Rusynlanguage

Rusyn language, also known as Ruthenian or Carpatho-Rusyn, is an East Slavic language spoken by Rusyn people in the Carpathian region of Central and Eastern Europe. It is generally regarded as a distinct language within the East Slavic group, though its classification has varied over time: some classifications view Rusyn as a single language with regional dialects, while others treat it as a group of closely related languages.

The language uses the Cyrillic script in most contexts, with Latin orthographies used by some communities, particularly in Slovakia and by diaspora communities. It has developed several standardized forms in Ukraine (Transcarpathian Rusyn), Slovakia (Ruthenian), and Serbia, though there is no single universally accepted standard.

Geographically, Rusyn is spoken in the Carpathian region: Ukraine's Transcarpathian region, northern Slovakia, parts of Poland, northern Serbia, Romania, Hungary, and in diaspora communities in the Americas. Estimates of speaker numbers vary widely, ranging from several hundred thousand to about a million or more, depending on whether Rusyn speakers are counted as a distinct language or as speakers of minority dialects.

Cultural role and current status: Rusyn has a long literary and ecclesiastical tradition; there are newspapers, magazines, books, radio programs, and online content in Rusyn; minority language rights exist in several countries and some areas provide education in Rusyn. The status of Rusyn varies by country; in some places it is taught in schools and used in local media, while in others it survives mainly in family and community use.