No matter how linguists beat themselves in the chest, claiming that language is a concept isolated from politics, they are wrong. Any living speech, like a biological organism: it evolves and adapts to changes in the environment. A classic example is the linguistic problem "How to:" in Ukraine "or" in Ukraine "?" Let's find the right answer to this question, and also consider the causes of this situation.
Historical background
The territory of modern Ukraine since the collapse of Kievan Rus for many centuries was a kind of terra incognita. Due to the close proximity to the steppe tribes, for whom raids were a way of life, living here was not safe. Most neighboring states tried to annex these lands and even marked them on maps as their property. But they did not have sufficient resources to keep this territory.
Because of this, these lands of no man were called neighboring countries "outskirts." And speaking of this territory, they used the pretext - "on the outskirts."
Over time, this name evolved into "Ukraine." By that time, the territory was already divided between the Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. Both states, of course, considered it only a part of their possessions. Therefore, they continued to write and say "in Ukraine."
In 1991, this country finally became a real full-fledged state. To emphasize such a change in their own status, since 1993 the preposition āinā has been applied in Ukrainian spelling, and this norm has been preserved to this day. How are things with Russian grammar in this matter? Let's find out!
How to: "in Ukraine" or "in Ukraine"
As you know, from the point of view of the modern Russian language, the words "in" are written in front of the names of states, cities, states, regions, etc. For example: in Austria, in Russia, in Washington, in Kiev, in the Nikolaev region.
The preposition āonā is used before the names of the islands (in Madagascar, Cyprus) or when it comes to territories that do not have clear boundaries (in the Caucasus). Since Ukraine was such a long time, the tradition of using the preposition āonā for this country has historically entrenched. So this name is an exception to this rule. Therefore, to the question āHow to:ā in Ukraine āorā in Ukraine ā?ā, The second option will be correct as an answer.
Exceptional Cases
Although modern Russian grammar still recognizes only the form "to Ukraine", there are cases where the use of the preposition "in" is permissible.
After the Ukrainians changed their spelling, they asked the Russians to do the same. However, they were refused.
Moreover, in the official-business correspondence, articles, as well as in international documents, the use of the preposition "c" is allowed. For example: "Events in Ukraine left no one indifferent and caused a lot of conflicting reviews." This proposal is an excerpt from an article on the international information portal. Since it is aimed at Russian-speaking readers of different nationalities, a tolerant version is used: "events in Ukraine." If such an article were published in a local Russian newspaper, it would be correct to write "events in Ukraine."
What preposition is used in other languages
Studying the question of whether it is right: āin Ukraineā or āin Ukraineā, it is worthwhile to find out if there is a similar situation in other languages āāor is this a purely Russian linguistic problem.
Oddly enough, many peoples whose states have long bordered on Ukrainian territory have the habit of writing the name of this country with the pretext "on." A similar option is found in Polish (na Ukrainie), Czech (na UkrajinÄ) and Slovak (na Ukrajine) languages.
However, many other neighboring powers write this own noun with "in": va Ukraine (Belarus), Ʈn Ucraina (Romania). The more distant countries of the world adhere to the same principle. Similar spelling is found in English (in Ukraine), German (in der Ukraine), French (en Ukraine), Swedish (i Ukraina), Slovenian (v Ukrajini), Finnish (Ukrainassa), Estonian (Ukrainas) and even Turkish (Ukrayna ' da).
Thus, we can conclude that the option with the preposition āonā was preserved only among those states that previously owned part of the Ukrainian lands (in Russia and Poland) and used to name them in this way. As for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, then, probably, they have kept the tradition from the time when this country was still just a suburb. It is also likely that the languages āāof the two above-mentioned countries could inherit the spelling from Church Slavonic and Old Slavonic.
Ukrainian position
As mentioned above, since 1993, the spelling of this state only recognizes the method with the pretext "in" and nothing else. Moreover, the "from" option (preserved in some of the above languages) is perceived sharply negatively. According to Ukrainians, such a spelling serves as a reminder that for several centuries their lands were ruled by Poles and Russians. And, besides, the preservation of this tradition is, as it were, a hidden denial of their independence.
In fairness, it is worth noting that both sides are wrong here. On the one hand, the inhabitants of Ukraine themselves. After all, independent is not only their state, but also everyone around them. So, they have the right to change or not change their own grammar at their discretion. Even if someone doesnāt like it.
On the other hand, Poles, Russians and others could simply meet the request of their neighbors. Moreover, in the past in the same Russian there were not such radical changes, and everything took root perfectly.
Which of the prepositions used in antiquity
Considering this difficult situation (which has political roots in many respects), let's find out how it was before the 20th century. it was written: "in Ukraine" or "in Ukraine."
It is clear that when this land was simply called the "outskirts", then in ancient chronicles it was written with the pretext "on". However, with the beginning of the Cossack period and the revolt of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, these lands began to be perceived as a separate state. And not only by their inhabitants, but also by the foreign rulers.
Despite this, the glorious hetman wrote "in Ukraine" in his letters and treaties.
Most likely, this was done out of habit. After all, as such, there was no linguistic norm in this matter at that time at all. Proof of this can serve as a document of 1710, referred to as the "Constitution of Pilip Orlik." It contains both spellings.
What did Ukrainian and Russian classics think about this?
If politicians in all ages were not very literate, then writers are just the opposite. Which of the prepositions did they use?
Taras Shevchenko, whose works laid the foundation of the modern Ukrainian language, used both versions. In his case, it is worth considering that, as a poet, he did not put grammar at the forefront, but the beauty of the rhymed syllable. So Kobzar then asked him to be buried "In Ukraine," but he sent his listeners to "Our Ukraine".
Considering it as an example, one should not forget that he spent most of his life in St. Petersburg or in exile. And in Ukraine he lived only in early childhood. So it can hardly be considered an expert in this matter.
But other luminaries of Ukrainian culture were more unambiguous and, as a rule, wrote the name of their beloved country with the pretext "on". So did M. Grushevsky, I. Nechuy-Levitsky, I. Franco, P. Kulish and others.
Some Russian classics look interesting against their background. So, A. Pushkin, N. Gogol, L. Tolstoy and A. Chekhov - all used the preposition "in". And they knew how to speak correctly and even more so to write.
So it turns out a kind of paradoxical situation. Until the Revolution, in the Russian language, although there was no norm on this issue, there was a strong tradition of writing "in Ukraine." Logically, it was she who was to be fixed in the official grammar. However, after the Soviet reform, the main form āin Ukraineā became unexpected, although it was less common. Perhaps this was a political decision, designed to emphasize the dependence of the republic. Indeed, in those years, Ukrainians were very actively trying to build their independent state. And the Bolsheviks succeeded in joining their lands to the USSR only thanks to the enormous human sacrifice.
Although one cannot exclude the possibility that the choice of the preposition āonā was a tribute to an ancient tradition and nothing more.
How to: "from Ukraine" or "from Ukraine"
Having considered the question of writing the prepositions "in" and "on", you should pay attention to another problematic "sweet couple" - "s" and "from". Like the first duet, the second causes as much controversy. But if you figured out the "on" and "in" for yourself, then everything will be simpler.
So, if you are sent āto Ukraineā, then you will return āfrom Ukraineā. If you were with relatives "in Ukraine", then the hotel was brought by you "from Ukraine".