Kaip Kovno tapo Kaunu: miesto lituanizavimas 1918-1940 m.

LTMonografijoje nagrinėjamas visuomenės ir viešosios erdvės lituanizavimas Kauno mieste 1918–1940 m. Lituanizavimo terminu šiame darbe įvardijama: 1) lietuvių kalbos vartojimo sklaida viešojoje erdvėje, 2) modernios lietuvių tautinės tapatybės sklaida. Monografijoje atskleidžiamos teorinės Kauno miesto lituanizavimo prielaidos bei jų santykis su modernios tautinės Lietuvos valstybės siekiu nacionalizuoti visuomenę ir viešąją erdvę. Tyrime aptariami etnosocialiniai ir etnodemografiniai procesai (lietuvių migracija į Kauną, nelietuvių apsisprendimas vidaus pasuose keisti tautybę į lietuvių, pavardžių (su)(at)lietuvinimas ir kt.), sąlygoję modernios lietuvių tautinės tapatybės sklaidą Kauno mieste. Atskleidžiamas lietuvių kalbos įtvirtinimo procesas valstybinėse ir Kauno miesto savivaldybės įstaigose. Tyrime analizuojama, kaip vyko rašytinės lietuvių kalbos (gatvių pavadinimų lentelėse, viešose iškabose, oficialiuose skelbimuose ir kt.) sklaida viešojoje erdvėje. Aptariama sakytinės komunikacijos lietuvių kalba plėtotė viešumoje. Monografijoje atskleidžiami Kauno miesto pradinių mokyklų ir gimnazijų lituanizavimo ypatumai: mokyklų dėstomąja lietuvių kalba tinklo plėtra, mokinių priėmimo į nelietuviakalbes mokyklas ribojimai bei lietuvių kalbos mokymo(si) pasiekimai. Tyrime aiškinamasi, kaip buvo įtvirtinta lietuvių kalba mokslo ir studijų procesuose Lietuvos (Vytauto Didžiojo) universitete. Analizuojama lietuvių kalbos sklaida pamaldose Kauno katalikų bei evangelikų liuteronų bažnyčiose. Tyrime aptariama Kaune dislokuotų Lietuvos kariuomenės dalinių (Kauno įgulos) ir Lietuvos šaulių sąjungos vienetų veikla mokant karius, šaulius ir kt. lietuvių kalbos, populiarinant jos vartojimą viešumoje. [VDU talpykla]

ENThis monograph examines how the modern Lithuanian national identity and its most important feature – the Lithuanian language – were disseminated in the society and public space of Kaunas city in 1918–1940. The state, municipal institutions, and public organizations that carried out this dissemination sought to consolidate the dominance of modern Lithuanian national culture and identity in Lithuania, to “nationalize” the state. The research aims to examine, based on archival and published sources, and scientific literature, the Lituanization of society and public space in Kaunas city from 1918 to 1940. The tasks set for the implementation of this goal are: 1) to reveal the theoretical prerequisites for the Lituanization of Kaunas city, linking them with the aspiration of the modern nation-state of Lithuania to nationalize society and the public space; 2) to discuss ethnosocial and ethnodemographic processes (migration of Lithuanians to Kaunas, decision of non-Lithuanians with internal passports to change nationality to Lithuanian and surname to a Lituanized form, etc.), which led to the spread of modern Lithuanian national identity in Kaunas city; 3) to reveal the process of consolidation of the Lithuanian language in state institutions and in the apparatus of Kaunas City Municipality; 4) to determine how the dissemination of the written Lithuanian language (street name plates, public signs, official announcements) in the public sphere took place; 5) to discuss the development of spoken communication in Lithuanian in public; 6) to reveal the peculiarities of the Lituanization of primary schools and gymnasiums in Kaunas city: the development of the network of schools in the Lithuanian language taught, restrictions on the admission of pupils to non-Lithuanian-language schools and achievements in the teaching and learning of the Lithuanian language.7) to find out how the Lithuanian language was established in the scientific and study processes at the University of Lithuania (Vytautas Magnus University); 8) to analyze the spread of the Lithuanian language in Kaunas Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran churches; 9) to discuss the activities of Lithuanian army units (Kaunas Garrison) and units of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (Kaunas City’s regiments) stationed in Kaunas by teaching soldiers, riflemen, etc., Lithuanian language, popularizing its use in public. The term Lituanization in this work is used in two meanings: first, it refers to the dissemination of the use of the Lithuanian language (in written and spoken form) in the public sphere, its emancipation, and the raising of its prestige in society; second, the growth of the natural identity of modern Lithuanians is named, i.e., the voluntary or partially forced decision of Kaunas residents to identify themselves with the modern Lithuanian nation, to be Lithuanian (in the ethnolinguistic sense, i.e., by associating Lithuanianness with the use of the Lithuanian language). In this case, the term Lituanization also includes the efforts of Lithuanians to assimilate national minorities (especially Lithuanian Poles and Germans). In 1918–1940, no Lithuanian political force had a clearly defined program of Lituanization of society and (or) public space. What is summarily called Lituanization in this work was manifested in the policy of the then authorities through specific areas of public activity (especially through primary and secondary education), which, accordingly, were aimed at consolidating the use of the Lithuanian language in society and encouraging as many citizens of the country as possible to actively assume the modern Lithuanian national identity. It is necessary to note that there is a lack of sources (especially of an egodocumental nature) that would indicate a person’s non-coerced decision to be Lithuanian and speak Lithuanian.In the monograph, national identity is understood as the identification of a person with a certain modern national community (Lithuanian, Polish, German, Russian, Jewish, etc.). Such identification is based on the use of the national language and the fostering of the ideals and values set forth by modern nationalism. In this work, a person who identifies him or herself with the modern Lithuanian nation and who speaks or learns to speak Lithuanian is named Lithuanian. It should be noted that during the period under review, a certain (likely, sparse) group of residents lived in Kaunas, who considered themselves Lithuanians, but had little knowledge of the Lithuanian language. Most of these were representatives of the older generation, who came from Polish-speaking families, who, through an independent life, decided to identify with the modern Lithuanian nation. The term nationalism, referring to the Lithuanian national movement, is used synonymously with the term modern Lithuanian nationality or ethnolinguistic Lithuanian nationalism. The term nationalism in this work is used without a tinge of negative (pejorative), chauvinism-oriented or xenophobic meaning. For the concept of public space, we apply the definition given by UNESCO, according to which the public space is called an area or place that is open and accessible to all people, regardless of their gender, race, nationality, age, or socio-economic level. In the state of Lithuania created (restored) in 1918, Lithuanians who gained political power began to realize their vision – to create a Lithuanian Lithuania, i.e., to Lituanize Lithuanian society and public space. This required the nationalization of the country’s society. The aim was to “liberate the depraved Lithuanians” and to force national minorities to be loyal, i.e., to accept the dominance of Lithuanians in the state and to respect the national Lithuanian culture. [...]. [From the publication]

• Edukologija / Education
• Istorija / History
• Kalbotyra / Linguistics