the Russian gaze

[Maryna Vinarska]

Alina Israeli <aisrael at AMERICAN.EDU> wrote: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:

Äîñòàòî÷íî âñïîìíèòü êàìïàíèþ ïî ïåðåèìåíîâàíèþ ëþäåé, êîãäà ðóññêèå ôàìèëèè çà÷åì-òî ïåðåâîäèëèñü íà óêðàèíñêèé. Áûë ÷åëîâåê Ãðà÷åâ, ñòàë Øïàêîâ. Áûëà Çîíòèêîâà ñòàëà Ïàðàñîëüêèíà.

...........................Would you be so kind to mention the source of this information. I hope it is not an anecdote from the net...

Normally those were Ukrainian names that were transformed into Russian last names, as well as the ethnic identities of those targeted. I don't know any case when a Russian name was transformed into a Ukrainian one... 

Besides, I would like to underline that even in the example given the names didn't become _Ukrainian_ at all. And I doubt very much that the victims of this 'proizvol' got the entry 'Ukrainian' into their passports as it often happened to Ukrainians who not only got Russian endings added to their Ukrainian names, but the entry 'Russian' as well, normally to their big surprise. And I doubt that in addition to all I mentioned smb forced those poor victims to speak _Ukrainian_, after they became Parasolkiny...

That is why I would appreciate very much if you shed some light on the source you cited from.

Regards,
Maryna Vinarska

P.S. Did anybody ever hear such a name  -  Parasol'kina?.. Actually, I can check in the telephone book...






 		
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