Posted by Bohdan A. Oryshkevich on April 18, 2002 at 18:58:11:
In Reply to: Re: Inevitable assimilation posted by Rob Barnes on April 18, 2002 at 15:40:42:
A recent sociological study showed that Hispanics by the third generation in America know no Spanish. Yet NYC has two daily newspapers and two TV networks.
The Diaspora can educate its children but it will not succeed by promoting Soyuzivka and neglecting the school in the largest Ukrainian American community in America. This will take resources, commitment, and intelligent ideas. Nothing of the sort exists.
If there are new immigrants, they are by definition part of the Diaspora are they not? That is they are a pool of Ukrainian speaking talent. It is by definition very difficult to maintain an intelligent conversation in Ukrainian with the vast majority of the people of the Third Wave who have grown up here. They are not informed and they Ukrainian is really a Surzhik of English, Ukrainian, and some Polish.
How many people in the Diaspora have sent their children to Ukraine for a year of high school so that they would learn Ukrainian? That is eminently possible. If they are interested in preserving their language (and updating it) would that not be an obvious and easy thing to do?
Bohdan Oryshkevich
usa.usa@attglobal.net