Ukrainian History

Ukrainian Language Day

Today (October 27th) is The Day of Ukrainian Literature and Language (День української писемності та мови.)

37 Million People speak Ukrainian as their First Language.

15 Million People speak Ukrainian as their 2nd, 3rd, etc. Language.

The Ukrainian Language is a separate Language from the Russian Language in the same way as English is separate from German.

History of the Ukrainian Language in Ukraine:

15th Century to 1945 in western Ukraine: The everyday Official Language was Polish. Ukrainian or Yiddish were used at home in secret.

1650s to 1917 in the rest of Ukraine: Most of Ukraine was forced into the Russian Czarist Empire. The everyday Official Language was Russian. Ukrainian and Yiddish were used at home in secret.

1720: Czar Peter 1 forbade anything to be printed using the Ukrainian Language.

1864: Adoption of the Charter of the Primary School at which education was to be conducted only in Russian. This Charter only legalized the use of only the Russian Language in Schools in Ukraine – a practice done since the 1650s.

1876: Czar Alexander II's Ems Decree banned the printing and importing of any text in Ukrainian from outside the Czarist Empire.

The Ems Decree also banned Stage Performances, Public Recitations and schooling in Ukraine, as well as it ordered removal of all Ukrainian Books from School Libraries, Teachers that were suspected of promoting the Ukrainian Language were to be transferred outside of Ukraine.

 1911: The Resolution VIIth Congress of the Nobility in Moscow made it illegal to use any Language, except Russian, in any School in the Czarist Empire.

1914: Prohibition of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Taras Shevchenko (who promoted the Ukrainian Language and Culture), the Decree of Czar Nicholas II’s Prohibition of the Ukrainian Press.

1922: Ukraine was forced into the Soviet Union after the 1917 Communist Revolution and Civil War.

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union declared there to be two cultures in Ukraine – the city (which used the Russian Language) and the Peasant (which used the Ukrainian Language.) The CPSU declared the only acceptable outcome would be a Modern Ukraine (ie one where everyone works in the Cities) and so the Russian Language became the only Language Officially allowed in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

1932: Stalin's Campaign to end "Ukrainization” inside Ukraine began (making it illegal to use the Ukrainian Language even at home.)

1932-1933: The Man-Made Famine, the Holodomor, was created by the Soviets in Moscow to end Ukrainian Nationalism. 5 Million Ukrainians died.

1941-1944: Nazi Germany occupied Ukraine. The Nazis promised to make the Ukrainian Language a Co-Official Language (along with German) if the Ukrainians fought with the Nazis.

In reality German was the only Official Language with Russian as a 2nd Language.

1945: Western Ukraine was transferred from Poland to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Poland received former Nazi German Territory in exchange.

A rapid period of Russification was carried out by the Communists in Moscow throughout western Ukraine. The Laws making it illegal to use the Ukrainian Language were extended to western Ukraine.

1945-1953: Any Ukrainian that had promoted the use of the Ukrainian Language during the War Years were hunted down and sent to the Gulags by the Soviet Communists.

1958 – The Principles of Legislation of the USSR and the Union Republics on Public Education on the Situation on the Free Choice of Language Learning was created.

Officially it said that Parents across the Soviet Union could decide which Language their Children learned in School. If the Parents chose a Language other than Russian then the Children had to also learn the Russian Language as a 2nd Language.

Unofficially, nothing changed throughout the USSR and all Education was carried out in the Russian Language.

1964: After Nikita Khrushchev’s overthrow by the Communists the Russian Language again became the sole Official Language throughout the USSR.

1970: An Order of the Ministry of Education of the USSR declared that an Academic Thesis could only be written and defended in the Russian Language.

1984: An Order of the Ministry of Culture of the USSR declared that all Soviet Museums only use the Russian Language.

1989:  A Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU again declared the Russian Language as the sole Official Language throughout the Soviet Union.

1990: The Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved the Law on Languages of the USSR reaffirming the sole use of the Russian Language.

1991: Ukraine became an Independent Country. The Soviet Union collapsed.

The Ukrainian Language became the Official Language of Ukraine for the first time ever.

Russian and other Foreign Languages were also allowed.

2014 to Present Day: The Ukrainian Language (and Ukrainian Culture) have been banned in Russian-Occupied Crimea, Russian-Occupied Luhansk and Russian-Occupied Donetsk. Anyone using the Ukrainian Language or promoting the Ukrainian Culture is sent to Infiltration Camps in Russia to have the “Ukrainian beaten out of them.)

2022 to Present Day: The Ukrainian Language (and Ukrainian Culture) are banned in the Russian-Occupied Parts of Ukraine. Anyone using the Ukrainian Language or promoting the Ukrainian Culture is sent to Infiltration Camps in Russia to have the “Ukrainian beaten out of them.)

At least 700,000 Ukrainian Children have been kidnapped by the Russians and sent to Russia to make sure they “grow up as Russians.” The International Community has declared this to be a War Crime.

2024: In the Non-Russian Occupied Parts of Ukraine; 81% of Ukrainians speak Ukrainian over Russian in their Daily Lives with more Ukrainians (especially those over 50) learning Ukrainian every day.

Note: When I was in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2007 I used Russian since I didn’t know Ukrainian.

I heard Ukrainians (both Ethnic Ukrainians and Ethnic Russians) speak to each other in both Ukrainian and in Russian. One would say something in Ukrainian and the other would reply in Russian. No one seemed to mind.

Language Day

Today is Ukrainian Language Day.

As you would expect Ukrainian is the Official Language of Ukraine (just like Russian is the Official Language of Russia), but just because many Ukrainians understand Russian (they were forced to learn it from the 1600s until 1991) doesn’t mean that Russian and its Transliterations should be used in Modern-Day Ukraine. By the way almost no Russian understands Ukrainian (including ethnic Russians that have lived in Ukraine their whole life.)

Alphabet: The Ukrainian Language uses the Cyrillic Alphabet like the Russian Language does, but that doesn’t mean they are the same Language or can be fully understood.

It’s the same way that just because you know the English Language doesn’t mean you automatically know the Spanish Language – both of which use the Latin Alphabet.

The Ukrainian Language has Letters that the Russian Language doesn’t have. Just look in the Ukrainian Name “Київ.” Russian doesn’t even have the Letter ї. Russian also doesn’t have the Letters Ґ,  І or Є.

The Russian Language has the Letters Ё, Ъ, ы and Э which Ukrainian doesn’t have.

Also, when translating from Russian into English you say “the Ukraine”, but when translating from Ukrainian into English you say “Ukraine.”

When translating from Russian into English you say “the Crimea”, but when translating from Ukrainian into English you say “Crimea.”

 Phrases: Here are some Everyday Phrases in both Ukrainian and Russian to help you see the difference between the two Languages – even if you don’t know the Cyrillic Alphabet:

Welcome:  Ukrainian (Ласкаво просимо) Russian (Добро пожаловать!)

Hello: Ukrainian (Вітаю) Russian (Здравствуйте!)

How Are You?: Ukrainian (Як ти поживаєш?) Russian (Как дела?)

Goodbye: Ukrainian (До побачення) Russian (До свидания!)

Yes: Ukrainian (Так) Russian (Да)

No: Ukrainian (Ні)   Russian (Нет)

Thank You: Ukrainian (Дякую) Russian (Спасибо!)

Ukrainian Language: Ukrainian (українська мова) Russian (Украинский язык)

Russian Language: Ukrainian (Російська мова) Russian (Русский язык)

 

4,000 Years

 

300 Sign Languages

There are 300 different Sign Languages used around the World.

Each Sign Language is unique and not understood by Users of other Sign Languages or even by Users of the Spoken Language.

To illustrate, in terms of syntax, American Sign Language shares more in common with Spoken Japanese than with Spoken English.

