Belarusian studies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Belarusian studies (Belarusian: Беларусазнаўства) is a field of research dedicated to Belarusian language, literature and culture.
Research on the language, ethnography and history of Belarusian lands was conducted from the beginning of the 19th century, initially within the framework of Polish and Russian studies. The first works devoted to Belarusian issues managed to arouse the curiosity of their roots among the then emerging Belarusian intelligentsia.[1]
Yefim Karsky is often called "the father" of Belarusian studies. His main work is a book Belarusians in three volumes, that became a foundation of Belarusian linguistics.[2]
In the nineteenth century, Belarusian research was started more boldly by the Belarusians themselves (Francišak Bahuševič, Karuś Kahaniec, H. Tatur). Under the tsarist rule, these studies, closely related to the national liberation movement, were practically conducted illegally and were developed through educational circles and societies by a small group of nationally conscious Belarusians.[1]
Belarusian studies acquired legal forms after the revolution of 1905, when it became possible to support research by its own national periodical (headed by the Nasha Niva). It was the author of Nasha Niva, Vaclau Lastouski, who published the first scientific work in Belarusian, titled "Karotkaja historyja Biełarusi" (Consise Belarusian History, Vilnius, 1910).[1]
Official state support for Belarusian studies was first received in the 1920s within the borders of the then Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. From 1922, scientific activities, including extensive Belarusian research, were conducted by the Institute of Belarusian Culture. At that time, scientific work in the field of Belarusian studies began to be comprehensive, Belarusian scientific terminology was developed. The development of Belarusian studies in the Soviet state was interrupted in the 1930s.[1]
Outside the territories of Soviet Belarus, including Poland, Belarusian research was the domain of nationally conscious intelligentsia. In 1921, the Belarusian Scientific Society founded the Muzeum Białoruskie in Vilnius. There were also the Scientific Society of Franciszek Skaryna in Prague, the Belarusian National Committee in Chicago and the Belarusian Scientific Society in Riga.[1]
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