[Ads-l] Off-topic: Cyrillic vs. Roman Writing

[victor steinbok]

I'm attaching a link below that deciphers Russian military letter markings.
I've been surprised that this particular story hasn't got more air, as it's
the only story that lists the full range of marks, whereas most stories
only mention Z and V (if that).

Aside from that, Russians and pro-Russian westerners have been using the Z
for the past three weeks in the same way Stars-and-Bars tend to be used.
Since several sports associations have banned the use of Russian flags and
other insignia in competition, some Russian athletes have resorted to
homemade Z signs pinned to their uniforms. Some have now been banned for
that display as well, most notably a Russian gymnast at a world cup event.

For the part-time semioticians and sociologists among us all this is
significant, although it's still rather peripheral to language discussion.

https://sofrep.com/news/what-do-those-letters-mean-on-russian-tanks-and-vehicles/

VS-)

On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 12:40 Amy West <medievalist at w-sts.com> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Amy West <medievalist at W-STS.COM>
> Subject:      Off-topic: Cyrillic vs. Roman Writing
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On 3/20/22 00:00, ADS-L automatic digest system wrote:
> > Date:    Sat, 19 Mar 2022 15:17:37 +0000
> > From:    Geoffrey Nathan<geoffnathan at WAYNE.EDU>
> > Subject: Off-topic: Cyrillic vs. Roman Writing
> >
> > Not really in our bailiwick, but on a political posting on Facebook
> > by a pro-Ukraine friend there's a picture of a pro-Russian banner.
> > It reads Z=D0=B0 =D0=9F=D1=83=D1=82=D0=B8=D0=BD=D0=B0: [za putina] 'For=
>  Putin'. Now, for those
> > who don't read Cyrillic, the first letter isn't Cyrillic but Roman,
> > so this is (sort of) code-switched. And, for those following
> > the unpleasantness in Ukraine, the 'z' letter has become a rallying
> > symbol for the Russian troops (painted on their military
> > vehicles and aircraft). According to the Wikipedia entry on this
> > use of 'Z' (yes, there is one...) it's become quite common in
> > Russian pro-war propaganda.
>
>
> Thank you for this. I've been seeing the "Z" use in political cartoons,=20
> and I haven't been understanding the use or significance or origin.
>
> It's going to be in bailiwick soon enough as it gets picked up and=20
> appropriated.
>
> ---Amy West
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org