A Person who knows American Sign Language doesn’t automatically know and understand Spoken English the same way a Person who knows Spoken English doesn’t automatically know and understand American Sign Language.

They are separate Languages and need to be learned separately.

A Person who knows American Sign Language doesn’t automatically know and understand British Sign Language the same way a Person who knows British Sign Language doesn’t automatically know and understand American Sign Language.

They are separate Languages and need to be learned separately.

Around 1 Million People know American Sign Language in the United States as either their Sole Language or as their Second Language (out of a Population of 330 Million People.)

70 Million People Worldwide know any sort of Sign Language as either their Sole Language or as their Second Language (out of a Population of 8 Billion People.)

430 Million People Worldwide are either Deaf or Hard-Or-Hearing. Most do now use an organized Sign Language, but use their own Homemade or Pidgin Sign Language that only they, their Family and Friends understand.

Sign Languages

Today is International Day of Sign Languages.

There are around 466 Million Deaf People around the World (even more are Hard-Of-Hearing.)

 1 in 20 Americans or 1,000,000 people are Deaf (10,000,000 are Hard-Of-Hearing.)

Collectively, these People use over 300 different Sign Languages.

A lot of people do not realize that Sign Languages are natural fully-fledged Languages.

While they may be different structurally to the Spoken Language, they should be given just as much credit and importance.

There is also an International Sign Language. This is used by Deaf People when they are socializing and traveling, as well as when they are in international meetings.

It is a pidgin type of Sign Language, which is not as complicated as Natural Sign Languages.

It should also be noted that Someone who knows American Sign Language does not automatically know Spoken American English and vice versa.

Or Someone who knows American Sing Language cannot automatically understand Someone who uses British Sign Language and vice versa.

Sign Languages Day

 

Sign On

 

57 Years Late

From CNN:

“French has become a sticking point in the Canada-US trade dispute. Here’s why”

As a trade war between the United States and Canada looms following the collapse of talks last week, a key issue has emerged that’s further inflamed tensions between the longtime allies: French language laws.

Canada is a bilingual country and has laws protecting both of its official languages: English and French, the first language spoken for roughly one fifth of the population, including nearly 85% of primarily Francophone province of Quebec. Among the laws, product labels must be displayed in both English and French, and US streaming platforms must support and promote Canadian content (including Indigenous and French Canadian content) to audiences north of the border.

Canada’s language requirements have long been viewed by the US as a trade barrier but are generally a red line for Ottawa — which Prime Minister Mark Carney enforced by walking away from a deal which he said included “threats to French language and culture.” On Monday, Carney said Canada “could not accept” the proposed deal that would have weakened French language protections, telling reporters that his government “will not give (the US) what they have asked.” Many in Canada have rallied behind Carney’s decision — and particularly his comments about protecting French culture, a core part of Canada’s national identity.

After US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called Ottawa’s concerns about French a “funny, fake story” on Monday, the Canadian leader denied the issue was a laughing matter, saying there is an “enormous gap between our perspective and the US perspective.” “For Americans, French language, Francophone culture, Canadian culture, these are irritants,” Carney said in French at a news conference in Lévis, Quebec. “Here in Quebec, here in Canada, these are rights,” he said, as a group of reporters applauded.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump denied that the US wanted to interfere with Canada’s French language laws, while also calling the Canadian prime minister “weak and ineffective” in a Truth Social post. “I would never interfere with Canadians speaking French! In fact, I have never even thought of doing such a stupid thing. This lie was made up by a weak and ineffective Prime Minister in an attempt to gain political support, which he has totally lost, from the people of Quebec,” the US president posted.

Since negotiations stalled Friday, the US has imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Carney initially pledged to match the tariffs “dollar-for-dollar,” but on Monday said his government may consider a more targeted approach to maximize effect, given the size of the American economy. “Everything is on the table,” he said in French. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and three other Cabinet ministers are set to announce Canada’s response to the tariffs on Tuesday, including measures to protect and support Canadian workers and businesses, according to a government statement. CNN has reached out to Carney’s office for more details.

