Re: Language/Schools re. Bohdan

Borys Kosarev: Modernist Kharkiv, 1915-1931 at The Ukrainian Museum thru May 2, 2012

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Posted by Bohdan Oryshkevich on August 30, 2000 at 08:44:37:

In Reply to: Re: Language/Schools re. Bohdan posted by Andrew K on August 30, 2000 at 01:54:11:

I agree with you a hundred percent.

First I did state that Kyiv is a Ukrainian language speaking city. But it is only one of two in the top ten. But using the Ukrainian language at home is not the same thing as using it all the time. Try using English in Quebec City or Russian in Tallinn.

Second the Diaspora has done nothing with reference to the Ukrainian language. But Ukraine is not its country. The Diaspora may be relatively prosperous but its members are old and the young are almost totally assimilated. In fifty years George Shevelov, the pre-eminent Professor of the Ukrainian language at Columbia University did not train one scholar (from the Diaspora) of the Ukrainian language to continue his work. The Diaspora used to call him a Russian because he originated from Kharkiv. I can cite multiple cases of fundamental disrespect of the Ukrainian language within the so-called Diaspora. But many in the New Wave want to assimilate and forget Ukrainian as soon as possible. It is perfectly obvious from my work with them.

I work with students from central, eastern, southern, and Crimean Ukraine. They have in the vast majority learned Ukrainian but they do not use it. I have worked with Lviv and Kyiv students in the past also.

The knowledge of Ukrainian has increased perhaps since independence but there is no information even on that. Its use seems to have actually decreased during that time. I would like to know the relative circulations of newspapers such as Day (Den), etc. What do the kiosks in Kyiv display or the bookstores. Which TV shows are the most popular. What Ukrainian language movie has made it? What language does Andriy Shevchenko speak to his fans? If one wanted to address teenagers in Kyiv or in Kharkiv about the danger of AIDS which language would one use?

Ukrainians equate intellectual and analytical thought with being Russian. That is a fundamental weakness. That automatically means that all science and business and commentary should be in Russia. Now that is a major concession. Let us sing kry kry kry endlessly and all problems will be solved. Let us believe and everyone will speak Ukrainian

Bohdan Oryshkevich
usa.usa@attglobal.net

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: I agree with you a hundred percent. : First I did state that Kyiv is a Ukrainian language speaking city. But it is only one of two in the top ten. But using the Ukrainian language at home is not the same thing as using it all the time. Try using English in Quebec City or Russian in Tallinn. : Second the Diaspora has done nothing with reference to the Ukrainian language. But Ukraine is not its country. The Diaspora may be relatively prosperous but its members are old and the young are almost totally assimilated. In fifty years George Shevelov, the pre-eminent Professor of the Ukrainian language at Columbia University did not train one scholar (from the Diaspora) of the Ukrainian language to continue his work. The Diaspora used to call him a Russian because he originated from Kharkiv. I can cite multiple cases of fundamental disrespect of the Ukrainian language within the so-called Diaspora. But many in the New Wave want to assimilate and forget Ukrainian as soon as possible. It is perfectly obvious from my work with them. : I work with students from central, eastern, southern, and Crimean Ukraine. They have in the vast majority learned Ukrainian but they do not use it. I have worked with Lviv and Kyiv students in the past also. : The knowledge of Ukrainian has increased perhaps since independence but there is no information even on that. Its use seems to have actually decreased during that time. I would like to know the relative circulations of newspapers such as Day (Den), etc. What do the kiosks in Kyiv display or the bookstores. Which TV shows are the most popular. What Ukrainian language movie has made it? What language does Andriy Shevchenko speak to his fans? If one wanted to address teenagers in Kyiv or in Kharkiv about the danger of AIDS which language would one use? : Ukrainians equate intellectual and analytical thought with being Russian. That is a fundamental weakness. That automatically means that all science and business and commentary should be in Russia. Now that is a major concession. Let us sing kry kry kry endlessly and all problems will be solved. Let us believe and everyone will speak Ukrainian : Bohdan Oryshkevich : usa.usa@attglobal.net

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