No Room for Bigotry

Michael Zeleny · 09-17-2003, 01:13 PM

The prerogatives of national autonomy stop short of dictating the grammar of foreign languages. The Ukraine does not choose to call itself anything starting with a definite article, for want of articles in Russian and Ukrainian alike. The fact remains that the meaning of its name requires a definite article when rendered into English, by analogy with The Netherlands. An alternative means of reasserting the nationalist dignity might consist in renaming the independent country, e.g. to Obezglaviya, in keeping with its emergent democratic tradition stipulating decapitation as the proper response to independent journalism.

09-17-2003, 01:13 PM	#5
Michael Zeleny Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 525 Thanks: 129 Thanked 139 Times in 76 Posts	The prerogatives of national autonomy stop short of dictating the grammar of foreign languages. The Ukraine does not choose to call itself anything starting with a definite article, for want of articles in Russian and Ukrainian alike. The fact remains that the meaning of its name requires a definite article when rendered into English, by analogy with The Netherlands. An alternative means of reasserting the nationalist dignity might consist in renaming the independent country, e.g. to Obezglaviya, in keeping with its emergent democratic tradition stipulating decapitation as the proper response to independent journalism. __________________ Michael Zeleny@post.harvard.edu -- http://larvatus.livejournal.com/ -- 7576 Willow Glen Road, Los Angeles, CA 90046 -- 323.363.1860 All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett

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