Language Questions with Olga Vasylieva
In the 'Language Question' column on the 'Glavcom' website, linguist Olga Vasylieva addresses ten queries concerning Ukrainian language, spelling, and word usage. The column is published weekly, and questions can be submitted to the email info@glavcom.ua with the subject line 'Language Question'. This series provides valuable insights into the evolving norms of modern Ukrainian, a language with a rich history and contemporary dynamism.
Among the topics covered, the word 'odiyalo' (blanket) is noted as colloquial in modern literary Ukrainian. Meanwhile, 'pidodiyalnyk' (a type of under-blanket) is considered non-standard, with 'pidkovdra' being its correct literary equivalent. The dialectal counterpart for this item is 'pishva'. Vasylieva also highlights feminine forms of nouns (feminatives), such as 'shybenka' as the feminitive for 'shybenyk' (executioner). Furthermore, the feminitives for 'mytnyk' (customs officer), 'skarbnyk' (treasurer), 'rakhivnyk' (accountant), and 'hrybnyk' (mushroom picker) are 'mytnykarka', 'skarbnykarka', 'rakhivnykarka', and 'hrybnykarka', respectively.
Rules and Recommendations
The column also discusses the rule for declining surnames derived from common nouns, which follow the declension pattern of those original nouns. This rule is codified in the orthographic code, §142. The official term for 'insurance policy' is 'strakhovyy polis', commonly shortened to 'strakhovka'. The social media app WhatsApp is rendered in Ukrainian as 'votsap'.
Other interesting points include that 'butsegharnya' (bakery) is considered a Polonism, while 'tyurma' (prison) is borrowed from Middle High German. The correct form for 'dvokhstobalnykiv' (those with a score of 200) is established in §35 of the orthographic code. Names of alcoholic cocktails like 'blyukyurasao' (Blue Curaçao) and 'pinakolada' (Piña Colada) are written as single words, as are coffee drink names 'fletvayt' (flat white) and 'ayslate' (iced latte). The names of MLRS systems 'Grad' and 'Uragan' take the ending -u in the genitive case, a rule also fixed in the orthographic code, §82.
It is worth noting that for the word 'pidodiyalnyk', several alternatives are proposed:
- 'pidkovdra' - literary standard;
- 'pidukryvalo' - rarely used;
- 'pishva' - dialectal;
- 'nakotsnyk' - non-codified dialectal.
These recommendations aid in the better understanding and application of Ukrainian in a contemporary context.
Studying and discussing linguistic nuances, such as the use of feminitives and the correct application of terms, is crucial for the development of the Ukrainian language. It also helps shape linguistic culture and awareness of language norms among a broad audience. The regular installments of the 'Language Question' column offer an opportunity not only to get answers to pressing questions but also to promote the Ukrainian language within society.
As the evolution of feminine nouns in Ukrainian continues to gain attention, understanding their usage in contemporary language becomes increasingly important. For those interested in exploring how dictionaries and literary works address these forms, a detailed examination is available in our article on feminine nouns in Ukrainian. This resource complements the insights shared by linguist Olga Vasylieva, providing a broader context for the nuances of modern Ukrainian language.