Mova and Yazyk
The Language Issue in Ukraine
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Ukrainian did not have an easy status in Ukraine. Since the 19th century, Ukrainian has been displaced, sometimes even forbidden. Russian was the official language. After independence of Ukraine in 1991, Ukrainian became the sole official language, but Russian continues to play and important role. The language question contains potential for conflict. Representatives of both linguistic groups accuse one another of destroying national identity. The debate over language could be defused by cultivating the common Ukrainian-Russian cultural heritage.
(Osteuropa 2-4/2010, pp. 403–412)