Why on Earth have we changed Kiev to Kyiv

[mune ni kamome]

I've checked the Russian and Ukrainian and they are both different again

 

[fork me]

The Ukranian is Київ, Kyiv is the most precise transliteration of that into Lain characters.

WE haven't changed it, the English for Київ is still Kiev.

It's no different to us calling Munchen, Munich, or the French calling London, Londres.

 

[beorhthelm]

political correctness.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

It's very irritating when the media change our words for particular places. Bombay and Peking spring to mind. If e go along that route, as mentioned places such as Rome and Munich would also need a new spelling.

 

[beorhthelm]

... If e go along that route, as mentioned places such as Rome and Munich would also need a new spelling.

just about every major non-English place name would have to be changed. most countries we know by an English version of their real name. its bonkers.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

It's very irritating when the media change our words for particular places. Bombay and Peking spring to mind. If e go along that route, as mentioned places such as Rome and Munich would also need a new spelling.

Why should we call places with English names rather than the name given by the country. I think it's far more polite not to try to Anglicise everything.

 

[SeagullSongs]

There should be universal names for each country, from the language that the country speaks:

England/Britain
France (with a funny accent)
Deutschland
Polska
Nederland

Same with cities.

Edit: Basically what TD said...

 

[DTES]

There should be universal names for each country, from the language that the country speaks:

England/Britain
France (with a funny accent)
Deutschland
Polska
Nederland

Same with cities.

I agree, but... the problem comes when the native language doesn't use the Latin alphabet - for those places we need to find a way to write it, even if not our own way to pronounce it.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

It's no different to us calling Munchen, Munich, or the French calling London, Londres.

How dare they. That is outrageous. Londres?!

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Londinium, Brighthelmstone...glass houses

 

[SeagullSongs]

I agree, but... the problem comes when the native language doesn't use the Latin alphabet - for those places we need to find a way to write it, even if not our own way to pronounce it.

True, like in Greece (Hellas ) 'Athens' is called Αθήνα (Athena). I think it's fine changing it into the Latin alphabet if the same pronunciation is maintained. Although could this not be how the variations begun in the first place?

 

[SeagullSongs]

Londinium, Brighthelmstone...glass houses

Glasgow?

 

[Grendel]

What has really got my goat during this championship is the pronunciation of Krakow as Crack-OV. Firstly, and primarily, it's wrong. There's a little more to Polish than simply saying "w" as "v".

Secondly, if you're going to do that then at least be consistent and attempt to pronounce Warszawa and Wroclaw, instead reverting to the English pronunciation.

 

[16bha]

Sometimes, changing te name is the right thing to do. For instance Croydon was called Gyponium Burnham Down before this was amended in Victorian times (I think?)

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What has really got my goat during this championship is the pronunciation of Krakow as Crack-OV. Firstly, and primarily, it's wrong. There's a little more to Polish than simply saying "w" as "v".

Secondly, if you're going to do that then at least be consistent and attempt to pronounce Warszawa and Wroclaw, instead reverting to the English pronunciation.

At least no-one thought that the España v Italia game was played in Danzig.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Looking forward to a nice Chechen Kyiv for me tea tonight.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Why should we call places with English names rather than the name given by the country. I think it's far more polite not to try to Anglicise everything.

Because many of these places have historical been given those names by the English speaking world. Are you suggesting that every foreign country should call England 'England'. How presumptuous that would be on our part. Angleterre/England, what would the French say? I bet the Chinese don't call England 'England' exactly as we would and that's fine by me.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Who can forget the legendary NSC thread about Bangkok 'It is known to locals as Krung Thep'

 

[salty seagull]

I liked Kiev when I arrived on the outskirts, but when I got to the centre it was wet and smelled of garlic.

 

[Boys 9d]

I have never understood why in English an "s" is added to the names of the French cities of Lyon and Marseille.