Belarusian Language Study & Reference Books: non-English Materials

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Notes:

• I list these first two books out of alphabetical order for several reasons.
  1. They comprise the most comprehensive word list from Belarusian to/from another language.
  2. There is no comprehensive Belarusian-English; English-Belarusian pair, so one has to work through Russian to study Belarusian, and
  3. There is no true, comprehensive, single-language Belarusian dictionary available.

• All of this points out to serious problems with the future survival of the Belarusian Language.

• I have heard of a couple of groups of people who are working at publishing a comprehensive Belarusian-English, English-Belarusian dictionary (of the Narkomovka, British-English variant), and once any one of these projects becomes a reality, I will include that information here. Of course, if you hear of the publication before I do, please let me know. (djakou!)

Belaruska-Ruski Sloaunik, Second edition; in two volumes (Vol. 1: A-O; 1988; Vol. 2: P - Ya; 1989); compiled under the direction of K. K. Atrakhovich (Kondrat Krapiva), Belarusian Soviet Encyclopedia, Mensk, Belarus; [approx. 1,500 pp, total; 6.5" x 10.5"; 17 cm x 26.5 cm]. Copies Printed: 25,000.

• I personally do not know if this dictionary is still in print (see next entry about Russian-Belarusian dictionary). In over a year of searching ('97-'98), I have seen three sets of this 1988/89 edition in the bookstores of central Mensk--and I bought one set.
• The most comprehensive Belarusian to any-other-language dictionary available; more than 110,000 entries. (For English speakers, especially, use with a comprehensive Russian-English dictionary.)
• The lack of a comprehensive Belarusian-English dictionary in 1998 speaks to the effectiveness of Russification by the USSR and also its supression of "nationalism," as they referred to it, when native languages and cultures were concerned.
• Difficult to find, even in used bookstores in Minsk. However, it can be found in some major university libraries in the US. The companion Russian-Belarusian dictionary is still updated and printed, but inexplicably, this "half" of the complete dictionary is not. (All editions in Soviet, Russified Belarusian, Narkomovka, and especially so, the newer the printing.)
• Also refer to the following entry for notes about the other "half" of this dictionary: Russko-Belorusskii Slovar', Seventh edition, 1998.

Russko-Belorusskii Slovar', Seventh Edition. compiled under the direction of G. A. Fatikhova, Belaruskaya Entziklapadiya Publishers, Mensk, Belarus, 1998; in three volumes; [approx. 2,300 pp; 6.5" x 10.5"; 13 cm x 20 cm]. Copies Printed: 15,000. Second title page gives title as Ruska-Belaruski Sloaunik.

• The most comprehensive any-other-language to Belarusian dictionary available; approximately 110,000 entries. (For English speakers, especially, use with a comprehensive English-Russian dictionary.)
• The lack of a comprehensive English-Belarusian dictionary in 1998 speaks to the effectiveness of Russification by the USSR and also its supression of "nationalism," as they referred to it, when native languages and cultures were concerned.
• The 1995, Sixth Edition, has more decorative covers, and possibly is less Russified. Both the Sixth and Seventh editions have a second, Belarusian language title page inside each volume, listing approximately 86,000 entries as the total, and Moscow, 1953 as place and date of publication.
• Also refer to previous entry for notes about the other "half" of this dictionary: Belaruska-Ruski Sloaunik, Second edition, 1988/89.

Беларуская граматыка; Браніслава Тарашкевіча. Вільня, 1929, Ныо-Ёрк, 1992. (I also have dates of publication as Vilnius,1918; Mensk, 1928.)

• Title and author in English, Belarusian Grammar by Branislau Adamavich Tarashkievich; also published as Belarusian School Grammar. Still considered an important reference work, especially for traditional Belarusian (not the Soviet-Russified Belarusian--Narkomovka--introduced under Stalin in 1933 and whose use is still enforced in Belarus today).

• Downloadable copy (MS Word format) of the complete Belaruskaja hramatuka dla shkol (Belarusian School Grammar): http://www.knihi.com/mova/hramatyk.zip. A Web-based version is also available; both are from the http://www.knihi.com/taraskievic/hramatyka/index.htm   at the Bielaruskaja palicka Web site.
• For additional information about this very important language expert and political leader, see Branislau Adamavich Tarashkievich.

Belaruskaya Mova: Entziklapediya, edited by Mikhevich, A. Ya. (with 16 others); Mensk, Belaruskaya Entziklapadiya Publishers, 1994; ISBN: 5-85700-126-9; Print Run: 10,000.

• A very interesting one-volume summary indirectly about the Belarusian language, including entries about other reference books, and many biographical entries about Belarusian linguists, etc. Note: This is not a grammar reference book.
• Includes an appendix on the January 26, 1990, BSSR law on the Belarusian language.

Belaruskaya Mova, (Subtitled: Phonetika. Arfagrafiya. Letksikalogiya. Leksikagrafiya. Phrazealogiya. Marfemnaya budova slova. Slovaowtvarennye. Marfalogiya. Sintaksis. Punktuatziya.); general editor: Griigor'evau, L. M.; Mensk; Visheushaya Shkola Publishers, 1994; ISBN: 5-339-00950-5; Print Run: 20,000. [368 pp; 5.5" x 8.5"; 14 cm x 21.5 cm]

• Provided by the Republic of Belarus Ministry of Education as an aide for the students of the school teacher faculty of the Belarus State Pedagogical University.
• The introduction lists the ten authors of the various sections of the book.

