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| Sofia's Kitchen, Verkhovyna, Carpathian Mountains |
I have heard native-born Ukrainians refer to the language
spoken by members of the Ukrainian diaspora, living in the US and Canada as “kitchen
Ukrainian,” a not-quite contemporary Ukrainian, often with English or other influences. It is also meant to reflect the fact that many first and
second generation Ukrainian Americans and Canadians learned Ukrainian from their
mother or grandmothers, usually while they helped with cooking. Indeed, several friends with Ukrainian roots that grew up in the US and Canada have shared these kinds of insights.
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| The Beekeeper's kitchen, Donbass Oblast |
Social scientists
actually use the term “diaspora language” to describe the dialects or variations of languages
spoken in places of migration. These languages evolve, as all languages do, absorbing new influences and changes to their community.
In the context of rapid change in Ukraine, as well as long absences from the
country, language and food practices seem to be the most tangible connection to
this culture for people with Ukrainian roots living in other parts of the world.
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| Svitlana, in her Kyiv kitchen |
Through the Pickle Project, we too have learned a kind of
kitchen language, Ukrainian, Russian and Crimean Tatar, spending time, mostly
with women, talking about food. Standing over stoves, hunched over plants in
the garden: Як ви сказали? How
do you say it?
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| Lenura's kitchen in Ak-Meshet, Crimea |
Maybe it is because that is where Mama is, or, where the food is, or, where the work is.. Everyone is always hanging out in the kitchen. Included here are photos of some kitchens that we have been lucky
enough to spend time in.
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| The 1970's kitchen, Pyrohiv National Museum of Folk Architecture |
Of course, nothing foments fervent debate or connections to identity and culture quite like language in Ukraine. So, please consider this an open invitation
to share your own thoughts, stories and experiences about the intersection of food practice, cultural preservation and food.
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| Historic Photo, Ukrainian Market |
