Odessa collects signatures in support of Russian language

"I speak Russian" campaign, during which 230,000 signatures in support of a nationwide referendum on the status of the Russian language were collected, has ended in Odessa on Monday.

[Krishnamurty]

Ukrainians in Crimea should really spend their energies learning Ukrainian --it's so easy. Only stubbornness keeps them ignorant.

[Krishnamurty]

Older Russian-speaking Ukrainians, instead of signing anti-intellectual petitions to stubbornly reinforce their monolinguality, should start learning Ukrainian, the official language. It's so easy with all the materials available.

Their kids are learning Ukrainian. They can too. It's so easy.

The Ukrainian government should step up the campaign to make it easier for Crimeans to learn Ukrainian.

Learn the Ukrainian Language
http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/ukra...

[Krishnamurty]

Cinema in Ukraine in Ukrainian will be a pleasant change and may encourage more interest in learning Ukrainian. It may be strange at first, after decades of conditioning by Russification to see everything only in Russian, but people will get used to it.

Cinema in Ukrainian comes to Ukraine
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Ukraine/ss/even...

[Why_Me]

These petitions are sponsered with Russian money via the Kremlin. =(

[Marin]

Krishnamurty wrote:

Ukrainians in Crimea should really spend their energies learning Ukrainian --it's so easy. Only stubbornness keeps them ignorant.

Of course, and not consenting must be proscribe as people 2-rate. 350 years people spoke russian.
Or it is small point for real democracy?

[Krishnamurty]

No one in Crimea is 350 years old.

The official language is Ukrainian which is very easy to learn for Russophones.

They need to start learning Ukrainian just as their children are.

It will be good for their intellectual development.

[Chulpan]

Krishnamurty wrote:

No one in Crimea is 350 years old.
The official language is Ukrainian which is very easy to learn for Russophones.
They need to start learning Ukrainian just as their children are.
It will be good for their intellectual development.

They intellectual development just fine.
Did you ever find out about any government sponsored Ukrainian language courses, schools or programs for adults anywhere in Ukraine. No.
Because there is none. How are they supposed to learn Ukrainian? And if you are going to say that Ukrainian language is simple enough to learn it on your own, you are saying - it is primitive language. State must take serious steps in supporting Ukrainian language schools for adults.

[Krishnamurty]

Chulpan wrote:

<quoted text>
They intellectual development just fine.
Did you ever find out about any government sponsored Ukrainian language courses, schools or programs for adults anywhere in Ukraine. No.
Because there is none. How are they supposed to learn Ukrainian? And if you are going to say that Ukrainian language is simple enough to learn it on your own, you are saying - it is primitive language. State must take serious steps in supporting Ukrainian language schools for adults.

All languages are easy to learn and kindergarten children do it all the time.

The Ukrainian government must assure that media supports learning in Ukrainian.

Many software packages exist to teach Ukrainian.

Russophones need to want to learn Ukrainian.

Instead of petitions, Crimean Russophomnes need to start learning Ukrainian, the official language.

http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/ukra...

Immigrants are doing this already.
http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/ukra...

[Chulpan]

Again, in Canada we have a government sponsored English courses for adults. Ukraine doesn't have anything like this. You should understand, that most of Ukrainians still don't have access to software or computers.
Only very ignorant person like you will insist, that languages are easy to learn. May be it is so, if you going to Italy and need to learn how to order a cup of coffee. Believe me, on this level everybody knows Ukrainian language in Ukraine. We are talking about knowledge of correct, standard,fluent Ukrainian. For that you have to go to courses, school. Ukrainian government doesn't offer any.

[Bob Burns]

If one is willing to learn it's easy. It's impossible if one is stubbornly un-willing, It's quit clear whos who, and why

[Why_Me]

Not taking any sides here, but some classes for adults on speaking Ukrainian would be a big help. It's harder for adults to learn a new language than it is for children. So maybe if they had some free Ukrainian langauge skills courses for adults that might be a good start to warm up the peoples of Crimea.

