From: ns@csd.cri.dk (Nick Sandru)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet,soc.culture.romanian
Subject: Re: Moldova and another Russian Nationalistic Ignorant
Date: 9 Sep 92 15:37:40 GMT
Organization: Computer Resources International A/S

mihai@sep.Stanford.EDU (Alexander Mihai Popovici) writes:

>In article <01GOFQ9FCU4W8ZE0DW@MPS.OHIO-STATE.EDU>, VIZNYUK@MPS.OHIO-STATE.EDU (SERGEI VIZNYUK) writes:
>|> >
>|> > Sergei Viznyuk writes:
>|> >>As you noted yourself, the question in "TransDniester" republic is
>|> >>HOW to teach Moldavian language, while in "democratic" Estonia the
>|> >>question is "to teach or not to teach Russian at all".
>|> >
>|> >At least no one has even discussed the possibility of using a Latin
>|> >script for Russian.
>|> 
>|>   As you may know, the ORIGINAL script of MOLDAVIAN
>|> language was Cyrrilic, except for the time, Moldova was
>|> occupied by Romania, i.e. during 20 years. Therefore,
>|> the question is WHY Moldavians were FORCED to change
>|> their script to Latin ? 

>Boy, amazing what some people can post.
>In the same sentence this guy claims that Moldova was 
>occupied by Romania for 20 years AND that the Cyrillic (note the spelling)
>^^^^^^^^
>alphabet was used for the rest of the time.

The Cyrillic script was used in Moldavia and Vallachia until around 1850,
while the Romanians living in Transylvania used the Latin alphabet. The
Latin alphabet began to be used in parallel with the Cyrillic one in
Moldavia and Vallachia around 1800 and it replaced the Cyrillic script
gradually. The change was officialized after the union of the two
Romanian principalities in 1859. A remarcable fact is that the Romanians
living in Bessarabia changed over to the Latin alphabet almost in the
same time. I remember seeing a postcard from Chisinau (Kishinev) from around
1880 with shop boards written in Romanian with Latin characters. The card
itself is written by someone living in Chisinau in Romanian with Latin
characters.

>I can only say that the part of Romania which is generally
>refered to as Basarabia (Bessarabia) became
>the Socialist Republic of Moldavia after it was occupied by Russia in 1940.

Until the annexation in 1812 of the area known today as Basarabia, this
name reffered to a quite small area along the northern bank of the Danube
and of the Chilia channel which had belonged to Vallachia during the 14th
century. Vallachia was ruled during that period by the prince Basarab and
the area aquired by him in Moldavia was named after him. In 1812 the name
was extended over the entire area between the rivers Prut and Nistru (Dnestr)
in order to distinguish it from the rest of Moldavia.

>It is true there are some finer points to this
>region's history, mainly related to the invasion of
>the Principate of Moldova by Russia during numerous
>wars against Turkey.
>I am willing to post some more details only because
>a gentleman like Erland was involved in the beginning
>of this thread, meaning there is some hope.
>Otherwise such appalling ignorance can utterly disarm.

It would be interresting. And a technical advice: the correct name for
the Romanian discussion group is 'soc.culture.romanian' and not 's.c.romania'.
I have corrected it in the 'Newsgroups: ' line.

>Cheers
>MIhai

Sa auzim numai de bine,

Long Haired Nick

aka:
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Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet