textbook recommendation

[William Ryan]

No, you were right first time. Avoid the PC cringe. Why should the
mistaken linguistic sensitivities and ignorance of English of various
nationalists be allowed to dictate standard English usage (the classical
pretension of Rumania is another example). And why should this be in any
way indicative of political beliefs? There is nothing offensive about
the English definite article. It is THE Netherlands, THE Philippines,
THE Falklands, THE Congo, THE United Kingdom, THE Sudan, THE United
States of America, and THE Ukraine,(but I agree that contemporary
English usage would probably no longer require the article with Gambia).
And French and German require the definite article with a number of
country names, not all coinciding with the English pattern. I do not
think that the French use of L'Angleterre is thought offensive by
anglophones who speak of England (Albion perfide is another matter). If
there is anything offensive about the name of the Ukraine it is not the
English definite article but the word Ukraina itself which implies, from
a Muscovite perspective, that it is a mere fringe of (Muscovite) Russia.
Why not use Kiev Rus'?
Will Ryan,
[the] Librarian,
[the] Warburg Institute,
[the] University of London

Alyssa Dinega wrote:
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> In my previous message I inadvertently used the definite article in referring to Ukraine.  The slip was
> unintentional and reflects in no way my political beliefs.  I sincerely apologize if I gave offense to
> anyone.
>
> Alyssa Dinega

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W. F. Ryan, MA, DPhil, FBA, FSA
Warburg Institute (School of Advanced Study, University of London)
Woburn Square, LONDON  WC1H 0AB
tel: 020 7862 8940 (direct)
tel: 020 7862 8949 (switchboard)
fax: 020 7862 8939
Institute Webpage  fttp://www.sas.ac.uk/warburg/
##################################################################

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