So, I am sorry - but your examples don't prove anything.
Hi Wiedzmin.
You are missing my point. Because you understand both Ukrainian and Russian - you should know the vast differences.
I am not saying they are not similar. I am just highlighting that there are zillions of differences. You know them.
Now - Zaras - Seichas
Bed - Lishko - Kravat'
Rubbish - Smitya - Musor
Onion - Tsibulya - Luk
This - Tse - Eta
Good - Dobre - Harasho
I could honestly go on forever...and ever..... with all the differences.
Ukrainians who are Russian speakers are biased to the differences (and see the language as the same just with a dialect) because they understand both, understand all the words, its ingrained, it all sounds as one and they are oblivious to their bias.
The point is if a Ukrainian speaker who had never heard russian in their life before....in all honesty I would think they would only understand 60% of Russian being conservative. The Russian accent also presents many problems for someone who had never heard it - all o's are pronouced as a's. All e's are pronoucned a ye's.
The rusification of Ukraine started in the east and worked its way west.
This is proven by the fact that Ukrainian language and cultural strongholds are in western Ukraine.
In Western Ukraine they uphold traditions, know words to ukrainian folk songs. I will not list all the examples.
They know the words to the Ukrainian National Anthem...(unlike the players in the national soccer team with the exception of Tymoschuk and Shovkovsky and a couple others.)
I am not here to point out the difference between east Ukraine and west Ukraine, or to say that west is good and east is bad.
It is all Ukraine and they are all Ukrainians and they should respect, encourage and support each other.
To be narrow minded and persecute or judge russian speaking ukrainians is wrong and unfair:
" Учітеся, брати мої, Думайте, читайте, І чужому научайтесь, Свого не цурайтесь"
Let it be known to all in this forum that Ukrainian is not a village language, it is not a selo language, it is not a simple persons language. This is typical Russian propaganda (most arrogant of all) and has been caused by the fact that Russian was not an optional language, it was not selected by choice or freewill, it was cunningly and strategically imposed and its strongholds were in the big cities of Ukraine where government and government administration was centralised (e.g. Kiev), were the industry was (Donbass) as two examples (there are many others). If you wanted a job you had to speak Ukrainian otherwise you would be persecuted. You had to fall "into line" otherwise you were not supporting the soviet cause...and if you were nto suporting it, you were against it, and if you were against it...you're existence was at risk, your families lives were at risk.
Where were all the jobs? - In the big cities?
Where was the governement - In the big cities?
Where were the big organisations, resources, universities etc - In the big cities.
What language was spoken by the government, in workplaces and also in the media - Russian?
Of course Ukrainian languages remained preserved and untouched in sela, in villages, for this reason as the russification did not pierce the villages because the Russians didn't have economic reasons to do so...unless they wanted to get into the cabbage, cucumber and potato business.
Because there was no IMMEDIATE economic advantage in doing so...they reverted to acts of genocide (Holodomor) instead to stop the revival of Ukrainian culture and language.
The history tells the truth and the history cannot be changed. (Although in Russian schools they do change history, slant it to suit themselves and make Russia look pristine and teach it as the truth).
What Ukrainians (especially new Ukrainian youth) need to do is stop looking at the above negatives that I have mentioned, as it only causes division and there is only strength in unity. They need to come together to fight a supporting cause to make things right in the country.
Unfortunately in Ukraine, because things have gotten so bad - the primary focus is not on language, its on getting the system right so people can live a normal life.
This was a big mistake - i.e. not making the Ukrainian language imposed from DAY ONE in 1991! It should have been government policy that all national, government structures: tv, schools, universities, newspapers, workplaces must be in Ukrainian language. If this was done from day one...they could have been focussing on the economy fopr the last 20 years instead. (Although after 300 years of russification....its unfair and unreasonable to aggrivate millions of russian speaking ukrainians overnight. To contradict myself...this needs to be a slow and gradual process which it is....just painstakingly slow)
I read an article yesterday that Georgia passed legislation that anyone who was part of the soviet communist regime in the last 30 years (something like this) cannot hold any government, parliamentary, ministerial or any position of government influence. The article said that such laws already exist in many former USSR countries (like in the Baltic countries) as well as others.
This would be a fantastic thing for Ukraine...but would never happen. Could you imagine, no more ex KGB, no more ex Homo Soveticus...just new fresh faces uninfluenced by Russia and the communist regime.
Sorry for the long winded post. I hope you find it interesting and read the important bits through the rant.
Last of all...not saying I like this person...but i like what he said in Ukrainian parliament. If you understand Ukrainian listen to this:
w.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=On4izrrZXmM