Gramatiika Belaruskaye Movii: Phonetika, by Lyosik, Yazep Iur'evich.; Mensk; originally self-published in 1926; republished by Narodnaya Asveta Publishers, 1995; ISBN: 985-03-0249-6; Print Run (1995): 6,150. [134 pp; 5.5" x 8.5"; 14 cm x 21.5 cm]

• Interesting summary of the phonology of Taraskevitza Belarusian (rather than Narkomovka).
• Book note of 1995 states that the author was arrested in 1930 and 1938, and that he died in Soviet prison in Saratov in 1940.
• An interesting summary of the author's life and work is in the handbook, Belaruskaya Mova: Entziklapediya (1994), page 306.
• A brief biographical sketch is under development at this link.

Parlons Bielorussien: Langue et culture. Virginie Symaniec et Alexandra Goujon. Editeur L'Harmattan, (180F, 384p.+ K7 а 78F) ISBN:2-7384-5844-0.

• Pour la première fois, un livre concernant la langue et la culture biélorussiennes paraît en français. Une présentation générale et des articles sur l'histoire permettent de faire connaissance avec ce pays méconnu. Cet ouvrage allie à la fois les aspects linguistiques et littéraires de cette culture en proposant guide de conversation, grammaire, lexique ainsi que des extraits de poèmes et oeuvres en prose traduites en français.

• For additional information, go to http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/. Ordering information (in French) is available at: www.alapage.com.

• Go to the following link for information related to Belarusians and France.

Phrazealagichnii Slaownik Belaruskaow Movii, in two volumes; by Lepeshaow, I. Ya.; Mensk, Belaruskaya Entziklapediya Publishers, 1993; ISBN: 5-85700-125-0 (T.1) & 5-85700-124-2; Print Run: 15,000. [Vol. 1: 592 pp; Vol. 2: 608 pp; 5" x 8"; 12.5 cm x 20 cm]

• The most detailed, currently available dictionary of "idioms" (phrases) in Belarusian (single language, Belarusian to Belarusian).

Proverbia et Dicta: Shastzimownii Slownik Prikazak, Primabak i Krilatikh Slow; edited by Hancharovaow, N. A.; Mensk, Universitetzkaye Publishers (International Center of Book Culture), 1993; ISBN: 5-7855-0639-4; Print Run: 25,000. [256 pp; 5" x 8"; 12.5 cm x 20 cm]

• Title in English: "Proverbs and Dictums: Six-Language Dictionary of Proverbs, Sayings, and Pithy Expressions"
• Latin proverbs and dictums in the original Latin as well as explanations in both Belarusian and Russian. For most entries, there are also parallel expressions in Belarusian, Russian, French, English, and German (although not in all languages for all entries).
• What appears to be simply a novelty (i.e., Latin proverbs and dictums into Belarusian!), is actually a very useful reference and learning tool, and complements the idiom and phrase books listed here. In addition to the proverbs and dictums being listed in alphabetical order (for the original Latin), there is the rarest of things, an alphabetical index of the equivalent expressions in Belarusian.

Russko-Belorusskii Phraseologicheskii Slovar', by Kiselov, I. A., Miensk, Narodnaya Asveta Publishers, 1991 [192 pp; 5" x 8"; 12.5 cm x 20 cm]

• In Russian and Belarusian (Cyrillic characters) for middle school.

Russko-Belorusskii Razgovornik, by Mikhevich, A. E., Mensk, Visheushaya Shkola Publishers, 1991 [192 pp; 5" x 6.5"; 12.5 cm x 17.5 cm]

• Parallel text on each page for Russian and Belarusian expressions in a variety of contexts, mostly conversational (as implied by the title).
• A very useful reference for someone fluent in Russian who is studying Belarusian. Also very important for speakers of other languages (such as English) since the equivalent book does not exist for these other languages (that I am aware of).

Slaownik Inshamaownikh Slaow, by Bulika, A. M.; Mensk, Narodnaya Asveta Publishers, 1993; ISBN: 5-341-0076-X; Print Run: 46,600. [400 pp; 5" x 8"; 12.5 cm x 20 cm]

• Dictionary of foreign words in Belarusian, and contains approximately 5,600 entries.
• A useful reference tool and complement to the reference book, Tlumachal'nii Slaownik.

Slaownik z Malunkami, by Mikola Yalencki; Illustrated by A. Shuganava & I. G. Baranow; Mensk, Narodnaya Asveta Publishers, 1995; ISBN: 985-03-0222-1; Print Run: 138,700. [264 pp; 8.25" x 11.5"; 21 cm x 29.5 cm] Children's Dictionary -- Russian to Belarusian, and contains approximately 1,500 entries. Color illustrations with usage examples from Belarusian literature. Index lists terms in Belarusian alphabetical order. Book information in Belarusian: Слоўнік з Малюнкамі, Мікола Г. Яленскі Мастакі А. Шуганава, І. Г. Баранаў Менск, Народная Асвета. I strongly recommend this book for language learners (of all ages). There are other children's dictionaries, but this is the largest, best produced of those I saw in Belarus (1997-98).

Tlumachal'nii Slaownik, by Bakhan'kaow, A. Ya., & I. M. Gaidykevich, & P. P. Shuba; Mensk, Paradox Publishers, 1998; ISBN: 985-6092-44-2; Print Run: 10,000. [416 pp; 5" x 8"; 12.5 cm x 20 cm]

• The only dictionary currently in print that I know of, Belarusian to Belarusian, that explains the meanings and usages of terms--but it only contains 7,800 entries.
• Previous copyrights indicate 1990 and 1996, but the introduction only refers to a previous 1996 edition. (Actually, an earlier version, copyright in 1979, can sometimes be found in Mensk's used bookstores, though with only 7,000 entries.)
• Brief sections at back discuss (a) variations of given names in Belarusian, and (b) conversational expressions.
• A useful reference tool and complement to the reference book, Slaownik Inshamaownikh Slaow.

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