the Russian gaze

[Alina Israeli]

>With regard to the Ukrainian spellings, could it simply be the case that the
>players themselves were asked how they wanted their names rendered on the
>shirts? In any case, while purists and probably Viktor Yushchenko would like
>all names to be Ukrainianised and consistent, the national team reflects the
>current reality, namely that some speak Ukrainian and some Russian as their
>first language. To me, the mix of transliterations is therefore a non-issue.

I don't think it matters whether he is Chekhov, Tchekhov or Tchechow.
However, when someone's (=living) name is all of a sudden changed by the
authorities (rather than by the bearer him/herself) is a different story:

Достаточно вспомнить кампанию по переименованию людей, когда русские
фамилии зачем-то переводились на украинский. Был человек Грачев, стал
Шпаков. Была Зонтикова стала Парасолькина.

When people change names from Mueller to Miller to assimilate or take a
non-ethnic pseudonym (Alberto Moravia), it's one thing, but if there is a
forcible assimilation followed by an unexpected name change, it's
reprehensible no matter who is at the helm.

__________________________
 Alina Israeli
 LFS, American University
 4400 Mass. Ave., NW
 Washington, DC 20016

 phone:    (202) 885-2387
 fax:      (202) 885-1076 

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