Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics
East Slavic language with approx. 7 million speakers, primarily in Belorussia, but also in other former Soviet republics and in Poland. The first uses of Belorussian as a literary language date from the mid nineteenth century, before which Old Church Slavic was used with Belorussian editing. Belorussian has been developing as a modern literary language since 1918. Belorussian uses the Cyrillic alphabet with the additional letter 
in contrast to Ukrainian and Russian. the letters ‹и› › and ‹щ› are not used. Differences from Russian include [dz] and [c] instead of [d] and [t] (so-called ‘dzekanie’ and ‘cekanie’).
Characteristics: nominative plural instead of genitive singular after the numerals 2, 3, and 4.
References
Atraxovič, K.K. and M.H.Bulaxaŭ (eds) 1962. Hramatyka belaruskaj movy, vol. 1: Marfalohija. Minsk.
——and P.P.Šuba (eds) 1966. Hramatyka belaruskaj movy, vol. 2: Sintaksis. Minsk.
Biryla, M.V. and P.P.Šuba. 1985–6. Belaruskaja hramatyka, 2 vols. Minsk.
Blinava, E. 1980. Belaruskaja Dyjalektalohija, 2nd edn.
Minsk.
Jankoŭski, F.M. 1980. Sučasnaja belaruskaja literaturnaja mova. Marfalohija, 2nd edn. Minsk.
Mayo, P.J. 1976. A grammar of Byelorussian. Sheffield.
Wexler, P. 1977. A historical phonology of the Belorussian language. Heidelberg.
Historical grammar
Jankoŭski, F.M. 1989. Histaryčnaja hramatyka belaruskaj movy, 3rd edn. Minsk.
Dictionaries
Martynaŭ, V.U. 1978–90. Etimalahičny sloŭnik belaruskaj movy, 6 vols. Minsk.
Suša, T.M. and A.K.Ščuka. 1989. Angla-belaruskaruski sloŭnik. Minsk.
Žuraŭski, A.I. 1982–90. Histaryčny sloŭnik belaruskaj movy. 10 vols. Minsk.
Journals
Belaruskaja Linhvistyka
Belaruskaja Mova
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