Under the regime of a constant debilitation
The Public Chamber of Transnistria believes that the Moldavian language needs to be saved
This is why the establishment of a special state committee has been proposed
The Public Chamber of Transnistria recommends that the president of the republic, Evgheni Șevciuk, establishes a special state committee that will draw up a new plan for developing the Moldavian language, taking into account the present conditions. This is mentioned in the Chamber’s report, as it has been informed by ‘Noua Regiune’ (‘The New Region’).
The members of the Chamber have announced that the Moldavian language in the old Cyrillic writing is in a more difficult state in Transnistria, than the other two official languages, Russian and Ukrainian.
‘The Russian and Ukrainian language are developing along with Russia and Ukraine. This is why both countries are allocating a great amount of funds, as they have strong scientific and material bases and a large number of scientists. The Russian language used in the Moldavian Transnistrian Republic has already been developed in Russia, as well as the Ukrainian language, which has been developed in Ukraine. In the meantime, the Moldavian language is strictly developed in the Moldavian Transnistrian Republic’- observed the Popular Chamber, recalling that Moldova has started using the Latin alphabet in writing since the end of the 1980’s, in the last century, naming it the Romanian language.
According to the claims of the members of the Chamber, at present, the Moldavian language with a Cyrillic alphabet can be replaces with the Romanian language and it can disappear completely, at one point. Thus, the Popular Chamber feels that in order to prevent this from happening, a state committee, lead by a presidential councillor, is in order.
This important problem has been analysed by the Popular Chamber, but has it been seriously taken into account? It is said that if one wants to get rid of a problem, one must establish a committee.
Exactly one year ago, the editor Nikolai Buceațki’s article, ‘My language – my essence and soul’ was published in our newspaper. In this article, the author wrote about the inevitable disappearance of the Moldavian language with a Cyrillic alphabet. The Moldavian children learn the language for 11 years just to be able to read at one time the inscription of the ‘Village soviet’.
And that is all. They are deprived of the possibility to read books in their maternal language. Would the Russian agree with their children not reading Puskin, Nekrasov or Tolstoi? Then why do our leaders consider that the Moldavians are not interested in these problems?
Did the people in charge react to Buceațki’s article? Of course not, they ignored it. And so did the Moldavians’ Union, led by Valerian Andreevici Tulgara, who has been working at Tiraspol for many years. And all in accordance with the worst Smirnovian traditions.
Will the government set up a committee? Who will be its members? Will the speakers of the language be part of it or will it be made up of the ones that only know two words: ‘bread’ and ‘milk’? Will they decide to propose adequate measures in order to save the language?
I cannot be an optimist when it comes to this. The committee will not be set up, because the leaders of our republic don’t know which decision can be ordered for approval.
Twenty-two years ago, the Transnistrians had given the permanent right to Moldavians to use the Cyrillic writing. This was one of the primary claims of the railing opponents.
Thus, Smirnov and his comrades decided that the problem is solved. But we also need to win the peaceful race with the Moldavian or Romanian language in Latin writing. And this involves the publishing of a number of books, newspapers and magazines, at least equal in numbers as the ones published in Romania and in Moldova together. The opening of professional and higher education institution with a higher teaching level than the ones from Bucharest and Chisinau. The development of the television networks, the establishment of theatres and national artistic groups in the Moldavian language. The establishment of groups in pre-school institutions and of grades in schools. For this purpose, a great amount of funds must be allotted to the republic’s budget.
There is a second way to developing the Moldavian language. The organisation of a referendum for the speakers of the language or the inhabitants of the areas where the Moldavian population is compact, regarding the free use of Moldavian language in Latin language alongside the one with Cyrillic writing.
I do not exclude the fact that there can be astronomical sums of money used for the development of the language according to the first scenario, based in the Cyrillic writing, which will lead to the discredit of the Latin alphabet. But as long as the Cyrillic alphabet is the one damaged, it is time we finally find the courage to admit the obvious.
Regarding the acceptance of Latin writing, there will be no doubt that some patriots will blame me and the editor, accusing us of betrayal and denial of the ideals and the accomplishments of the republic:
‘What did we fight for? Why was there bloodshed?’ It was certainly not done, so that the language of one of the peoples disappears from its native land.
Saint Vladimir, who carried the pagan faith and baptised our ancestors forcefully, can also be accused of treason and denial. And we consider the adoption of Christianity and Orthodoxy as one of the most meaningful events.
Peter I, ‘the renegade and traitor’ also shaved the beards of the aristocrats with force. If it wasn’t for him, we would be proud to this day, with our beards hanging to our belt or even lower and with our kaftans to the ground.
And Catherine de Great was of German origin.
And we, the sinners, speak now in a language which little resembles the old Slavic language. We can keep the integrity of the Moldavian language with a Cyrillic writing only for remarks, but what does that do for us? Isn’t this the cultural degradation and further on, the final degradation of the biggest ethnic group in Transnistia and the decrease of the economical and defensive potential of the Moldavian Transnistrian Republic?
Vladimir Baskakov, Tiraspol