Belarusian language
The Belarusian language (беларуская мова, biełaruskaja mova) is an Eastern Slavic language and an Indo-European language.
Belarusian | |
---|---|
беларуская мова / biełaruskaja mova | |
Native to | Belarus, Poland, in 14 other countries |
Ethnicity | Belarusians |
Native speakers | 10 million (2007)[1] |
Language family | Indo-European
|
Early forms: | Old East Slavic
|
Writing system | Cyrillic (Belarusian alphabet) Belarusian Braille Belarusian Latin alphabet |
Official status | |
Official language in | File:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus![]() |
Recognised minority language in | ![]() |
Regulated by | National Academy of Sciences of Belarus |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-1 | be |
ISO 639-2 | bel |
ISO 639-3 | bel |
Linguasphere | 53-AAA-eb < 53-AAA-e (varieties: 53-AAA-eba to 53-AAA-ebg) |
File:Idioma bielorruso.png Belarusian-speaking world Legend: Dark blue - territory, where Belarusian is the main language |
It is spoken in Belarus and eastern Poland (in the area of Białystok). It is also spoken by Belarusians who live in other countries of Europe, Australia, and North America.
Belarusian is written by the either the Cyrillic alphabet or the Latin alphabet.
Belarusian is an Endangered language, as it has a low rate of speakers in its native countries.
Belarusian Language Media
- Statut VKL. Статут ВКЛ (1529).jpg
The first Lithuanian statute of 1529, in Ruthenian
- Biblia Ruska.jpg
The Bible by Francysk Skaryna in Ruthenian, 16th century
- Dictionary Nasovic Title Page .jpg
The cover of the copy of the Dictionary of the Belarusian Local Tongue by Ivan Nasovič preserved at the Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum
- Belarusian language in the Russian Empire (1897).svg
Geographic distribution of Belarusian language in the Russian Empire according to the 1897 census.
References
This language has its own Wikipedia project. See the Belarusian language edition. |
- ↑ Nationalencyklopedin "Världens 100 största språk 2007" The World's 100 Largest Languages in 2007
- ↑ У Падляшскім ваяводстве беларуская мова прызнана афіцыйнай
- ↑ European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages