Background

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Ukrainian Pronunciation in Transliteration

Background

In Soviet times, American transliterations of Ukrainian words were based on Russian pronunciation. This practice often resulted in mispronunciations of Ukrainian words, particularly those containing the letter "i".

Recent Changes

In recent years, there has been a shift toward transliterations that more closely resemble Ukrainian pronunciation. This change has been driven by increased contact between Ukraine and the West, as well as the popularity of Ukrainian language learning.

For example, the Ukrainian word "Київ" (Kyiv) was previously transliterated as "Kiev" in English. Under the new system, it is transliterated as "Kyiv", which more accurately reflects the Ukrainian pronunciation.

Significance

The shift toward more accurate transliterations of Ukrainian is an important step in promoting the Ukrainian language and culture. It also allows for more effective communication between Ukrainian speakers and non-native speakers.

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