The 'Language Question' Column on Glavcom
Each week on the Glavcom website, philologist Olha Vasylieva answers readers' questions about Ukrainian language usage, spelling, and vocabulary in her 'Language Question' column. Readers can submit their queries by emailing info@glavcom.ua with the subject line 'Language Question'. This regular feature provides valuable guidance on the evolving norms of the language.
One recent query concerned the word 'rozchiska' (a combing/untangling). While not officially codified, this term was used by writer Yevhen Pluzhnyk in his 1934 translation of 'And Quiet Flows the Don' and by Mykola Bratan in his 2002 work 'Tango over the Estuary'. The column also discussed absolute synonyms like 'sadinnya' and 'sadzhannya' (planting).
Current Language Updates
Starting in 2024, official orthography rules will require capitalizing 'Forces' in the name 'Armed Forces of Ukraine'. Regarding pronunciation, the stress in the word 'pasky' (a belt) falls on the first syllable: pasky. Another word of interest was 'ikorka', a diminutive form of 'ikra' (caviar). The word 'kavyar' refers specifically to a food product made from roe and was used by Ukrainian literary classics like Ivan Kotliarevsky, Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko, and Taras Shevchenko.
The column also addressed the name 'Darya', which is considered incorrect; the proper forms are Daria or Daryna. The stable expression 'ne v schet' is correctly rendered in Ukrainian as 'ne v chyslo'. The colloquial word 'seredulshyi' is recorded in the Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language, and 'seredulsha' was used by Mykola Kulish in his 1928 play 'The People's Malakhii'.
Furthermore, the word 'obezzbroienyi' (disarmed) is present in the modern academic dictionary. Writer Borys Ten used the verb 'obezzbroity' (to disarm) in his translation of Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra'. Words with the prefix 'obez-' are found in Ukrainian literature, including in the works of Ivan Kotliarevsky, Ivan Nechui-Levytsky, and Lina Kostenko.
The feminine form of 'ombudsman' is 'ombudsman-ka'. It was also noted that a dash should be placed after a polite closing formula in formal correspondence. Thus, the 'Language Question' column remains a useful resource for anyone interested in the nuances of the Ukrainian language. In a time when language is a key pillar of cultural identity, such expert-led discussions help raise linguistic awareness among the public.
For those interested in further exploring the intricacies of the Ukrainian language, our recent piece offers insightful answers to challenging language queries. This resource complements the ongoing discussions in Glavcom's Language Column, providing additional context and clarification on various linguistic nuances that continue to evolve.