Language rights vital part of Canadian identity Language rights have been entrenched in Canada’s constitution for decades and are particularly important to Quebec, which has fought to protect its distinct linguistic and cultural identity in an English-dominated North America. This pursuit has at times put the province at odds with the rest of Canada. Quebec has twice held a referendum on whether to secede from the rest of the country, most recently in a 1995 vote where the “no” side won by a razor-thin margin of just 1.16%.

Language laws include everything from the right for Canadians to access official services in both languages to the requirement that hair care companies display the French “shampooing” alongside English text on their bottles. For US companies looking to do business in Canada, this means added barriers as they must redesign packaging and pay extra production costs.

Stewart Prest, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia, said asking Canada to bend these rules is “not a reasonable request of the Canadian government in a trade negotiation,” and one Canada has “no choice but to say no to.” “People in Canada speak French. It’s not a country where everybody speaks English, and some people like to dabble in French,” he said. “It is not so different than asking France to relax its requirement that packaging must include French.” It’s common for service workers in Montreal to greet customers with “Bonjour-Hi.”

Under any circumstance, it would be incredibly detrimental to Carney, who has built a global profile for standing up to Trump, to bow on an issue so central to Canadian identity, said Stéphanie Chouinard, associate professor of political studies at Royal Military College and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. But the matter is particularly acute with Quebec just weeks away from a provincial election where the separatist Parti Québécois is surging in the polls, she said. The party’s leader recently said he would delay a possible independence referendum until Trump’s term ends — but any concession on language laws could “stoke secessionist sentiment” in the province where independence talk has been on the back burner, Chouinard said.

At odds with Washington Quebec has implemented strict nationalist policies in recent years to reinforce French as the province’s sole language, including through the controversial language law Bill 96, which includes stricter requirements for French on products, appliances, packaging and signage. The legislation was included on the 2025 list of global trade barriers compiled annually by the Office of the US Trade Representative.

The US has also expressed concerns about Canada’s Online Streaming Act, which requires online video and music services like Netflix and Spotify to invest in and promote Canadian content. Washington also opposed another streaming regulation, known as Bill 109, passed in Quebec last December, which compels streaming platforms to prioritize French-language content. In March, the US listed the measure as a potential trade barrier in its trade estimate report.

Greer, in an interview with CNBC Monday, said the US does not have an issue with the French language but rather what he called a “discriminatory tax on American companies.” “I like the Quebecois, and I like that they speak French. What we don’t like is a situation where Canada’s federal government forces American tech companies to take their earnings and give a percentage to their competitors,” he said. For many in Canada, the dispute raises concerns about American interference with Canada’s national identity.

Quebec’s Premier Christine Fréchette said Carney made the right decision to walk away from the negotiating table. “Our culture, our language, is central to our identity, and it is important to exclude that from the negotiation table,” said Fréchette in a news conference, according to CNN newsgathering partner CBC News. “Even though we are threatened with different tariffs, it won’t change. We will stay the way we are.”

^ Canada has officially been a Bilingual Country since 1969.

That is 57 years of having to use French and English on Products and in Service including on American Imported Products.

If this is just now being a problem for some Americans then they are 57 years too late. ^

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/french-has-become-a-sticking-point-in-the-canada-us-trade-dispute-here-s-why/ar-AA2aQRnU?ocid=msedgntp&pc=EDBBAN&cvid=6a8dd87170fa4e459f1f1f9e12a79e43&ei=9

Let's Eat

 

Hand Shoes

 

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday In Different Languages

Afrikaans        Gelukkige Verjaarsdag

Albanian (Gheg)         Gzuar Dit-lindjën

Armenian (Eastern)   Ծնունդդ շնորհավոր (Tsnundet shnorhavor)

Armenian (Western)  շնորհաւոր ծննդեան տարեդարձ (shuhnorhavor dzuhnuhntyan daretarts)

Azerbaijani     Ad günün mübarək

Belarusian      З днём нараджэння (Z dniom naradžeńnia)

Bosnian           Sretan rođendan

Bulgarian        Честит рожден ден (Čestit rožden den)

Catalan           Per molts anys

Chinese (Mandarin)   生日快樂 [生日快乐] (shēngrì kuàilè)

Croatian         Sretan rođendan

Czech  Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám!