[Chulpan]

No, it is not. I want to know how many of you are willing to learn French, with your busy lifestyle, knowing that you will not really need it for your job or business. Don't forget, average family in Ukraine just making ends meet, working full time, extra time, taking care of kids,and so on. If government doesn't have any language programs, how they suppose to learn it.
Another question - why they should learn the language. Still, satisfactory education, books, software, information, business partners are available more in Russian than in Ukrainian. Government and Yuschenko only talk a lot about importance of Ukrainian language, but really don't support people who is trying to do real job, like book translators from foreign languages into Ukrainian.Ukrainians are the most reading nation in the world, but they still read best world literature in Russian translation. Universities don't have enough textbooks in Ukrainian.Best software only in Russian.
Last, but not least, people with professional knowledge of Russian have more job opportunities, because huge Russian job market is open for them.
This language "problem" has pretty clear economic and practical explanation. People only need language that works for them, for their real needs.Those in Ukraine who feel that Ukrainian language will be beneficiary for them - learn, those who not - they don't. And it's not a tragedy, it's reality.

[Why_Me]

Chulpan wrote:

No, it is not. I want to know how many of you are willing to learn French, with your busy lifestyle, knowing that you will not really need it for your job or business. Don't forget, average family in Ukraine just making ends meet, working full time, extra time, taking care of kids,and so on. If government doesn't have any language programs, how they suppose to learn it.
Another question - why they should learn the language. Still, satisfactory education, books, software, information, business partners are available more in Russian than in Ukrainian. Government and Yuschenko only talk a lot about importance of Ukrainian language, but really don't support people who is trying to do real job, like book translators from foreign languages into Ukrainian.Ukrainians are the most reading nation in the world, but they still read best world literature in Russian translation. Universities don't have enough textbooks in Ukrainian.Best software only in Russian.
Last, but not least, people with professional knowledge of Russian have more job opportunities, because huge Russian job market is open for them.
This language "problem" has pretty clear economic and practical explanation. People only need language that works for them, for their real needs.Those in Ukraine who feel that Ukrainian language will be beneficiary for them - learn, those who not - they don't. And it's not a tragedy, it's reality.

Ukraine is just that, Ukrianian, not Russian. It has to start somewhere and sometime and the time is now. Undertandable that Ukraine is not doing enough to provide a better education system for Russian speaking Ukrainians, but it has to start sometime soon.

I'm not all for shock treatment methods like what Stalin used to do to other country's when he was "Russifying" them, but it has to start now. Russification has to be done with and gone.

Same with Belarus. The Russians perverted the Belarusians by making it illegal for years for Belarusians to speak their own language in schools, work, and government. Belarus even has some perverted Russian Santa Claus due to "Russification" called "Dyed Morose". Belarusians had never even heard of this Dyed Morose until Stalin forced it on them

Now is the time for Belarus and Ukraine to gain back what they lost so many years ago to the Russian Horde. National identity !

[Krishnamurty]

Why_Me wrote:

<quoted text>
Ukraine is just that, Ukrianian, not Russian. It has to start somewhere and sometime and the time is now. Undertandable that Ukraine is not doing enough to provide a better education system for Russian speaking Ukrainians, but it has to start sometime soon.
I'm not all for shock treatment methods like what Stalin used to do to other country's when he was "Russifying" them, but it has to start now. Russification has to be done with and gone.
Same with Belarus. The Russians perverted the Belarusians by making it illegal for years for Belarusians to speak their own language in schools, work, and government. Belarus even has some perverted Russian Santa Claus due to "Russification" called "Dyed Morose". Belarusians had never even heard of this Dyed Morose until Stalin forced it on them
Now is the time for Belarus and Ukraine to gain back what they lost so many years ago to the Russian Horde. National identity !

I agree. It seems ludicrous and bizarrely antiintellectual to argue for Russian monolingualism --but this is dyed-in-the-wool Russian chauvinist arrogance that prevents some ethnic Russians from learning Ukrainian.

The Ukrainian government should step up the campaign to teach Ukrainian to monolingual Russophones for the sake of long term national unity.

Thjs problem will go away with the passing of the older generation that still holds on to the remaining vestiges of Russian colonialism in Ukraine.

Young people coming up don't have that Russian colonial baggage to carry and will start using Ukrainian.

This will eventually apply to all the other former Russian colonies like Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan.

