Language is the soul of a people, a reflection of its history, the basis of culture and identity. It unites Ukrainians, preserves the memory of generations and shapes our future.
International Mother Language Day is also a symbol of respect for linguistic diversity around the world. By respecting our native language, we learn to appreciate other cultures and traditions.
In Ukraine, this holiday has a special significance, because our language is an inseparable part of the history and struggle for independence. For centuries, the Ukrainian language was oppressed, banned and repressed. Although they tried to supplant the language, today it is one of the most important symbols of our statehood.
On the occasion of the holiday, the scientific library, student self-government and the students’ trade union committee organized a screening of the 2024 documentary «How Ukrainians Spoke Ukrainian». This is an educational film about the origin, development, decline, persecution and flowering of the Ukrainian language.
Each era — Kyivan Rus, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Hetmanship, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union — «spoke» its own language, and students heard for the first time exactly how it sounded in different ages. The topic turned out to be very interesting, so the audience stayed after the movie for a lively discussion.
The guest of the event, Kateryna Bondarchuk, associate professor of the Department of Ukrainian Studies and General Language Training, emphasized the importance of this day. She emphasized that for centuries the Ukrainian language was banned and attempts were made to eradicate it, but we were able to preserve it and continue to do so every day, because the nation is alive as long as its language is alive.
In continuation of the topic, all those present were invited to view the book exhibition «Language is the spiritual shrine of the people», prepared by the Scientific Library on the occasion of the holiday.
Our language is our genetic code. Let’s nurture and preserve its purity!
