Litvin Explained

Litvin (Belarusian: ліцьвін, літвін|lićvin, litvin; Lithuanian: litvinas; Polish: Litwin; Russian: литвин|litvin; Ukrainian: литвин|lytvyn) is a Slavic word for residents of Lithuania, which was used no earlier than the 16th century mostly by the East Slavs. Currently, Litvin or its cognates are used in many European languages for Lithuanians (;[1] ;[2] ;[3] [4]).

Meanings

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

In the 16–18th centuries, the term "Litvin" was mostly used by East Slavs to refer to all inhabitants of Lithuania, i.e. Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[5] [6]

Several authentic sources, surviving from the Middle Ages, with expressed opinion of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania themselves prove that the Lithuanians (founders, rulers of Lithuania from the Gediminids dynasty) were those who spoke Old Lithuanian and originated from the cultural regions of Aukštaitija and Žemaitija, while their Eastern neighbours were Rus' people (Ruthenians):

Ethnic group in Ukraine

Litvins are a small ethnic group in the area of the mid-stream Desna River (northern Ukraine).[7] The ethnographic or cultural studies about Litvins are poorly noted and are traced to the beginning of the 18th century.[8] The poet-monk who published several cultural studies noted that Litvins, perhaps after an older pagan tradition, worked on Sundays and rested on Fridays.[8] [9] More notes about Litvins were provided at the end of the 18th century by historians of the Russian Empire and .[8] According to Markovych, Litvins are a regional group such as Gascons in France or Swabians in Germany.[8] [10]

The name Litvin (Litvyak) owes its origin to political factors and is a demonym (politonym) referencing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[8] Litvins in the Chernihiv region (Chernihiv Oblast) call themselves Ruski, but not Moskals or Katsaps.[8] They consider the term Litvin to be derogatory.[8] According to the 2001 census, there were 22 Litvins in Ukraine.[11]

Modern usage in Belarus

See main article: Litvinism. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991,[12] the term "Litvin" has been adopted by some Belarusian nationalists to claim the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as Belarusian.[13] This is an alternative to the demonym "Belarusians" which is derived from White Rus' and, therefore, implies that it is somehow less than the Great Russia.[13] Belarusians like provincial school literature teacher Mikola Yermalovich and Viktor Veras claim that the Grand Duchy was Belarusian and that modern Lithuanians are "historical Samogitians" (the term Samogitia translates as Lowlands of Lithuania proper) who, despite being "not Lithuanians", somehow managed to usurp the name "Lithuania" for themselves. In other words, these writers in contrast to Lithuanian linguists claim that modern Belarusians are "the true Lithuanians" referred to in historical texts and not "modern Lithuanians". This theory is considered fringe and is not accepted by historians.[12] During the 2009 census, 66 people identified themselves as Litvins in Belarus.[14]

Adam Mickiewicz is considered by some Belarusians to be "Litvin",[15] [16] [17] but is more often considered to be a Lithuanian.[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Modern usage in Poland

The Poles still use the words Litwini and Litwa when referring to the Lithuanians and Lithuania respectively.[24] [25] While the Belarusians and Belarus are named as Białorusini and Białoruś respectively in Polish.[26] [27]

