Amusing debate over language in Ukraine -- and a question

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Maria M. Dmytrieva wrote:

> first of all, he's ethnical Bielorussian.

That's a possibility that hadn't occurred to me, thanks.

What would be the correct pronunciation/transliteration from his native
Belarusan?

> then, this difference emegres when translation into English is done
> either from Russian or from Ukrainian.
> compare Kyiv vs. Kiev, Mykola vs. Nikolai and so on.

This much was already perfectly clear to me. There's a long (and
misguided in my view) tradition in the West of transliterating names
from the "other" 14 republics of the FSU through Russian, producing
monstrosities such as "Tadzhikistan" for "Tajikistan." But of course
things are more complicated with Ukraine because of the linguistic
relationship, migration and intermarriage in both directions, etc.

--
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------