On February 21, 2024, a Republican dictation on the Belarusian language was held at the Yakub Kolas Central Scientific Library of the NAS of Belarus. The name of the dictation: Memory and Pride (“Памяць і гонар”).

Igor Kopylov, Director of the Yakub Kolas Institute of Linguistics of the Center for the Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature Researches of the NAS of Belarus, made a welcoming speech. The dictation is timed to coincide with the International Mother Language Day, the Year of Quality and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders. “The greatest value for a person is to live under a peaceful sky. To work, to study, to create a family, to give birth and to raise children. Accordingly, the text was selected taking into account this significant date. The purpose of our dictation is to check the level of proficiency in the norms of the Belarusian literary language. This is an opportunity to pay attention to the beauty and euphony of the Belarusian word. To feel the energy and originality of the native language, to feel the taste and aroma of the Belarusian word, as well as to demonstrate your love and respect for our Homeland, our land, history, culture and spiritual heritage that the people have created,” Igor Leonovich noted in his speech.

The number of dictation participants is growing every year, this year the event was attended by people of different ages and professions, from Belarus and foreign countries. At the end of the dictation, the participants who made the least number of mistakes received gifts - new dictionaries.

The dictation was broadcast on the Kultura channel of the Belarusian Radio and on the YouTube channel of the Yakub Kolas Institute of Linguistics of the Center for the Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature Researches of the NAS of Belarus.

The International Mother Language Day was established in 1999 at the 30th session of the UNESCO General Conference to preserve linguistic and cultural diversity and is celebrated annually on February 21.