Ukraine — A nation of folk singers

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anguage, I have ever heard. I fell in love with the language, and I had to learn it.”Knowing how proud Italians were of their melodic language and considering the number of operas produced in the Italian language alone, I figured she must be on to something! I never considered Ukrainian an exceptionally beautiful language, but then my ear was used to the Ukrainian my parents spoke which originated in Western Ukraine.West Ukrainians use many of the same words as Central Ukrainians but add more “shs” and “shchs” into the mix, which at the time I didn’t find very beautiful. For example, my sister’s name is Lesia. West Ukrainians might pronounce it “Lesheea” while Kyivans pronounce it “Leseea”.In Kyiv, I started to listen carefully to the Ukrainian spoken, and finally, I began to understand.Paola is right! The language of my ancestors is melodic and beautiful with all its vowel sounds which can stun, confuse, and intimidate the Western audience!You don’t have to just take Paola’s or my word for it. There is some data to back it up.Did you know Ukraine has produced over 200,000 folk songs?¹Did you know that in 1934, Ukraine w

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as recognized at the Beauty of Languages contest in Paris as one of the most melodic and richest languages in the world second only to Italian?² I can’t find a neutral and reputable source that tells me this contest actually occurred other than blogs and Facebook, so it may just be an urban legend, but I like it anyway!Ukraine has a rich and storied history of folk music, folk instruments, and dance! That fact cannot be denied.How can a country with over 200,000 folk songs have only been in existence since 1930? It cannot! So next time Vladimir Putin says Ukraine was created by Stalin in the 1930s, don’t believe a word that man says!!!¹<a href="https://www.classical-music.com/features/works/ukrainian-folk-songs/">Best Ukrainian folk songs | Classical Music (classical-music.com)</a>; <a href="https://www.ukrainianlessons.com/ukrainian-folk-songs/#:~:text=Ukrainians%20love%20singing%20%E2%80%94%20there%20are,find%20some%20of%20our%20favorites.">Top 10 Ukrainian Folk Songs (Listen Here) — Ukrainian Lessons</a>²<a href="https://in2english.net/2019/02/21/interesting-facts-about-ukrainian-language/">Interesting Facts About Ukrainian Language — Blog In2English</a></article></body>

Did you know the Ukrainian language is considered as melodic as Italian, French, and Persian?

My sisters practicing Ukrainian folk dancing (photo by an unknown Kukurudza family member)

When I showed up in Ukraine in the middle of one of its coldest winters on record in January 1996 and started working in the Kyiv office of Deloitte and Touche, I found not only Ukrainians there but also an Italian, Paola. Having lived in Italy two years prior, I came to Ukraine able to speak Italian. Inevitably, Paola and I became fast friends.

Paola was a polyglot. She spoke fluent Italian, Russian, and Ukrainian. While she also spoke English, she wasn’t very comfortable conversing in it, so we often fell into speaking Italian. I was stunned that she had not only studied Russian at her university but also Ukrainian, which was not a popular language to learn.

I asked her “Why did you learn Ukrainian, Paola?”

Her response was simple “Next to Italian, it’s the most beautiful language, I have ever heard. I fell in love with the language, and I had to learn it.”

Knowing how proud Italians were of their melodic language and considering the number of operas produced in the Italian language alone, I figured she must be on to something! I never considered Ukrainian an exceptionally beautiful language, but then my ear was used to the Ukrainian my parents spoke which originated in Western Ukraine.

West Ukrainians use many of the same words as Central Ukrainians but add more “shs” and “shchs” into the mix, which at the time I didn’t find very beautiful. For example, my sister’s name is Lesia. West Ukrainians might pronounce it “Lesheea” while Kyivans pronounce it “Leseea”.

In Kyiv, I started to listen carefully to the Ukrainian spoken, and finally, I began to understand.

Paola is right! The language of my ancestors is melodic and beautiful with all its vowel sounds which can stun, confuse, and intimidate the Western audience!

You don’t have to just take Paola’s or my word for it. There is some data to back it up.

Did you know Ukraine has produced over 200,000 folk songs?¹

Did you know that in 1934, Ukraine was recognized at the Beauty of Languages contest in Paris as one of the most melodic and richest languages in the world second only to Italian?² I can’t find a neutral and reputable source that tells me this contest actually occurred other than blogs and Facebook, so it may just be an urban legend, but I like it anyway!

Ukraine has a rich and storied history of folk music, folk instruments, and dance! That fact cannot be denied.

How can a country with over 200,000 folk songs have only been in existence since 1930? It cannot! So next time Vladimir Putin says Ukraine was created by Stalin in the 1930s, don’t believe a word that man says!!!