MINSK, 22 February (BelTA) - More than 1,000 people took the Kupala Dictation test to check their spelling and grammar skills in the Belarusian language by. The event was organized by the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno on Mother Language Day, BelTA has learned.
The event involved all faculties and colleges of the Grodno university and also Belarusians outside the country, foreign universities that are partners of the Grodno university, and more than ten diplomatic missions of Belarus.
"Homeland and language is something that unites us. Mother Language Day is special for every nation and people, because there is no nation without a language, there is no language without a native speaker. Everyone should know and respect the language of their homeland. Language is our wealth, and it is our obligation to know and protect it," said Irina Kiturko, Rector of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno.
The test was dictated by Anastasia Kisel, a journalism student, the winner of The Student of the Year 2023 national contest. "This year's dictation is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus. It is a text about the events of the Great Patriotic War, about the time when so many people died defending our land. We once again reminded people of the need to love the country, to study, work, appreciate the peaceful sky and do everything possible to make sure those past events do not repeat themselves," she said.
"The Belarusian language is very beautiful. It was the first time I wrote a dictation in Belarusian. I liked this process very much. It was quite difficult yet exciting," said Christopher Sahabandu from Sri Lanka, a student of mathematics and informatics at Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno.
Kupala Dictation was held at the university for the sixth time and was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders and the birthday of the university.
