In or in Ukraine: how to write and speak the rules of the Russian language?

In modern Russian there are many controversial issues. Among them is the question of how to write correctly: “in Ukraine” or “in Ukraine”. In connection with the conflict that began in 2014 between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, politicians from both countries actively speculate on this. However, if we ignore all this and focus on linguistics, what is the pretext to use? Let's figure it out.

Does grammar depend on politics?

No matter how linguistic scientists beat themselves in the chest, arguing that the rules of the language are independent of the political situation, it is worth recognizing that this is not so.

The fact is that only a dead language is stable. Live speech is constantly changing, adapting to new cultural, technological and political realities. After all, language is, first of all, a communication tool. So, it should be as comfortable as possible for this purpose and evolve along with the society using it, otherwise it will die.

In this regard, every controversial linguistic issue should be considered in relation to the situation that caused its appearance.

What pretexts did the ancient chroniclers use

Before paying attention to the question: “How is the word“ in Ukraine ”or“ in Ukraine ”spelled correctly?”, One should briefly recall the history of this country.

So, after the collapse of Kievan Rus, its lands were divided among themselves by the neighboring principalities. It is noteworthy that the head of each of them sought to emphasize that he was the heir to this state, adding to his title the prefix "All Russia".

Over time, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Kingdom of Poland became the most powerful in this region. They actively fought among themselves for free territory, which became a kind of buffer zone between them and the states of nomadic peoples.

Meanwhile, on these lands (belonging to the territory of modern Ukraine) there lived a people with their own culture and language, who managed to preserve all this.

Due to constant wars, borders have been constantly changing. The surrounding countries began to call the disputed land - "Outskirts", and the preposition "on" began to apply to them. The first examples of such spelling are found already in the Galicia-Volyn and Lviv annals.

During Bohdan Khmelnitsky’s attempts to form an independent state in official documents in relation to Ukraine, he continued the tradition of his ancestors, using the preposition “on”.

In the days of the Russian Empire

After Khmelnitsky signed an agreement on the accession of his country to the kingdom of Moscow in 1654, Ukraine for several centuries remained a part of this state and its heirs (Russian Empire, USSR). How was the pretext used then?

After the Moscow kingdom turned into an empire, the official term Little Russia began to be mentioned in relation to the Cossack state. Moreover, the word "Ukraine" continued to be actively used in speech. In the same period, the tradition of writing “to Ukraine” appeared, which successfully coexisted with the option “to Ukraine”.

What did A.S. Pushkin think about using prepositions?

Everyone knows that the modern literary norm of the Russian language was based on the works of A. S. Pushkin. What did the great classic think about the question: “How to write:“ in Ukraine ”or“ in Ukraine ”?”

Oddly enough, but in his works quite often there is a second option. A similar spelling can be found in the poem "Poltava" and the novel in the poems "Eugene Onegin."

Why did Alexander Sergeevich adhere to this opinion? The answer is simple. Like many nobles of that period, Pushkin spoke much better in French than in his native language. And in it the preposition “on” with respect to the location was not used. Instead, the “c” option was almost always used. Therefore, accustomed from childhood to think and speak en Russie, en France, composing a poem about Ukraine, Alexander Sergeyevich used en Ukraine by analogy.

By the way, for the same reason in those years, many nobles, to the question: "How to say:" to "or" in Ukraine "?", Answered that the second option is true. Therefore, in the works of N.V. Gogol, L.N. Tolstoy and A.P. Chekhov, the “c” version is used.

What pretexts did T.G.Shevchenko and P.A. Kulish use?

The modern Ukrainian language norm is based on the works of T. G. Shevchenko. What did he think about the question: "How to say:" on "or" in Ukraine "?" The answer to this can be found in his wonderful poems.

And in them there are both options. So in the poem "Zapovіt" the expression "In the Country of Milly" is used. Moreover, in his work “Dumi moi, dumi moi” it is written: “Go to Ukraine, go! To our Ukraine. ”

Where did Shevchenko come from the tradition of writing “to Ukraine”? But his contemporary and close friend - Panteleimon Aleksandrovich Kulish, who created the Ukrainian alphabet, wrote “in Ukraine” in his novel about the Cossacks “Black Rada”? And why did Kobzar use both prepositions?

The answer to this question, as in the case of Pushkin, should be sought in the education of both writers. So, Kulish not only studied the history of Ukraine, but also was a polyglot, perfectly speaking almost all Slavic languages, as well as English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Old Hebrew and Latin. Such a wide knowledge helped him choose the preposition “on” not only from the point of view of grammar, but because of his frequent use in chronicles.

But the great Kobzar could not boast of a special education. From childhood he knew the Ukrainian language, later the need made him learn Russian and Polish. Not possessing such deep knowledge in languages ​​and their grammar as Kulish, Shevchenko, when writing poetry, simply used the option that was more suitable for rhyme, without thinking about its correctness. How did he know how much his works would mean for Ukrainians in future centuries?

