For years, English has spelled the capital city of Ukraine as Kiev. As of November it switched to Kyiv, not so much as a stylistic choice, but as a foreign policy decision.
All tagged Russian
Is it Tsar or Czar?
Why is that we see different spellings of the same words? Is there a difference? Is one any more correct than the other? Through an exploration of the words ‘tsar’ and ‘czar’, we can see how historical context provides insight into these questions
Bistros are Classy, Right?
Today we hear the word ‘bistro’ and think of small but classy plates of food, fine wines, and baguettes. It is the epitome of pint sized elegance. But closer examination of the word ‘bistro’ itself reveals a far less glamorous origin.
Anglisizing Лев Николаевич Толстой
What do the many spellings of Leo Tolstoy say about the socio-political and cultural landscapes of 1800s and 1900s Europe? These charts from Google Books might have an insight or two...