Another reason why it was always referred to as "the" Ukraine is when translated, Ukraine = border region. So it's always been known & referred to as "the border region" recognizing everything to West of the region as Europe and everything East as Russia & Eurasia.
:)) And yet, for such economy of words, they write profound and lengthy novels.
I took Russian at work for about a year; had to leave it just as we were being introduced to the perfective verbs. I admired the language, both how it sounded and looked. It seemed in keeping with their approach to engineering: spare, thoughtful, and concise.
Another reason why it was always referred to as "the" Ukraine is when translated, Ukraine = border region. So it's always been known & referred to as "the border region" recognizing everything to West of the region as Europe and everything East as Russia & Eurasia.
That and the fact that the Russian language does not typically use articles like "the" and "a". Their counterparts are not in the language.
Correct anon, same as Latvian even though not Cyrillic based language.
I should've clarified it's phonetically why English and other Western language countries have always referred to Ukraine as The Ukraine.
Exactly. Why should we change our historic usage, when we don't change the way we have historically pronounced its name?
The cryillic language is fascinating. Do you know anything else?
Lingually? Bits of stuff, enough to get by I suppose. German, Spanish, Lithuanian... but I've created many holes in my hard drive since school.
English & Latvian I am fluent.
Is reason why Russian language sounds terse. Not need many word.
:)) And yet, for such economy of words, they write profound and lengthy novels.
I took Russian at work for about a year; had to leave it just as we were being introduced to the perfective verbs. I admired the language, both how it sounded and looked. It seemed in keeping with their approach to engineering: spare, thoughtful, and concise.