Stalinka

[Martin Votruba]

Russell Valentino’s reference summed the broader aspect of things 
very well for me - thanks.

As to the specific discussion, some of the posts repeated two things. 
One was that the description of the site is not appropriately 
serious. It would be useful to make a documented argument that it 
isn't: what word or phrase? Any references to "uncle Joe," etc., were 
made by others in this thread, not by the original post announcing 
the site, nor by any statement I was able to find on that site (which 
I've had nothing to do with).

The other argument implied that the suffix -ka somehow automatically 
diminishes or lightens the meaning of the noun it helps to form. That 
is not the case. It is more typical of conversational style, but that 
does not make things more or less positive. It is possible to be 
pompously formal about the Communists or Nazis, and positive to boot. 
Or conversational and negative.

When those suffering under Stalin and similar murderers spoke of the 
troikas -- the three at show trials who, among other "judgments," 
sent dissenters to the gulags -- they certainly were not being 
frivolous or kindly. The word Lubyanka struck fear in most people's 
hearts and sounded too positive or even affectionate to no one. The 
suffix -ka is not a feel-good machine.


Martin

votruba "at" pitt "dot" edu

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 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/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------