The situation with reading in Belarusan language has almost become a catastrophe

photo by Alena Kazlova, press service of the Belarusian Writers’ Union

Only 5 per cent of readers prefer literature in Belarusan. 40 per cent of the respondents say that they don’t know Belarusan well enough to read.

The results of sociologic research on reading practice and Belarusans’ literature gifts were presented in Minsk. The survey was conveyed by the “Novak” laboratory for the Belarusian Writers’ Union public organization and civil cultural campaign “Budz’ma Belarusami!” (“Let’s be Belarusans!”). Let us note that state representatives in the person of the National Institute of Education, “Belkniga” JSC, Institute for Journalism (BSU) also joined the event.

“Novak” laboratory performed the research through phone conversations in Minsk, regional and district towns and villages. According to the sociologist Lidzija Miheeva, the survey covered 1 thousand respondents of different age and occupation.

About 57.9% of Belarusans read fiction at least once a month. 19% don’t read books at all. In comparison with the similar survey conducted in 2011, classical literature and history books became more popular.

Answering the question “In what language do you read fiction?” 99.4% of the respondents chose Russian, 27.7% - both Russian and Belarusan. Giving answers to the question about language preferences, 93.7% chose Russian language and only 5% chose Belarusan, which is less in comparison with the survey of 2011.

Most of the respondents believe that comprehensive secondary school and the humanities play bigger role in developing culture of reading than the influence of parents and studies at the university.

Most of the respondents didn’t manage to name any modern Belarusan writers.

80% of the respondents have never been to literature events; 15% attend them from time to time.

As to the role of the state in developing culture of reading, one third of the respondents noted that the state should pay more attention to that.

Most of the respondents think that the increase in number of language and literature lessons in school, TV-programs and media overviews on the subject would be the most effective means to improve the situation.

According to Lidzija Miheeva, the main conclusion to be drawn from the survey is that though general interest to Belarusan literature is growing, the Belarusan language still loses its positions.

Barys Piatrovich, the head of Belarusian Writers’ Union reminded the participants of the round table that over the last decades five Belarusan writers – Vasil Bykau, Andrei Riazanau, Ryhor Baradulin, Uladzimir Niakliaeu, Sviatlana Aleksievich – were nominated for the Nobel prize, and that says something about the level of Belarusan literature. We also have Jerzy Giedroyc Prize and Maksim Bahdanovich Début Award.

- And nevertheless, we have to state that in generally, literature in Belarusan is becoming less and less popular. The reason for that is obvious: we know that starting from 1995 the number of students who study Belarusian in schools is lowering, likewise the number of Belarusan-language schools.

Barys Piatrovich marked that state representatives also started talking about the situation with the Belarusan language, though “it would be nice if it is the same both in word and deed”.

Inga Pingol, a teacher of Belarusan language and literature with a twelve-year experience, a member of the National Institute of Education believes that “Belarusan authors should be promoted, and it should be done in such a way so as to let children perceive classical literature differently”.

Change of literature teaching methods is another important direction she named.

- Today it is important to elaborate such teaching methods that would help to understand the language of the literary text and cultivate a talented reader. It is not that easy, as a teacher has to be changed.

According to the representative of the National Institute of Education, the main result of the round table is “mutual understanding, striving for consolidation of creative forces in order to broaden popularity of Belarusan literature among Belarusans of different age”.

- Different parties have a correct understanding of the problem, - mentioned Inga Pingol in the commentary to “EuroBelarus” Information Service. – It is very interesting to compare our stances in order to improve the situation with the Belarusan literature, Belarusan language and self-awareness of Belarusans.

Ales Pashkevich, the deputy head of Belarusian Writers’ Union talking with the correspondent of “EuroBelarus” Information Service named the results of the survey “almost catastrophic”.

- But if we didn’t hope for the better, we wouldn’t be organizing such events. Most Belarusan writers write in Belarusan, most Belarusan citizens don’t know Belarusan language. These two diametrically opposed categories need to be somehow balanced, even if it’ll take several decades. Of course, these problems should be resolved jointly; no civic organization can resolve this problem without state bodies, as this is a nation-wide problem, and it is by means of draft laws that these problems are resolved. Thus, despite huge problems, we still have to state that over the last months state institutions got interested in this problematics well.

The round table ended in discussion of suggestions to change the situation to Ministries of Education, Information and Culture of Belarus. The document is under elaboration now, but “EuroBelarus” Information Service still cites several suggestions for its readers.

To the Ministry of Education:

- to increase the number of teaching hours of Belarusan literature and language in school;

- to review school and education programs of Belarusan literature and language;

- to increase the number of Belarusan-language kindergartens and Belarusan-language groups in kindergartens;

- to form a completely Belarusan-speaking university;

- to provide writers regardless of their membership in creative organizations with equal access to meetings with the readers in education institutions in Belarus.

To the Ministry of Information:

- to increase the number of Belarusan-speaking programs with the participation of Belarusan writers on central and regional TV-channels, as well as programs dedicated to new books;

- to introduce or renovate the columns dedicated to new Belarusan books in newspapers;

- to provide equal access to bookselling network and library collector for state and non-state publishing houses;

- to renovate book departments in shops situated in towns and large villages.

To the Ministry of Culture:

- to provide writers regardless of their membership in creative organizations with equal access to meetings with the readers in education institutions and libraries in Belarus;

- to submit a petition to the Council of Ministers to substantially lessen taxes for publishers on manufacture and sale of books in Belarus.