Danish Tillykke med fødselsdagen

Dutch  Gelukkige verjaardag

Estonian         Palju õnne sünnipäevaks

Finnish Hyvää syntymäpäivää

French Joyeux anniversaire

German           Alles Gute zum Geburtstag

Greek (Modern)         Χρόνια Πολλά! (Hrónia Pollá)

Hebrew           יום הולדת שמח (Yom huledet sameakh)

Hungarian      Boldog születésnapot

Icelandic         Til hamingju með afmælið

Irish (Gaelic)   Breithlá sona duit

Italian Buon compleanno

Japanese         お誕生日おめでとうございます (otanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu)

Latin    Felix dies natalis

Latvian            Daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā!

Lithuanian      Su gimtadieniu

Maltese           Heppi berdej

Norwegian     Gratulerer med dagen

Polish  Sto lat!

Portuguese     Feliz aniversário!

Romanian       La mulți ani

Russian           С днём рождения! (S dnëm rozhdeniya!)

Serbian           Срећан рођендан (Srećan rođendan)

Slovak Všetko najlepšie k narodeninám

Slovenian       Vse najboljše

Spanish           ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

Swedish          Grattis på födelsedagen

Ukrainian        З днем народження (Z dnem narodžennia)

Esperanto       Feliĉan datrevenon

Canadian Languages

 

Canada has been Officially Bilingual since 1969 (57 years.)

Despite that the vast majority of Canadians only speak 1 Language (either French or English.)

The Federal Government is Officially Bilingual and its Employees including Politicians are expected to know both English and French.

8 Provinces (Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Colombia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador) have English as their Official Provincial Language.

1 Province (Quebec) has French as their Official Provincial Language.

1 Province (New Brunswick) has both English and French as their Official Provincial Languages.

1 Territory (Yukon) has both English and French as their Official Territorial Languages.

1 Territory (Nunavut) has English, French, Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut as their Official Territorial Languages.

1 Territory (the Northwest Territories) has Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwichʼin, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłįch as their Official Territorial Languages.

22% (8,066,633) of all Canadians speak only French

76% (27,881,228) of all Canadians speak only English.

18% (6,581,680) of all Canadians are Bilingual in English and French.

As a Dual Canadian-American Citizen I can say I am one of the 18% of Canadians who are Bilingual in both English and French.

Camp Language

Language In Concentration, Labor and Death Camps

There were 44,000 Concentration Camps; 35,000 Forced Labor Camps and 6 Death Camps in German-Occupied Europe during World War 2.

German-Occupied Europe included: The British Channel Islands, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Czechoslovakia (Present Day: the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Italy, Norway, Denmark, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Poland, French Tunisia (Present Day: Tunisia), French Algeria (Present Day: Algeria), Greece, Yugoslavia (Present Day: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro), Monaco, Finland and the Soviet Union (Present Day: Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus – there are more Countries of the Former Soviet Union, but these are the only ones occupied by the Germans during the War.)

In every single one of the Concentration, Labor and Death Camps in German-Occupied Europe during World War 2 the “Official Language” was German.

There were a total of 15 Million Men, Women and Children held in German Concentration and Death Camps (this doesn’t include the Men, Women and Children who arrived at the Camp and were immediately gassed to death  - only those admitted and registered to the Camp.)

There were a total of 26 Million Men, Women and Children held in German Forced Labor Camps.

Prisoners knew approximately 40 Different Mother Languages other than German at any one Concentration or Death Camp.

