Glavcom's Language Column: 10 Answers to Complex Ukrainian Grammar Questions

The 'Language Question' Column

According to Главком: In the 'Language Question' column on the Glavcom website, philologist Olha Vasylieva explores the rules of the Ukrainian language and answers readers' queries. This edition focuses specifically on punctuation rules for the words 'однак' (however), 'проте' (nevertheless), and 'втім' (though), while also providing answers to ten specific questions about the usage of various terms and phrases. This column is a valuable resource for language learners and native speakers navigating the nuances of modern Ukrainian.

Punctuation Rules

Punctuation rules dictate that the usage of 'однак' and 'проте' depends on context. No comma is used if these words express an adversative connection; however, a comma is required when the word is used parenthetically with a conclusive meaning. For example, in the sentence

“Серце в його щеміло, немов хто стискав його у жмені, однак він не міг спинити бажання хоч раз в житті зазнати того щастя”

(M. Kotsiubynsky), a comma is not needed.

It is also important to note that the word 'втім' is used parenthetically with a conclusive meaning, so a comma should follow it. For example,

“А втім, як знаєш, пане-брате, не дурень, сам собі міркуй”

(T. Shevchenko). If 'втім' is used as the conjunction 'meanwhile,' no comma is placed.

Language Questions Answered

The column addressed several specific language questions. Among them:

• The use of the word 'краска,' which exists in Ukrainian but is considered rare;
• The consideration of 'сториз' as the plural form of 'сторі' (story);
• The rules for using the prepositions 'У' and 'В' at the beginning of a sentence, where 'В' is used before a vowel, e.g., 'В Африці' (In Africa);
• Regarding redundancy, the phrase 'Пельмені з м'ясом телятини' (Dumplings with veal meat) is considered to contain excessive words.

The column also examined the meaning of the word 'повістка,' which in Ukrainian means a short written notice, making the term 'порядок денний' (agenda) more appropriate. In response to a question about the word 'лепёшка,' it was noted that the Ukrainian equivalents could be 'балабуха' or 'балабушка.' The adverb 'напряму' (directly) was identified as colloquial, and the phrase 'глухий кут' (dead end) has no single-word equivalent.

In the context of questions about the words 'капюшон' and 'каптур' (hood), it was clarified that the former is borrowed from French and is not a Russicism. In the 'HRAK' text corpus, the word 'каптур' is used more frequently than 'капюшон,' indicating its greater popularity in Ukrainian.

The 'Language Question' column continues to provide relevant and useful knowledge in the field of the Ukrainian language, inviting readers to send their questions to [email protected] with the subject line 'Мовне питання.'

This column serves as an important tool for those seeking to improve their command of Ukrainian, as it covers diverse aspects of language practice. Answering user questions helps dispel doubts and clarify rules, which is especially pertinent given contemporary linguistic shifts and trends. Engaging readers in active discussion also fosters the development of language culture in Ukraine.