On June 25, the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of Lviv Polytechnic National University held an online discussion panel «Ukrainian language in the world: impulses from Ukraine». This was the first in a series of events within the Biennale «Ukrainian language in the world: regress or progress?» – the event that due to the pandemic IECDR was forced to postpone to next year. The panel discussion was dedicated to the memory of Iryna Bekeshkina, a well-known sociologist who was trusted by Ukrainian society and was the first who agreed to take part in the Biennale.
The event, dedicated to the «language signals» that are coming from Ukraine to the world today, has aroused great interest. Guests from 37 countries, registered to participate in the event, joined the discussion on the Zoom platform, and more than four thousand people watched the broadcast on IECDR’s Facebook page. The event was supported by the Ukrainian World Congress, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, Lviv City Council and Lviv Convention Bureau.
The discussion was moderated by Iryna Kliuchkovska, IECDR Director, and Oksana Trumko, IECDR researcher. They asked the audience a number of topical questions: «Which current impulses from Ukraine on the language issue are positive and which are negative; which of them come from the state and which from civil society?»; «What factors influence the spread of the Ukrainian language abroad?»; «Promoting the Ukrainian language abroad today: state policy or volunteering?»; «What can be done to make language unite, not divide?» Five guest speakers responded: Stefan Romaniv, Executive Director of the Australian Federation of Ethnic School Associations, First UWC Vice President; Mykola Kniazhytskyi, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, co-author of the language law; Yurii Shevchuk, linguist, professor at Columbia University; Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler, Regional Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress; and Serhii Shapovalov, analyst at Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation.
In her introductory speech, Iryna Kliuchkovska noted that the Ukrainian language in the world and, in particular, the discipline «Ukrainian as a foreign language» (UFL) has long been in the professional field of the Institute: «We were the first to speak about the importance of Ukrainian as a foreign language, although many were skeptical about it. Nevertheless, we successfully held 5 scientific conferences «Ukrainian language in the world», created textbooks, manuals, electronic portal… And it gave its positive results – the process of standardization and certification of UFL knowledge was started at the state level».
The participants of the discussion were greeted by: Yuriii Bobalo, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University; Bishop Stepan Sus, Bishop of the UGCC, Head of the Pastoral Migration Department of the UGCC; Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress; and Oleksii Haran, Research Director at Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation. Each of them stressed the importance of discussing the mentioned topics and wished the participants fruitful work.
During the discussion, Stefan Romaniv focused, in particular, on the problem of assimilation of Ukrainian youth who moved or grew up abroad. Mykola Kniazhytskyi drew attention to the dangers to the Ukrainian language caused by the current political situation in Ukraine. Serhii Shapovalov, analyzing the latest social researches, stressed that language is a very important factor in relation to the independence and future of Ukraine.
Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler remarked: «I see some progress among Ukrainians living in the Southern Hemisphere. There are new communities, and as a result – new Ukrainian schools – so the number of students is growing. At the same time, there are a lot of challenges that need to be met. There should be cooperation with the state in order to increase the prestige of the Ukrainian language and to make it be studied not only by Ukrainians, but also by foreigners. Despite the positive factors, I do not see the active influence of the state – all good initiatives often come from people’s own choices, from communities. «
The question of whether the Ukrainian language unites or divides in Ukraine has caused a special dispute. In this context, Yurii Shevchuk said: «We need to change our self-vision from urban to global. The Ukrainian language unites us and solidarizes us. Hence, the Ukrainian diaspora should be seen as a huge cultural capital that projects the strength of Ukraine and has influence in Washington, Ottawa and wherever Ukrainians are».
Many grateful comments and questions were received during the discussion. The participants of the meeting agreed to sign a resolution outlining their proposals and the red lines that the authorities cannot cross.
