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U.S. English Foundation Research BELARUS
Language Research3. Language issues: Where does one observe language to be a problem in the country?According to the news article "The Belarusian language today", the regime ruling Belarus is very clear in its language policy, and Russian is without a doubt the predominant language, particularly for the government (including in the courtrooms), commerce, and for publications, including newspapers. More and more official proceedings take place only in Russian. According to the 1999 census, about 38% of Belarusian residents speak Belarusian in their every day lives, and 82% consider Belarusian their mother tongue. It is an overtly political, authoritarian decision by the regime ruling Belarus to replace Belarusian with Russian. The same article states that a Belarusian who does not want trouble with the authorities speaks only Russian, and especially so in public. |
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