Migrations and Belaruso-Baltic linguistic relations

Abstract

Belarusian ethnographic and linguistic borders reflect the migration processes of East Slavonic tribes that superimposed themselves on the Baltic substrate. Kryvians occupied the lands of eastern Balts, Drehovians took the lands of Western Balts and Radzimians took the areas inhabited by Balts around the Dnieper. The latter division into White and Black Rus’ and the existence at present of a north-eastern and south-western dialect reflects differences between the Eastern and Western Balts. A theory of substrate origin of Belarusians has been advanced, the essence of which is that Slavs gradually assimilated the Balts in Belarusian lands, while being simultaneously influenced by the Baltic substrate. Nowadays both languages, particularly in the Polo-Belaruso-Lithuanian borderland, bear features of the linguistic neighbour. All local dialects (Belarusian, Polish, Lithuanian), owing to considerable mutual influences and convergence, are mutually intelligible and perceived as native to the area.