similarity between Slavic languages

[Elena Gapova]

A general remark on the closeness of Slavic languages and who understands
what:

Technically, Belarusian and Ukrainian are as close to Russian as Russian is
to Belarusian and Ukrainian. While Belarusian and Ukrainian speakers always
understand Russian and normally understand each other, Russian speakers more
often than not claim that they do not understand either Belarusian or
Ukrainian (I have seen this at several conferences, where Russian speakers
would ask for a translator).

This is not just about how close the languages are, and not only about
Russian speakers having less exposure to other Slavic languages (and hence
less trained ears), but also about other hierarchies which the language
represents symbolically .

Elena Gapova


----- Original Message -----
From: Emily Tall <mllemily at ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU>
To: <SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU>
Sent: 4 March 2002 11:09 AM
Subject: thanks


> Dear colleagues: I have been overwhelmed with replies to my query on
> Bulgarian and Russian. I want to thank all of you very much! Emily Tall
>
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