http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/meanwhile-in-romania/ European Opinion Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:50:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/meanwhile-in-romania/#comment-6062 eulogist Sun, 28 Nov 2004 17:36:22 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=991#comment-6062 Russian (and Ukrainian, presumably) does indeed lack a definitive article, but for saying 'the Ukraine' and similar there is an equivalent in the use of prepositions. For instance, if you want to say "in Ukraine", someone who wants to refer to it as a mere region of greater Russia would say something like 'at Ukraine' (in Russian) which is normally used to refer to a region - instead of the Russian equivalent of 'in Ukraine' as you would do to refer to a country. Russian (and Ukrainian, presumably) does indeed lack a definitive article, but for saying ‘the Ukraine’ and similar there is an equivalent in the use of prepositions. For instance, if you want to say “in Ukraine”, someone who wants to refer to it as a mere region of greater Russia would say something like ‘at Ukraine’ (in Russian) which is normally used to refer to a region - instead of the Russian equivalent of ‘in Ukraine’ as you would do to refer to a country.

]]> http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/meanwhile-in-romania/#comment-6061 Jonathan Edelstein Sun, 28 Nov 2004 07:12:20 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=991#comment-6061 Or "the Argentine?" (I hadn't realized the country north of Israel was ever known as "the Lebanon," though.) Or “the Argentine?” (I hadn’t realized the country north of Israel was ever known as “the Lebanon,” though.)

]]> http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/meanwhile-in-romania/#comment-6060 Mrs Tilton Sun, 28 Nov 2004 05:48:35 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=991#comment-6060 I know that Ukrainians don't like 'the Ukraine' and that we should respect their usage. Still, it may be that this is their usage because Ukraine lacks a definite article (Russian does at any rate). As English has one, it's a pity we can't use it. I for one miss the charm of 'the Ukraine', not to mention 'the Lebanon'. (To say nothing of 'Jugo-Slavia'...) I know that Ukrainians don’t like ‘the Ukraine’ and that we should respect their usage. Still, it may be that this is their usage because Ukraine lacks a definite article (Russian does at any rate). As English has one, it’s a pity we can’t use it. I for one miss the charm of ‘the Ukraine’, not to mention ‘the Lebanon’. (To say nothing of ‘Jugo-Slavia’…)

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