It did not matter if the German Concentration Camp was in France, Norway, Yugoslavia or in Poland the German Language was the only means of Communication allowed.

If a Prisoner did not speak and understand German it could mean their death.

German was used by all the German Officials (the SS, Wehrmacht, etc.), the German Collaborator Guards (Russians, Ukrainians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Norwegians, Dutch, French, etc.) and the Kapos (Prisoners who ensured the Barracks were clean, the Other Prisoners behaved, Punishments were done and the Forced Labor was carried out) to give orders and punishments.

Many of the Non-German Collaborator Guards and the Prisoner Kapos did not understand German before entering the Camps and so they had to also learn  German in order to speak to the German Officials and to give their Orders to the Prisoners.

A Prisoner could only speak to a Camp Official in German.

All Prisoner Mail had to be written in German.

A Prisoner had to memorize their Camp Number in German and recite it to any Camp Official at any time (Morning Roll-Call, Afternoon Roll-Call, during a Selection, etc.)

In most Concentration, Labor and Death Camps a Pidgin German (called "Lagerszpracha”) was often used mixing German with whatever Language the Prisoner Spoke between the Prisoners themselves.

Jews in Eastern Europe (especially Poland) who spoke Yiddish as their Mother Language had better odds of surviving a Concentration Camp since Spoken Yiddish is close to Spoken German (but not Written Yiddish which using the Hebrew Alphabet whereas Written German uses the Latin Alphabet.)

13 Million Jewish Men, Women and Children spoke Yiddish as either their Mother Language or their Second Language in 1939.

Non-Jewish Prisoners (especially the Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, Belarussians, Italians, French and Greeks) rarely understood German before entering the Concentration, Labor or Death Camp and so had a much harder time understanding the Orders given to them and the whole Camp System leading to higher proportions of them killed (after being registered into the Camp.)

Jewish Prisoners (especially from France, Greece, Hungary and Italy) rarely understood German before entering the Concentration, Labor or Death Camp and so had a much harder time understanding the Orders given to them and the whole Camp System (after being registered into the Camp.)

You could be beaten, tortured or killed for not quickly carrying out an Order screamed at you in German (ie. “Hats Off!”, “Hats On!”, “Faster!”, etc.)

When a large Transport came from a certain Country to a German Death Camp the Germans oftentimes used Prisoner Interpreters who spoke both German and whatever Language of the arriving Transport to speed things up.

This was done in the 6 Death Camps of Chełmno, Bełżec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz-Birkenau so that the newly Arrived Men, Women and Children would be reassured and quickly go from Selection to Undressing to Death in the Gas Chamber in an hour. Language In Concentration, Labor and Death Camps

After the War many Former Prisoners (including those whose Mother Language was German) refused to speak the German Language or listen to anything in German (Movies, TV Shows, Music, etc.) because it reminded them of the horrors they had experienced.

Roller Coaster

Many Roller-Coasters around the world are called "Russian Mountains" in their local language (Muntanya russa in Catalan, Montagnes russes in French, Montaña rusa in Spanish, etc.)

In Russian Roller-Coasters are called Американские горки (American Mountains) or Американські гірки (American Mountains) in Ukrainian.

ASL Disney

From Walt Disney Company:

“Disney Animation’s ‘Songs in Sign Language’ to Debut April 27 on Disney+”

On Monday, April 27, in celebration of National Deaf History Month, Disney+ will proudly debut Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, three animated musical sequences from recent Walt Disney Animation Studios features, newly reimagined and animated in American Sign Language (ASL).

Directed by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are “The Next Right Thing” from Frozen 2, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, and “Beyond” from Moana 2. Osmond, along with producers Heather Blodget and Christina Chen, worked in collaboration with artistic director DJ Kurs and the team at Los Angeles’ Tony® Award-winning Deaf West Theatre to create the new versions of these beloved songs. A special behind-the-scenes featurette will accompany the songs, taking viewers into the collaboration that made these reimagined songs possible.

