Ukraine/The Ukraine

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Michele A Berdy wrote:

> The question is, if they can tell us how to speak English, can we
> tell them how to speak Ukrainian?
>
> You probably meant to write: If they can ask us to use a form that
> is, in their view, more respectful, can we ask them the same? I guess
> so. Why not? If someone asks me to call her Ms., I don't call her
> Miss; if someone asks me not to call him a Gypsy, I call him Roma; if
> someone prefers to be called an African-American instead of a Negro,
> I comply. I don't have to, but why would I want to offend someone?

Requests for respect are reasonable, and I agree with your response; 
it's the policy I try to follow.

> (Never in a million years will I get why this is a big deal.)

Because somehow some Ukrainians took it into their heads that the use of 
the article marks their country as a colony, not a real country, that 
it's a sign of disrespect.

As a native speaker of English, I never knew that. The first I heard of 
it was when the Ukrainians started complaining. Things may be different 
on the other side of the pond, but over here, no disrespect is intended 
or perceived.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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