European Day of Languages. Kotsiubynsky. Part III

On September 26, Europe marks a day dedicated to the continent’s linguistic diversity and the study of languages. It was established by the Council of Europe and the European Union in 2001. More than 200 languages are spoken throughout European countries. Many of them originate from a shared Proto-Indo-European root. Latin holds a special place among them: it became the foundation of the Romance languages, including Italian, French, and Spanish, and considerably enriched the continent’s vocabulary. The Latin and Cyrillic alphabets are the two most widely used writing systems in Europe. Both take many forms, from printed fonts and handwriting to refined calligraphy, in which uppercase and lowercase letters may differ significantly. European languages also demonstrate a high degree of linguistic kinship. Thanks to their shared Slavic roots, Ukrainians can more readily recognise and learn Polish, Slovak, Czech, or Bulgarian.

As we conclude our series of articles about Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky, an outstanding literary master and the father of Ukrainian Impressionism, it is worth reflecting on the breadth of his cultural legacy. Open to the wider world, the writer was a polyglot who knew nine languages, including Ukrainian, Polish, French, Italian, Romanian, and Crimean Tatar. During his travels through Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland in 1905, and his visits to the island of Capri between 1909 and 1912, he absorbed European aesthetic experience. He also enriched Ukrainian literature through his translations of works by Heinrich Heine, Adam Mickiewicz, Eliza Orzeszkowa, and other authors.

Writing in his native language was a principled choice for Kotsiubynsky at a time when the imperial authorities represented by russia were attempting to destroy the Ukrainian word through the Valuev Circular of 1863 and the Ems Decree of 1876. Through his refined prose, the author demonstrated the immense potential of the Ukrainian language: its ability to convey the deepest psychological states and serve as a foundation for modern literature.

Today, amid the severe trials of the war that began in 2014 and escalated into russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, protecting Ukraine’s linguistic and cultural space has acquired decisive importance. Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky’s artistic achievements remain an essential part of Ukraine’s national heritage, affirming the country’s organic connection with the European family.