Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

[moved from]


Murzyn (Polish pronunciation: [muʐɨn]) is the most common Polish word for a black person. It is generally seen as a neutral word,[1] while other contemporary critics, mostly of non-Polish ethnicity, claim that it has pejorative connotations.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murzyn

In Russia, the term негр (negr) was commonly used in the Soviet period without any negative connotation, and its use continues in this neutral sense. In modern Russian media, the negr is used somewhat less frequently. Chyorny as an adjective is also used in a neutral sense, and conveys the same meaning as negr, as in чёрные американцы (chyornye amerikantsy, "black Americans"). Other alternatives to negr are темнокожий (temnokozhy, "dark-skinned"), чернокожий (chernokozhy, "black-skinned"). These two are used as both nouns and adjectives. See also Afro-Russian.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/*****#Elsewhere

Just for your future knowledge.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

@Dougpol1
Why people suppose to care in 21 century which word is "offensive" for someone or not? Freedom of speech! Central or Eastern Europe doesn't care about US created weirdness!

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

According to some Russian info sources (I'm not sure it is absolutely reliable, but still I think the info is likely correct) Ukrainian ministry of education and science issued "anti-discriminatory measures" in 2018 and decided to eradicate from Ukrainian textbooks an offensive words such as negry (a neutral word in Ukrainian and Russian for a black Africans), cyganie (a neutral word for the gipsy) and zhydy (a neutral word in Ukrainian and Polish for Jews). In Russian this word was neutral too, before the beginning of the 20-th century, but later was displaced by the Bolsheviks from Russian language for some strange reasons, possibly as imaginably offensive by somebody.

Also (what is the most strange) such words as "the parents", "the family" "the relatives" and similar are also became undesirable. To explain why ministry of education murmurs something about poor orphans in Donetsk who may feel discriminated.

I wonder how much normal and regular Ukrainians are going to laugh about that. Also I wonder why Americans export in Central and Eastern Europe their mental problems...

I think that the very idea of some "prohibited words" which cannot be said in public and regarded as "offensive" is unacceptable and is a dangerous advance against freedom of speech. Also I'm very cautious about responsibility for saying any words or any kind of insults. At least for the reason of controversy and vagueness and false accusations and "witnesses" which can spark an ethnic conflict or "discredit" an innocent person at ease.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


What about mumbo-jumbo?

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]

Merged:

The future of Polish-Ukrainian relations

How do you see the future of Polish-Ukrainian relations? Do you want to see them improved and contacts increased or you prefer do not see any change? Is there any tensions between Poles and Ukrainians in Poland or some irritation toward Ukrainians?

Genealogy / Mongolian the Golden Horde - do Poles have Mongolian ancestry? [256]


Is there any reliable info source which could prove this statement?

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]


Not only Poland. Lot of Ukrainians also worked in Czech republic or Slovakia or visited them. Those are even better examples. Not forget also uniqueness of the Balkan Slavs.

Off-Topic / Russophiles can no longer defend their beloved Russians. [84]


And what are those differences? It would be glad if you would include in comparison some other Slavic countries like Ukraine.

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]


Slovenia? (I don't care about their difference from Russia in particular).

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]

I think Slovenian may take the third place among Slavic languages in sense of beauty after Russian and Ukrainian. What do you think about that? I like Slovenian culture too. Do you think one day Ukraine may borrow culture from Western Slavs?

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]

When I lived in Ukraine decades ago I didn't remark there would be a cult of anyone in Ukraine. The vast majority of population was and is obsessed with completely different daily problems. For example SURVIVAL.

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]


Do you think their economies are too weak to even get close?

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]


Why stop just at that?

History / MAP OF POLAND IN 1880'S [95]

This map doesn't seem to be correct. Siberia, Caucasus and Central Asia were parts of Russian Empire in 1880-th.

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]


According to international standards in order for government to renounce something officially, an extensive court processes need to take the place on which proves and evidence have to be provided. Exactly like it took place in Nuremberg, Germany.

History / Occupation of Eastern Poland in 1939 [98]


That's true. But what USSR would be expected to do if we assume it would be a normal, reasonable country? If it would abstain from division of Poland and Baltic states, then all the prize would go to Nazis. What US, for example would do on USSR place?

History / Occupation of Eastern Poland in 1939 [98]


It would be not a bad idea for USSR to ally with Poland, but only from a retrospective point of view. Because how could they know back then that Germany going to attack them after they will swallow Poland? Enter in terrible war with Germany and loose dozens of millions of its own citizens just to protect Poland? Also we can't know how the Western Powers would react if USSR would be the first to attack Germany even under excuse of Poland protection. And if USSR would be able to count for their supplies in this case.

History / Occupation of Eastern Poland in 1939 [98]


Modern Russia sees Poles as a ...rebels?! A country which is member of EU and NATO?


Why exactly? Is there any objective reasons to be an enemies? I thought we are all the humans and share the same basic values? Well, majority of people in any country...

History / Occupation of Eastern Poland in 1939 [98]

Many millions of Russians were born and live outside of modern Russia...

Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]

Even if Polish needs some reform (though I don't insist on it) then it would be pronunciation rather than the script. I find it (and not only me) rather difficult and unpleasant. To the extent that I would prefer to use English to communicate to Poles rather than Polish (even if I would knew it well). What makes me wonder about Slavic languages in general is how languages which are so similar lexically are so much different in pronunciation.

Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]


I guess a hundreds of years ago they were pronounced more like in Polish what is still evident in Russian spelling and some Russian dialects. But I afraid Russian pronunciation evolved in right direction because in my feeling it is difficult to pronounce straining "o-o-h" in a words if this sound is not under stress. Therefore it evolved in what is called an "undefined stressed vowel".

Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]


I'm not sure about English. Take a note how "o" is pronounced in some English words when it is not under stress. For example, "o" in "voluptuous". It seems not like Polish "o". So, English does have this reduction of stressed vowels as well, it seems.

Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]

Maybe this is a question of a habit, but in my feeling reduced unstressed vowels sound nicer. Non-reduced sound a but rude and peasant-style pronunciation.

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]

Merged:

Merkel set timeline for Ukraine EU membership

Angela Merkel said during her visit in Kiev that Ukraine may become EU member in 5-8 years.
tellerreport.com/news/--in-the-rada-talked-about-merkela's-timeline-for-ukraine's-accession-to-the-eu-.rJnnHFUCX.html

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]

So, you think Igor Kononenko is lying? This info appeared in Russian media as plausible.

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]


This is very new info and it looks like that if it is true she said it during private conversation with a group of Ukrainian politicians in Kiev, so it wasn't a public statement for mass media. Just her private behind the closed doors opinion.

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]

Why not to create some powerful EU organization body which would help a newly accepted EU members (such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania) and potentially Ukraine to fight their internal problems and develop economically? Some Marshall Plan of 21 century?

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]

They can give long-term low-percent credits to those talented and honest Ukrainian entrepreneurs who create working places and develop agriculture and manufacturing in Ukraine. It may include small and medium business. Credits aren't completely free lunch, so it may return profits. But this is not only money. They may open large-scale training for Ukrainian administrators, entrepreneurs, lawyers, etc., to improve their skills and bring their mentality to the best EU standards. A joint administrations may be established throughout Ukraine in which Germans may take part as an observers and trainers or play more active role. Even some retired skilled administrators from EU may take part in it.