Word and Time
Word and Time is a Ukrainian scholarly journal devoted to literary studies, Ukrainian literature, literary history, theory, and contemporary literary culture.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Word and Time, known in Ukrainian as Slovo i Chas, is a Ukrainian academic journal focused on literary studies. It was established in Kyiv in 1957 and has developed into a long-running periodical associated with the Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The publication originally appeared under the name Soviet Literary Studies, or Radyanske Literaturoznavstvo, a title it retained from its launch until 1990. Its original institutional publishing arrangement also involved the National Union of Writers of Ukraine. The journal's subject matter centers on Ukrainian literature and the broader methods and history of literary scholarship. Its coverage includes literary history, literary theory, criticism, interpretation, and discussion of contemporary literary writing and cultural developments. In this role, it serves as a platform for scholarly articles, critical studies, and other research-oriented contributions concerning Ukrainian literary culture. The journal's identity is therefore closer to that of an academic publication and research institution than to a consumer-facing commercial brand. Its publication frequency has changed over time. Word and Time began as a bimonthly periodical. From the January 1965 issue, it moved to a monthly schedule, which it maintained for decades. In 2020, the journal returned to a bimonthly rhythm. These changes reflect the publication's evolving editorial and institutional circumstances rather than a change in its core subject area. The journal's editorial history spans several generations of Ukrainian literary scholars. Oleksander Biletsky served as the first editor-in-chief from 1957 to 1961, followed by Igor Dzeverin, Victor Grigoryevich Belyaev, and a second term by Dzeverin. Vitaliy Donchik led the journal from 1989 to 2000, followed by Lukash Skupeiko from 2000 through 2019. Igor Nabytovych served from 2020 until June 2024, after which Mykola Zhulynskyi became editor-in-chief. The 1990 name change from Soviet Literary Studies to Word and Time marked the publication's transition away from its Soviet-era title while preserving its focus on literary scholarship. The current English rendering, Word and Time, is a translation of Slovo i Chas; the Ukrainian title remains the journal's primary identity. Its historical continuity, specialist editorial leadership, and institutional connection to the Shevchenko Institute place it within Ukraine's established scholarly and literary publishing infrastructure.
History
Word and Time, or Slovo i Chas, is a Ukrainian journal of literary studies founded in Kyiv in 1957. It was established as a specialist periodical concerned with literary scholarship and was originally published under the Ukrainian title Radyanske Literaturoznavstvo, translated as Soviet Literary Studies. The journal was initially associated with both the Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the National Union of Writers of Ukraine. During its early decades, the publication operated within the institutional and intellectual environment of Soviet Ukrainian literary criticism. Its editorial remit covered literary research and criticism, with particular attention to Ukrainian literature, literary history, and questions of literary interpretation. Oleksander Biletsky served as the first editor-in-chief from 1957 to 1961. He was followed by Igor Dzeverin, who held the position from 1961 to 1972 and again from 1980 to 1989. Victor Grigoryevich Belyaev led the journal between those two periods, from 1973 to 1979. The journal's publishing frequency also changed during this period. It began as a bimonthly publication, but from the January 1965 issue it was published monthly. The monthly schedule continued for more than five decades, making the journal a regular outlet for literary scholarship and criticism. A major symbolic change occurred in 1990, when the periodical abandoned the Soviet Literary Studies title and adopted Slovo i Chas, rendered in English as Word and Time. The new title preserved the journal's literary identity while distinguishing its post-Soviet-era presentation from its former Soviet-era name. The publication continued to focus on Ukrainian literature, literary history, literary theory, and contemporary literary culture. Vitaliy Donchik served as editor-in-chief from July 1989 through January 2000, spanning the end of the former title and the journal's transition to Word and Time. Lukash Skupeiko then led the publication from February 2000 through 2019. In 2020, Igor Nabytovych became editor-in-chief. That same year, after publishing monthly since 1965, the journal returned to a bimonthly schedule. Nabytovych remained editor-in-chief until June 2024, when Mykola Zhulynskyi assumed the role. The journal remains associated with the Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and continues to function as a Ukrainian literary-studies periodical. Its principal areas remain Ukrainian literature, literary history and theory, and contemporary literature. The publication's long history, succession of specialist editors, and continued institutional affiliation make it a durable part of Ukraine's academic and literary publishing landscape.
- 2024
Editorial leadership changed
[1]Mykola Zhulynskyi became editor-in-chief in June 2024, succeeding Igor Nabytovych.
- 2020
Bimonthly schedule restored
[1]After decades of monthly publication, the journal returned to a bimonthly schedule.
- 1990
Name changed to Word and Time
[1]The publication replaced its Soviet-era title with Slovo i Chas, whose English translation is Word and Time.
- 1965
Monthly publication begins
[1]Beginning with the January issue, the journal changed from a bimonthly to a monthly publication schedule.
- 1957
Journal founded
[1]A Ukrainian literary-studies journal was established in Kyiv under the original title Soviet Literary Studies, or Radyanske Literaturoznavstvo.
Products and positioning
An established Ukrainian scholarly literary journal serving researchers, critics, writers, and readers interested in Ukrainian literature and literary theory.
Academic literary journal · 1957
Slovo i Chas / Word and Time
The publication's principal offering is a scholarly journal devoted to Ukrainian literature and literary studies. Its subject coverage includes literary history, literary theory, criticism, interpretation, and contemporary literature. The journal began in 1957 under the title Soviet Literary Studies, adopted the title Slovo i Chas in 1990, and has appeared on a bimonthly or monthly basis at different points in its history. It is associated with the Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Brand decisions
2020
Return to a bimonthly scheduleOtherBackground
The journal had published monthly from January 1965 through 2019.
Action taken
Beginning in 2020, Word and Time returned to publishing issues every two months.
Aftermath
The journal continued as an active literary-studies publication with a less frequent issue schedule.
1990
Adoption of the Word and Time titleStrategyBackground
The journal had operated since 1957 under the Soviet-era title Soviet Literary Studies.
Action taken
It changed its title to Slovo i Chas, translated as Word and Time.
Aftermath
The publication continued its literary-studies mission under a new name and retained its focus on Ukrainian literature, literary history, theory, and contemporary literature.
Recent events
- 2024
Mykola Zhulynskyi became editor-in-chief[1]
Leadership change
Mykola Zhulynskyi took over as editor-in-chief in June 2024, succeeding Igor Nabytovych.
- 2020
Word and Time returned to a bimonthly publication schedule[1]
Other
After publishing monthly from 1965 through 2019, the journal resumed a bimonthly schedule beginning in 2020.
- 1990
The journal adopted the name Word and Time[1]
Other
The publication changed its title from Soviet Literary Studies to Word and Time, using the translated meaning of its Ukrainian title, Slovo i Chas.
Sources2 sources
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