The Ukrainian Language as a Linguistic and Cultural Phenomenon and Educational Strategy on the Columns of the Scientific Journal "Native Land" (1905–1916)

Abstract

Thearticle is devoted to the analysis of the political, economic literary and scientific journal «Ridnyi Krai» («Native Land») (1905-1916) through the prism of linguistic, sociolinguistic, linguistic and cultural, and partly educational problems with a special emphasis, firstly, on the change of the political situation in Ukraine in the early twentieth century and the reflection of this progress in various spheres of public life, and secondly, on the role of the Ukrainian language as the most important ethnic identifier. The linguistic, sociolinguistic, linguistic cultural, educational content of the weekly is elucidated, in particular, the range of problems raised on its pages is revealed, followed by their classification and ideological, professional, cultural, didactic, axiological interpretation from synchronic and diachronic positions. The specifics of the evolution of the vernacular and literary language in different periods are characterized in detail, based on the linguistic practice of Taras Shevchenko Marko Vovchok and other classics of Ukrainian literature and its comparison with the linguistic experience of an ordinary peasant,and the interaction between the specific resource and borrowings. Particular attention is paid to the sociolinguistic aspect i.e., views on the language of the city and the countryside, and the role of various educational institutions in shaping national consciousness. It has been proved that the publication “Ridnyi Krai”, with which the significant figures of the time, primarily Olena Pchilka, Hryhorii Kovalenko, Mykola Dmytriiev, Agatangel Krymskyi, and Borys Hrinchenko, associated their activities, had a significant impact on the development of the Ukrainian issue, which came after long official bans on the Ukrainian word; on the development of literary norms, primarily spelling, which are rightly considered a powerful unifying factor of the Ukrainian nation; on the expansion of functional capabilities (scientific, journalistic, and artistic spheres) of the Ukrainian language, and ultimately on its nation-building potential. The linguistic, cultural, educational, and other views, ideas, and beliefs declared or substantiated in the works of various genres published in the «Ridnyi Krai» found a logical continuation, and most of them have not lost their relevance to this day.