Ideally all Ukrainians will eventually know a variety of languages necessary for being in the WTO, EU and NATO.

[Chulpan]

Krishnamurty wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree. It seems ludicrous and bizarrely antiintellectual to argue for Russian monolingualism --but this is dyed-in-the-wool Russian chauvinist arrogance that prevents some ethnic Russians from learning Ukrainian.
The Ukrainian government should step up the campaign to teach Ukrainian to monolingual Russophones for the sake of long term national unity.
Thjs problem will go away with the passing of the older generation that still holds on to the remaining vestiges of Russian colonialism in Ukraine.
Young people coming up don't have that Russian colonial baggage to carry and will start using Ukrainian.
This will eventually apply to all the other former Russian colonies like Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan.
Ideally all Ukrainians will eventually know a variety of languages necessary for being in the WTO, EU and NATO.

Ukrainians will eventually know all the languages that will help them to succeed in their region of the world, not necessarily for being in UE and NATO. In fact, a lot of young Ukrainians learning Chinese right now, even more, they are going to Chine for university education, because it is cheaper than in Ukraine.
It have been 17 years of Ukrainian independence, and there is no national program from Ukrainian government to bring Ukrainian language to the level of essentional modern national language. No program, no support, no subsidy, nothing. Only political speculations at the time of another election.
Once again, people use language that work for them. Make Ukrainian language working for everybody in Ukraine - and people will be willing to learn it. And enough of your Western stereotypes what Ukrainians should do. Citizens of Ukraine don't divide Ukrainian nation by ethnicity - you, smart westerners do it all the time. Every society has it's own way of dealing with issues, including this language "problem".

[Stefan]

Chulpan wrote:

<quoted text>
Ukrainians will eventually know all the languages that will help them to succeed in their region of the world, not necessarily for being in UE and NATO. In fact, a lot of young Ukrainians learning Chinese right now, even more, they are going to Chine for university education, because it is cheaper than in Ukraine.
It have been 17 years of Ukrainian independence, and there is no national program from Ukrainian government to bring Ukrainian language to the level of essentional modern national language. No program, no support, no subsidy, nothing. Only political speculations at the time of another election.
Once again, people use language that work for them. Make Ukrainian language working for everybody in Ukraine - and people will be willing to learn it. And enough of your Western stereotypes what Ukrainians should do. Citizens of Ukraine don't divide Ukrainian nation by ethnicity - you, smart westerners do it all the time. Every society has it's own way of dealing with issues, including this language "problem".

My grandmother and grandfather never learned very much English when they moved to Canada. My mother was a teenager so she learned quite well and for me, well it is my first language.

Point is my grandparents didn't have to learn english to get by. They did got by. They had help from others and family ect.

If Ukrainians that can't speak Ukrainians don't want to learn another language then they don't have to. Let them be content with Russian. But eventually they will grow old and die, and their sons, and their son's sons will speak Ukrainian very well.

[Stefan]

Chulpan wrote:

Again, in Canada we have a government sponsored English courses for adults. Ukraine doesn't have anything like this. You should understand, that most of Ukrainians still don't have access to software or computers.
Only very ignorant person like you will insist, that languages are easy to learn. May be it is so, if you going to Italy and need to learn how to order a cup of coffee. Believe me, on this level everybody knows Ukrainian language in Ukraine. We are talking about knowledge of correct, standard,fluent Ukrainian. For that you have to go to courses, school. Ukrainian government doesn't offer any.

Canada is rich and Ukraine is not. Enough said!

[Chulpan]

Canada is not reach. It's a common misconception. Ukraine is not poor. Your statement has nothing to do with the topic.

[AlfaCentavra]

Krishnamurty wrote:

Ukrainians in Crimea should really spend their energies learning Ukrainian --it's so easy. Only stubbornness keeps them ignorant.

Odessa is not Crimea. Odessa's region is located at south-west of Ukraine.
The Nikolayev region is located at south of Ukraine, between Crimea and Odessa regions.

[AlfaCentavra]

I want to ask a question. Many Great Britain&#8217;s colonies chose English language as they state or prime language. Why Ukrainians could not choose Russian language as a prime language?