Osmond led a team of more than 20 animators who worked with sign language reference expressly created for Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language. Kurs, artistic director for Deaf West Theatre, working with sign language reference choreographer Catalene Sacchetti, and a group of eight performers from Deaf West Theatre, carefully reimagined and choreographed lyrics into ASL by focusing on concepts and emotion instead of a word-for-word transcription.

This reimagining of Disney Animation musical numbers helps bring down barriers and allows us to connect in a special way with our audiences in the Deaf community. I’m grateful that the Studio got behind making something so impactful.

— Hyrum Osmond, Director

“In the majority of cases, we created entirely new animation,” Osmond said. “There were a lot of adjustments that we had to do within the animation to be true to the original intention.”

Osmond, whose father is Deaf, cited two important reasons for wanting to do this project.

“One, sign language is one of the most beautiful ways of communication on Earth. If ever there was a medium to showcase sign language, it was animation,” Osmond said. “The other big reason for doing this project is to connect with the Deaf community. Growing up, I never learned sign language, and that barrier prevented me from really connecting with my dad. This reimagining of Disney Animation musical numbers helps bring down barriers and allows us to connect in a special way with our audiences in the Deaf community. I’m grateful that the Studio got behind making something so impactful.”

Kurs said, “When Hyrum approached me with a potential collaboration involving the integration of ASL into the fabric of Disney storytelling, it was an immediate ‘yes’ for us. Disney stories are the universal language of childhood. The chance to bring our language into that world was a historic opportunity to reach a global audience. Working on this project was very emotional. For so long, we have known and loved the artistic medium of Disney Animation. Here, the art form was adapting to us. I hope this unlocks possibilities in the minds and hearts of Deaf children, and that this all leads to more down the road.”

https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/disney-animation-songs-sign-language/

Quebec Vs Metro

Quebec French vs Metropolitan French

Quebec French (français québécois) is different from Metropolitan French (français métropolitain.)

Metropolitan French refers to the French spoken in France.

Quebec French is the French used around the World until the 1760s (when the British gained control of the French Colony in Canada – Quebec.)

The Articles of Capitulation of Montreal of 1760 (when the British took Montreal from the French) stated, among the 55 Articles, that the French in Quebec could no longer have direct contact with the French in France since they were now British Subjects.

That meant that any new Words or Pronunciations made in Paris were no longer included into Quebec French.

To adapt, Quebec French started using First Nation, British or American Words and turned it into Quebec French.

Quebec French also uses the Informal “You” (Tu) more than the Metropolitan French Formal “You” (Vous.)

Here are some examples:

Quebec French          Metropolitan French             English

un char                         une voiture                              car

une blonde                    copine                                   Girlfriend

la fête                           l'anniversaire                           Birthday

magasiner                    faire du shopping                   to go shopping

abrier                           couvrir                                    to cover

banc de neige              congère                                  snow bank

 

Quebec French Speakers can generally understand Metropolitan French Speakers because of its usage in International Media (Films, TV Shows, etc. from France.)

Metropolitan French Speakers have a harder time to understand Quebec French Speakers especially if the Metropolitan French Speaker doesn’t also under English.

When my Mother took French in High School her French Teacher asked her Father (my Grandfather) who was from Quebec to not help her with her French Homework because it was not Standard or Metropolitan French and so she was getting the answers wrong.

My Mother became Semi-Fluent in Metropolitan French and had a hard time speaking to her Father or her Cousins.

Name Order

 

Greetings

To all my Friends and Family:

З вялік днём!  Sretan uskrs! Feliç Pasqua!  Sretan Uskrs!  Veselé Velikonoce! Gelukkig Pasen!  Joyeuses Pâques!   Frohe Ostern!  Buona Pasqua! Priecīgas Lieldienas!  L-Għid it-Tajjeb!  God påske! Wesołego Alleluja!  Христос воскрес!  Felices Pascuas! Щасливого Великодня!   ბედნიერი აღდგომა!  Пасха құтты болсын! חג פסח שמח!  Felix Pascha! Happy Easter!

