Functioning of the ukrainian language as an information reason in the “Rada” newspaper (1906–1914)

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Сілевич Л. І. № 1 (81) 148-157 Image Image

The paper examines the coverage of the Ukrainian language issue in the daily news­paper “Rada” published in Kyiv in 1906-1914. The publications revealing the Ukrainian language usage in the Dnipro region and its legal support are analysed. The features of journalistic discussion of the problems related to the functioning of the native language of Ukrainians in social, political, professional and family spheres are outlined.

The author highlights journalistic approaches to the coverage of discussions held at the governmental level about the bill on the use of the Ukrainian language in education, particularly in public schools as well as identifies the genres used for presenting this information (message, analytical/polemical article, commentary, review). The author has noted a significant number of publications containing words “Ukrainian language” and such phrases as “Ukrainian language and our intelligentsia”, “Ukrainian language and school”, “Ukrainian language in family life” etc. which attracted the audience’s at­ten­­tion to the problem. The newspaper precisely described the running of congresses of various professional fields’ workers as epidemiologists, agricultural workers and others which took place in Kyiv, Vinnytsia and other Ukrainian cities, as well as their resolutions concerning the introduction of the Ukrainian language. The statement of M. Rodzianko, the Chairman of the State Duma, at a meeting on May 31, 1913 in which he categorically denied the existence of the Ukrainian language and its official right to function was much discussed in the newspaper, especially the statesment’s perception in society. Pub­lic resonance after “Yekaterynoslav Peasants’ Protest” caused by M. Rodzianko’s statement was actively covered in the Rada newspaper.

Thus, the language issue was described as a permanent topic on the pages of the Rada newspaper during all the years of its publication. It confirms the high attention of journalists to this problem. Moreover, the number of articles was constantly increasing, emphasizing the new aspects in discussion of this issue for Ukrainian society. It deter­mines the importance of continuing the study in the future as significant for historical perspective and for today.

Keywords: Rada newspaper, journalism, problem-thematic features, Ukrainian language, news opportunity.

doi: 10.32403/0554-4866-2021-1-81-148-157


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