Modern usage in Ukraine

The Ukrainians nowadays refer to Lithuania as Ukrainian: Литва (Lytva) in Ukrainian, which is its historic name from the Middle Ages,[28] and to the Lithuanians as Ukrainian: Литовці (Lytovtsi).[29] [30] The Grand Duchy of Lithuania is called Ukrainian: Велике князівство Литовське (Velyke kniazivstvo Lytovske).[31]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: litván.
  2. Web site: литвански.
  3. Web site: Litwin.
  4. Web site: litvanski.
  5. Encyclopedia: Litvinai . lt . 2018-11-13 . . Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras.
  6. [:be-x-old:Вячаслаў Насевіч|Вячаслаў Насевіч]
  7. Encyclopedia: Litvinai . lt . 2018-11-13 . . Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras.
  8. Horlenko, Volodymyr Litvins of the Ukraine North are possibly a fragment of legendary tribe of Siverians (Литвини півночі України - ймовірний уламок племені літописних Сіверян). "Landmarks of Ukraine". 2001.
  9. Artifacts of Ukrainian-Ruthenian language and literature / Shevchenko Scientific Society Archaeographic Commission. - Lviv, 1912. - Vol.7. - p.72. (Пам'ятки українсько-руської мови і літератури / Видає археографічна комісія НТШ. - Львів, 1912. - Т.VII. - С.72.)
  10. Markovych, Ya. Notes about Malorossiya its residents and literary works. - In Saint Petersburg, 1798. (Маркович Я. Записки о Малороссии, ее жителях и произведениях. - В Санкт-Петербурге, 1798.)
  11. Web site: Всеукраїнський перепис населення 2001 | Результати | Національний склад населення, мовні ознаки, громадянство | Чисельність осіб окремих етнографічних груп украінського етносу та їх рідна мова | Результат вибору . 2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua . 20 July 2016.
  12. Web site: V. . Venckūnas . lt . Tomas Baranauskas: Litvinistams svarbiausia turėti gražią istoriją, kuri galėtų sutelkti tautą . September 29, 2012 . Bernardinai.lt . December 29, 2019 .
  13. Book: Chodakiewicz, Marek Jan . Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas . 450 . 978-1-4128-4774-2 . 2012 . Transaction Publishers.
  14. Web site: https://www.belstat.gov.by/upload-belstat/upload-belstat-pdf/perepis_2009/5.8-0.pdf . ru:Население по национальности и родному языку (Таблица 5.8) . 8 December 2010 . ru . Census of the Republic of Belarus 2009 . National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus . 5 . 23 February 2020 .
  15. … Examples of that are our countrymen. Adam Mickiewicz who considered himself Litvin, but wrote in Polish, or another Litvin Fyodor Dostoyevski who is known as a Great Russian writer … (Valiantsina Zrazikava, Alena Hubkina. Belarusian language. Professional vocabulary for economists (Беларуская мова. Прафесійная лексіка для эканамістаў). Litres, 2017.
  16. Несцярчук, Л. М. «Адам Міцкевіч: Геній, Паэт, Ліцвін». Брэст: ААТ «Брэсцкая друкарня». 2019.
  17. http://mickiewicz.museum.by/node/51568 "Адам Міцкевіч: Геній, Паэт, Ліцвін"
  18. Book: Paneth, Philip. Is Poland Lost?. Nicholson and Watson. 1939. London. 41.
  19. Book: Mills. Clark. The Green Oak. Landsbergis. Algirdas. Theo. Gaus' Sons. 1962. New York. 15.
  20. Book: Morfill, W.R.. Poland. G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1893. New York. 300.
  21. Book: Boswell, A. Bruce. Poland and the Poles. Methuen & Co.. 1919. London. 217.
  22. Book: Harrison, E.J.. Lithuania, Past & Present. Gresham Press. 1922. London. 165.
  23. Book: Bjornson, B.. Poet Lore World Literature and the Drama. Bruce Humphries. 1941. Boston. 327.
  24. Web site: Litwini - Portal Gov.pl . Mniejszości Narodowe i Etniczne . 10 May 2021 . pl.
  25. Web site: Litwa - Portal Gov.pl . . 10 May 2021 . pl.
  26. Web site: Białorusini - Portal Gov.pl . Mniejszości Narodowe i Etniczne . 10 May 2021 . pl.
  27. Web site: Białoruś - Portal Gov.pl . . 10 May 2021 . pl.
  28. Web site: Kubijovyč . Volodymyr . Zhukovsky . Arkadii . Lithuania . EncyclopediaOfUkraine.com . Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies . 21 May 2021.
  29. Web site: Литовці зробили з України "чорного експортера" "Мерседесів" . sfs.gov.ua . . 21 May 2021.
  30. Web site: Культура, освіта, здоров'я . dnepr-lt.com.ua . 21 May 2021.
  31. Web site: Grand Duchy of Lithuania . EncyclopediaOfUkraine.com . 21 May 2021.

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