Great National Dictation and Romanian Language Day

The Ministry of Education and Research in Moldova organized the fourth edition of the Great National Dictation on August 31 to celebrate Romanian Language Day. Held under the auspices of the Presidency, the event saw record participation, with estimates of approximately 3,500 participants across the capital and at least 16 districts.

Participants were tasked with writing a text adapted from the play ‘Testamentul’ by the late Gheorghe Urschi. Following the event, high-scoring individuals will be recognized in a September ceremony with prizes including books, vouchers, and theater tickets. Evaluations are conducted by linguists and specialists based on the 2022 Romanian Academy dictionary. For the first time, the event included provisions for individuals with visual impairments.

Celebrations extended beyond Moldova to Romania and Ukraine. In Chernivtsi, Ukraine, the day was marked by official state-level celebrations following a decree by President Volodymyr Zelensky, involving diplomatic and cultural ceremonies. Other regional activities included music, poetry, and traditional workshops in Bălți and Suceava.

During the festivities, President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Vasile Tofan emphasized the historical importance of the language, noting its survival through periods of prohibition and the significance of the return to the Latin alphabet. Parliamentary Speaker Igor Grosu noted the language’s status as the constitutionally enshrined state language, while Education Minister Dan Perciun highlighted the historical struggle to secure Romanian language rights. The day served as a moment to reflect on the language’s evolution from Latin and its role as a unifying factor for Romanian-speaking communities across borders.