Learn Ukrainian:  The language of a freedom-loving people that unites the world.

Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov

The Ukrainian language is not just a means of communication, but the embodiment of the spirit of the Ukrainian nation, its history, culture and desire for freedom. Learning Ukrainian is not only about mastering the language, but also about decolonisation and returning to one’s roots for everyone who values freedom, democracy and the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainians.

As Ivan Franko wrote: “Language is the precious treasure of the people” “Language grows with the soul of the people…” Indeed, the Ukrainian language is the soul of Ukrainian people, passed down from generation to generation. If People of Ukraine and Ukrainian Diaspora lose touch with Ukrainian mother tongue, we lose touch with our own history and culture. Therefore, every Ukrainian should respect and learn the language of their people, because, as Lesya Ukrainka wrote: “Whoever has a worthless soul has a worthless language.”

The Ukrainian language has come a long way in the struggle for its right to exist. For centuries, it has been subjected to repression and oppression by the Russian Empire and later by the Soviet Union and now russian federation. It was labelled a “peasant dialect” and banned from being used in education, printing, and public life. But Ukrainians did not give in and continued to develop their language and culture. As Taras Shevchenko noted: “Well, it would seem that words… Words and voice – nothing more. But the beating heart comes alive when it hears them!”.  Ukrainian writers, scholars, and public figures have persistently developed the Ukrainian language, proving its intrinsic value.

Today, in the context of кussian aggression, knowledge of Ukrainian is of particular importance. The language is becoming a factor of national security and social consolidation. Back in the 1930s, Ivan Ohienko voiced the Ten Language Commandments of a Conscious Citizen. Let us recall them.

1. The language is the heart of the people: if the language dies, the people die.

2. Those who shun their native language wound their people in the heart.

3. The literary language is the main engine of the development of the spiritual culture of the people, its strongest foundation.

4. The use of only colloquial languages in literature greatly harms the cultural unity of the nation.

5. A nation that has not created a unified literary language cannot be called a conscious nation.

6. For one nation there should be only one literary language and pronunciation, only one spelling.

7. The main native-language duty of every conscious citizen is to work to increase the culture of his or her literary language.

8. The state of the literary language is the degree of cultural development of the people.

9. Both the spiritual maturity of an individual and the maturity of an entire nation are judged primarily by the culture of its literary language.

10. Every conscious citizen should know in practice his or her own national literary language and pronunciation and its own national spelling, as well as know and perform the native language duties of his or her people.

National and state revival is impossible without the national language. All cultural achievements of a nation are closely linked to its language. Therefore, it is extremely important to revive the Ukrainian language and spread it in all spheres of public life. Mastery of the Ukrainian language is not only a pragmatic need, but also a moral duty of every Ukrainian citizen. As Ivan Ohienko noted: “Those who shun their native language wound their people in the heart. A true patriot must honour language and culture. After all, as Panteleimon Kulish wrote: “You will rise from the grave. I will greet you with the word of truth, and the glory of Ukraine will spread throughout the universe, from end to end.”

In addition, the Ukrainian language opens up a vast spiritual world of Ukrainian culture. As Panas Myrnyi noted: “Our language is the garment of our spirit, or even better, a vivid expression of everything that impresses us, what we feel, what we think about, what we remember, what we call our spirit or soul.” Therefore, Ukrainian speakers can immerse themselves in the beauty and wisdom of folk art to the fullest extent possible by reading the originals of Ukrainian authors.

Studying Ukrainian is also an opportunity for representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora to learn about the culture of their ancestors and feel united with the Motherland. As Vasyl Symonenko said: “May you grow and never fade, may you bloom in poems and verses, for you are the tender and dreamy soul of a great nation.” So, even though thousands of kilometres away from Ukraine, this “blooming language” unites Ukrainians into a single family.

In addition, knowledge of Ukrainian opens up wide opportunities for implementation in a modern independent state. As Lina Kostenko noted: “For all peoples, language is a means of communication, for us it is a factor of alienation. Not an intellectual heritage of centuries, not a code of understanding, not a fundamental element of literature, but from the heavy hand of the Empire, it is still a sign of nationalism, separatism, a cause of conflicts and moral trauma for many.” Proficiency in the state language gives you a competitive advantage in finding a job, career development, and doing business in Ukraine. We should remember the words of Lina Kostenko: “Nations do not die of a heart attack. First, they lose their language. We must be aware that the language problem is still relevant for us at the beginning of the twenty-first century, and if we do not come to our senses, we will have a very disappointing prospect.”

So, learning Ukrainian is not just about mastering another foreign language. It is a return to your roots, to the sources of Ukrainian culture. It is a way to show respect for the history and traditions of the Ukrainian people. It is a way to better understand their unbreakable spirit and desire for freedom. Therefore, everyone who truly respects the values of democracy should learn the language of the people who have been fighting for the right to speak and create in their native language for more than 300 years. After all, language is a weapon that can be used to both enslave and liberate people. And it is up to each of us to use it.

Here are 20 reasons why it is important to learn Ukrainian:

1. The Ukrainian language connects us with past generations of Ukrainians who fought for its development and preservation. By studying Ukrainian language, we continue the work of our ancestors and strengthen the bond of time.
2. Thanks to the Ukrainian language, we have a deeper understanding of the Ukrainian mentality, worldview and culture. After all, it is the language that shapes the consciousness of the people and carries their spirit.
3. Ukrainian opens up an invaluable treasure – Ukrainian literature in the original. When we read Shevchenko, Franko, Lesya Ukraiinka in Ukrainian, we feel the beauty of their work.
4. Knowing Ukrainian, we can enjoy Ukrainian music, theatre, and cinema in their authentic form, not in translations or dubbing.
5. Ukrainian helps us to better understand other Slavic languages because they have common roots. Thus, knowledge of Ukrainian is the key to the Slavic world.
6. The language allows you to maintain strong family ties with your relatives in Ukraine and to communicate freely when travelling around your homeland.
7. Ukrainian opens up wide opportunities for studying and working in an independent and rapidly developing Ukraine.
8. Knowledge of the state language facilitates integration into Ukrainian society and creates a sense of belonging to the Ukrainian political nation.
9. By studying Ukrainian language, we resist the policy of Russification.
10. The Ukrainian language is the key to preserving our identity and passing it on to our descendants.
11. Proficiency in the state language demonstrates a person’s education, erudition and intelligence.
12. The Ukrainian language is very melodic and poetic. It is worth learning it just for aesthetic pleasure.
13. It is an important part of the world’s cultural heritage as the language of the great people who live in Europe.
14. Knowledge of Ukrainian demonstrates respect for Ukrainian culture and its speakers.
15. It is an opportunity for Ukrainians in the diaspora to join their native culture and traditions.
16. Ukrainian unites Ukrainians around the world into a single global community that stand with Ukraine.
17. It is an important tool of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy.
18. Knowledge of the state language allows you to take an active part in the development of a modern, independent Ukraine.
19. Ukrainian opens up a deeper understanding of Ukrainian politics and social processes.
20. The Ukrainian language is the key to preserving Ukrainian statehood and national identity. It is important to learn it for the sake of Ukraine’s future.

Thus, the Ukrainian language is of great cultural, historical and political importance to the Ukrainian nation. That is why it is so important to learn and support it!