What pretext was used in the UNR

After the revolution of 1917, during the three-year period of the existence of the UPR (1917-1920), the pretext "on" was used in most official documents in relation to the name of the newly formed country.

It is interesting that when Ukraine became part of the USSR, and many representatives of the cultural and political elite were forced to emigrate, in most of their documents they often wrote “in Ukraine”.

Soviet way to resolve the issue

As for the official spelling of the USSR, it was customary to use the preposition "on" in it. By the way, this argument is used today by those who explain why it is right “in Ukraine” and not “in Ukraine”.

Moreover, a similar option was already an exception to the rule of using prepositions. So in relation to other countries of the non-island type, as well as to the Soviet republics, the preposition "c" was used. For example: to Canada, to Kazakhstan.

"In Ukraine" or "in Ukraine": how to, according to the norms of modern Ukrainian spelling

After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, many areas were reformed, including grammar. It was decided to use the preposition "c" in relation to the newly formed country. And the spelling from “to” is perceived as obsolete.

In 1993, the Ukrainian government formally appealed to the leadership of the Russian Federation with a request to use the pretext "c" in relation to the name of their state. As it happened with the writing of other independent countries.

Among the arguments was that when Ukraine was part of the USSR, it was acceptable to use the “on” option in relation to it as a region, just like “in the Caucasus”. However, having become a separate sovereign state with clearly defined borders, this country should have received the right to write with “c” accordingly.

How to "in Ukraine" or "in Ukraine" according to the rules of the Russian language

In response to the appeal of the Ukrainian government, the pretext “c” began to be used in most official documents of the Russian Federation.

Also, according to the opinion of the candidate of philological sciences O. M. Grunchenko (senior researcher of the Institution of the Russian Academy of Sciences of the VV Vinogradov Institute of the Russian Language of the Russian Academy of Sciences), in the documentation relating to relations with the Ukrainian state, you should write “in”. At the same time, the literary norm of the Russian language outside the official business style continues to be the “from” option.

The same answer to the question: "How to write:" on "or" in Ukraine "?" can be found in official spelling.

It is important to note that Ukraine is the only independent non-island state in the world with respect to which the preposition “on” is used in Russian, and not “in”.

It should be borne in mind that this option today is just a tribute to tradition. Should I keep it? A controversial issue, especially today, in the light of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, when Ukrainians perceive the use of the preposition “on” as an encroachment on the sovereignty of their state.

How to "ride"

Having figured out how to correctly: “in” or “in Ukraine” is worth writing, it's time to find out how to “travel” to this country (in terms of grammar).

So, in the Soviet tradition, the option with the pretext “on” was always relevant, since this country was part of the USSR. Those who continue to use this option today will go "to Ukraine."

However, in the official documentation relating to relations with this country, the preposition “c” must be used. For example: "The US President went to Ukraine on an official visit." Moreover, when it is said about this state as a territory, it is necessary to put the pretext “on”: “The humanitarian mission of the Red Cross has arrived on the territory of Ukraine”.

When thinking about how to go “to” or “to Ukraine”, you should always look at the context. If we talk about the country until August 1991, when it became independent, we can safely use the “on”. Indeed, until this time the state did not exist, and in its place was the Ukrainian SSR - a republic to which the preposition “on” was applied as part of the country.

To come "from" or "from Ukraine": how to

Having figured out how to write correctly: “in Ukraine” or “in Ukraine”, you should pay attention to the use of other “controversial” prepositions. So, when it was a question of a person who came from the territory of the Ukrainian SSR, who was in agreement with the Soviet rules of spelling, the pretext "c" was always used.

But today, when the question of how correctly “on” or “in Ukraine” appears more and more often in linguistics, it is worth revising the options for using the prepositions “c” and “from”.

So, if we talk and write about the modern Ukrainian state, then it is correct to use the preposition "from", as for other countries of a non-island type. For example: "My mother just recently returned from Ukraine."

If we are talking about the periods of the Ukrainian SSR or Little Russia, then it’s worth talking and writing “s”. For example: “The great Soviet singer and actor Mark Bernes was born in Ukraine.”

However, for those who do not want to deal with all these historical subtleties, it is worth remembering that the prepositions “on” and “s” are used in the same meaning, and respectively, “in” and “from”. It turns out that one who lives "in Ukraine" - comes "from Ukraine". And the one who is “in Ukraine” comes “from Ukraine”.

Having learned how to correctly: “in” or “in Ukraine” you need to write (according to the rules of modern Russian and Ukrainian grammar), we can conclude that for almost 100 years this issue has been more political than linguistic. Although the tradition of writing “in Ukraine” is a part of history that is always important to remember, the current political situation requires that the pretext be changed. However, the same should be done in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which also use the preposition "on" in relation to Ukraine.