Inspired, I guess, by this post - and the comments - on the "language issue" over at the wonderful Ukrainiana, I've done a GV translation on the subject - here.
P.S. The original I was translating from - a blog post at Korrespondent.net - doesn't open now for some reason. I think all their blogs are down now. Hope it's a temporary problem.
I don't understand why people living in Ukraine have such a problem learning and speaking Ukrainian. I have met a number of Ukrainians that do not speak their own language! What is the problem?
ReplyDeleteIf you are born into a Russian speaking family in Ukraine, then your native language is Russian. And if you are 30 or older, chances are you never even had to master Ukrainian - until recently, that is.
ReplyDeleteTymoshenko, among many others, used her chance — and so can you, should you feel like coming back:) And you are most welcome:)
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Russian as the second "state" language is not about letting people choose which language they want to speak. It's about letting people choose NOT to speak or learn, or even bother understanding one of the languages. And that language is going to be Ukrainian. Nobody bans anyone from speaking any language at home or anywhere else. But once Russian becomes a state language, Ukrainian will be forced out of the education system, the media, government and everyday life because it's a "weaker" language, resembling too much the "imperial" language. So much, in fact, that most "russian speakers" won't bother learning it--ever. Arguments that bus tickets in Sebastopol are in Ukrainian--an apparent disgrace to the city of "Russian glory" are beyond insanity.
ReplyDeleteSasha
how come, though that Ukraine's President sends his own kids to a school which teaches in English. A state language that isn't the language of instruciton in its schools? So how come he leaves the taks to everyone else's kids and exempts his own?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind if everyone in Ukraine sent their kids to a school where the language of instruction is English. As long as they also had Ukrainian (and Russian classes there.) I'm not against Russian schools--but having Russian schools doesn't require Russian to become the second state language.
ReplyDeleteSasha
If everyone did that then the language of the Ukraine would next generation be English. Ukranian wouldn't even survive as a foreign langauge - as no foreigners speak it, like Latin everyone would soon stop learning it. Is that what you want? It definately isn't what your President says he wants.
ReplyDelete