What Language to use?

[johanYYZ]

Hey All!

Well I am going on this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Ukraine and do some developmental work with a group called Canada World Youth. Its basically where youth from Ukraine and Canada get together and do some work here in Canada and then do some work in the Ukraine. Its basically a seven month program. But anyway I am looking into language usage and I wanted to know...what language would be most appropriate to use. Because in Lonely Planet travel guided it lists that both Ukrainian and Russian would both be handy... but... to be polite would Ukrainian be better?

Johan

[V-G]

It depends...
if you are going to the Western Ukraine - forget RUSSIAN! And better have some knowledge of Ukrainian.
If you are going to the Eastern Ukraine - Russian is more appropriate.

Have fun learning one or the other... its like learning chinese for me

[johanYYZ]

What exactly is the difference between the two languages? As per pronounciations etc?

[V-G]

Think of Spanish and say French... the difference is about the same as between Ukrainian and Russian.
There are many commont roots, but pronunciation; grammar and a few letters in Cyrillic are different.

[Observer]

Originally posted by johanYYZ
Hey All!

Well I am going on this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Ukraine and do some developmental work with a group called Canada World Youth. Its basically where youth from Ukraine and Canada get together and do some work here in Canada and then do some work in the Ukraine. Its basically a seven month program. But anyway I am looking into language usage and I wanted to know...what language would be most appropriate to use. Because in Lonely Planet travel guided it lists that both Ukrainian and Russian would both be handy... but... to be polite would Ukrainian be better?

Johan

If you are not a linguist or a language freak, but want to learn a language seriously, Ukranian might be just too much, so learn Russian. On the other hand, if you just want to make an impression, a couple of dozen useful phrases in Ukrainian will do the trick...

[Hannia]

Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine, however in Eastern Ukraine Russian is still the colloquial language.

The main difficulty in learning either language is mastering a completely different alphabet.
Both languages utilize Cyrillic, which is phonetic, unlike English/Latin Alphabet.

Ukrainian is more sybillant of the two in pronunciation.

Ukrainian Transliteration Table
http://pages.prodigy.net/l.hodges/translit.htm

To give you a feel for Ukrainian.

Ukrainian language. Learn in online for a free!
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4747/ukrlang.html

Quickie course in Russian?

Learn Russian Now!
http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/em.a...n&v=RUSGo03-01

PS>If you have ever studied the Greek language, Ukrainian & Russian should not be a problem for you. The average Ukrainian is fully literate and you should have no trouble finding Ukrainians that speak English fluently, to act as personal interpreter.

[Edited by Hannia on 6th March 2003 at 08:23]

[Ukiprincess]

Hey All!

Well I am going on this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Ukraine and do some developmental work with a group called Canada World Youth. Its basically where youth from Ukraine and Canada get together and do some work here in Canada and then do some work in the Ukraine. Its basically a seven month program. But anyway I am looking into language usage and I wanted to know...what language would be most appropriate to use. Because in Lonely Planet travel guided it lists that both Ukrainian and Russian would both be handy... but... to be polite would Ukrainian be better?

that is so neat! what part of Ukraine are you going to? And learn UKRAINAIN!!!!! Ukraine is the country your going to not Russia so learn ukrainian!!! It's better :-)