JESUS, ONE-FIFTH OF THE COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS UKRAINIAN “Rossiya 24” twisted every other phrase of Petro Poroshenko’s inauguration speech. Olga Rybakova patiently put the speech and its Russian TV channel translation side-by-side. Poroshenko: “A real war, planned and unfolded in Ukrainian Donbas stands in the way of colossal opportunities for the European modernisation of Ukraine, which were opened after the fall of tyranny.” Translator: “We have opportunities which were opened today after the fall of tyranny. It was war. It was a planned war which started in Ukrainian Donbas.” WTF?! Poroshenko: “Second, a controlled corridor for the Russian mercenaries which are willing to return home.” Translator: “second, a controlled corridor for the Russian… er… people, which are willing to return home.” WTF?! He suddenly got jammed on the word “mercenaries?” It such an untranslatable word? Poroshenko: “I am deeply touched by the patriotism of the citizens of the southern and eastern Ukrainian balsas from Odesa to Kharkiv.” Translator: “I am surprised by the patriotism of the citizens of souther and eastern Ukraine. From the south… From Kharkiv to the south.” WTF? Could he not manage the word Odesa? The Russians will, of course, be surprised when they find out that regardless of the tragic events Odesa stands for Ukrainian unity. Poroshenko: “And our army has to become a real elite of Ukraine.” Translator: did not translate. Poroshenko: “We want to be free.” Translator: did not translate. Poroshenko: “Illusions of federalisation are ungrounded in Ukraine.” Translator: “There will be no federalisation.” Poroshenko: “To live freely means to freely use one’s mother tongue. According to article 10 of the Constitution. It determines Ukrainian as the official language, but guarantees free development for the Russian and other languages.” Translator: “By the way, the usage of, er, the mother tongue is… Article 10 of the Constitution means that the Ukrainian language is the official language which will allow to develop all the languages in the country.” Poroshenko: “Some voted and protested for money.” Translator: did not translate. Poroshenko: “The contact arguments and conflicts between leading Ukrainians led to the loss of our statehood. We will have to draw conclusions based not only on the century-old archives but the recent events as well. We don’t have the right to repeat old mistakes and have to provide for the accordant work of the President, the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers.” Translator: “The constant conflicts between famous Ukrainians led to Ukraine losing its statehood. These are century-old mistakes. But the recent events were a mistake as well, we cannot repeat them. We have to provide for the work of the President, the Verkhovna Rada and the government.” WTF? Did Poroshenko say that the recent events were a mistake? Poroshenko: “Nobody will be able to turn us into slaves to criminals and bureaucracy, into servants of a colonial government, anymore.” Translator: “Nobody will be able to make us into slaves.” He did not translate the rest.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:59:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015