La Francophonie

Today is International Francophonie Day.

The International Organization of the Francophonie (French: Organisation internationale de la Francophonie sometimes shortened to La Francophonie (French: La Francophonie) is a Group of 52 Countries with a Population of 1 Billion People that encourages and uses the French Language and French Culture.

It was founded in 1970.

Member Countries Are:

(Key: Blue = Dark Member (National)

Light Blue = Member (Regional)

Cylon = Associated Member

Red =  Suspended Member

Green =  Observer)

Albania: Brief French Protectorate in Korçë between 1916 and 1920.  30% of Albanians choose French as their first Foreign Language

Andorra: Formerly part of First French Empire. The President of France is also a Co-Prince of Andorra.

Armenia: France is considered Armenia's most critical European Partner.

Belgium: French is the Native Language of about 39% of the Population and 48% are Non-Native Speakers of French.

French Community of Belgium: Is a Separate Member.

Benin:  French Colony until 1960.

Burundi:  Belgian Colony until 1962. Uses French as an Official Language.

Cambodia: French Colony until 1953.

Cameroon: 90% of the Country was a French Colony until 1960.

Canada: Officially a Bilingual French and English Speaking Country since 1969 and part of the Country was a French Colony until 1763.

New Brunswick, Canada: The only Officially Bilingual Canadian Province with English and French.

Quebec, Canada: The only Unilingual French Speaking Canadian Province.  A Colony of France until 1763.

Cape Verde: French taken by 11% of the Population.

Central African Republic:  French Colony until 1960.

Chad: French Colony until 1960.

Comoros: French Colony until 1975.

Congo-Brazzaville: French Colony until 1960.

Congo-Kinshasa: Belgian Colony until 1960. Uses French as an Official Language.

 Côte d'Ivoire: French Colony until 1960.

Cyprus: Ruled by the French-Origin Lusignan Dynasty from 1192 until 1489. 12% of the Population speaks French.

Djibouti: French Colony until 1977.

Dominica: French and then British Colony; Antillean Creole, a French-based Creole Language, is spoken by 90% of the Population.

Egypt: French Colony from 1798 to 1801.

Equatorial Guinea: Country surrounded by French-Speaking Countries.

France: Origin of the French Language.

Gabon: French Colony until 1958.

Ghana: All land borders with French-Speaking countries. Study of French is being made Compulsory at the basic Educational Level and certain Subjects will be taught in both English and French.

Greece: French spoken by 7% of Population.

Guinea: French Colony until 1958.

Haiti: French Colony until 1804.

Laos: French Colony until 1953.

Lebanon: French Mandate from 1920 to 1943.

Luxembourg: French used by 98% of Population and is an Administrative Language.

North Macedonia: French spoken by 14% of the Population.

Madagascar: French Colony until 1960.

Mauritius: Dutch, French (1715-1810), and then British Colony. French is widely used in Commerce and by the Media. French is also a Language of instruction in Schools.

Moldova: French spoken by 2% of the Population.

Monaco: Independent Country enclaved in France. French Language is the Official Language.

Morocco: French Colony until 1956.

Romania: French spoken by 26% of the Population.

Rwanda: Belgian Colony until 1962. Uses French.

Saint Lucia: French Colony (1674-1814 )Antillean Creole, a French-Based Creole Language, is spoken by 90% of the Population.

São Tomé and Príncipe: French spoken by 20% of the Population.

Senegal: French Colony until 1960.

Seychelles: French Colony (1756-1814.) French still widely spoken.

Switzerland: French if the Native Language of 20% of the Population.

Togo; French Colony until 1960.

Tunisia: French Colony until 1956.

Vanuatu: French and British Colony until 1980. French spoken by 29% of the Population.

Vietnam: French Colony until 1953.

 

 

 

Francophonie Day