Print That If You Dare!

In response to Estonia Raises Its Pencils to Erase Russian, by Clifford J. Levy, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/world/europe/08estonia.html?ref=europe

Upon reading that Clifford J. Levy’s article I was exceedingly disappointed, to the effect I wondered whether it had been the same person who wrote it – compared to his regulars.

Even if you don’t write frontpage editorials and don’t use Pulitzers for paperweights, that does not mean your writings must be dull or lacking in scope. There is no valid reason (that I know of) to punish your readers – after all, they guarantee your paycheck.

It is one thing to make a factual error and yet another to make a logical one, however, dullness in journalism I cannot excuse. If you write an article, make it a lancet – as sharp and to the point, I can tell the beddy-bye stories myself. That one, unfortunately, had the full edge of a descriptive postcard.

Impressions you make

Impersonating an unwitting foreigner is hard when you deal with something familiar, but if you succeed, you can chart the weaknesses in factual arguments whereas a local perspective will help you in interpreting them. This is what a foregner will learn from that article:

The FF (first foreigner) impression

Around the year of 2008, if even two years ago, evil in the guise of a language inspector came down suddenly upon the Pae Gymnasium, having marked it’s teachers as his prey. That unseemly man ignored the children and did not engage in chitchat with them – nor provide lollipops to excuse his vile presence. Unexpectedly, the language inspector inspected the grammar.

Depressed from having no sex and no future, estonians found something they could mount: they called it Campaign. The estonians have been taking it to classrooms, too. That is sometimes accompanied with public spanking of teachers.

Olga Murvyova did not fail, the inspector failed her.

Natalya Shirokova is to be sympathised with because, erm, she was nervous during the examination. Nervousness during an examination is a thing very uncommon, you see, and usually never occurs in students – or teachers, unless due to estonians.

Languge laws in Estonia and other Soviet-occupied countries are restrictive and made to make all non-native speakers miserable, they are not there to conserve the native language and ensure its survival.

Standards for students are higher than standards for teachers (who is doing the teaching, then?).

The rules being imposed are new.

The number of students to be transformed is 575. They will forfeit their human appearance. Also, none of them knew any estonian in advance nor has learned it since entering, but by the non-virtue of estonians. (Were there any, you really couldn’t say 100% total, could you? And, mark, the 7-year-olds must be attending the upper grades, too.)

The bilingual director also sympathizes with all the nervousness, in spite of agreeing with the requirement (and that is so much more important).

Background

As a native born and raised on concrete, I have a slightly different take on this. I know that city district well, as I my childhood was spent there, to be more precise – I lived on the very same street.

Tallinn did not become a city with no name but just a number on a letter during Soviet era, but it did not escape the fate of tens and tens of thousands immigrant workers brought in to oil the machinery of Soviet army and war industry.

The war factory Dvigatel ,previously used to build coaches for trains, was situated next to Lasnamägi, a city district, and like others’, it’s new line of production required trustworthy personnel. From the vast expance of Motherland (not to be confused with Mordor) Russia, such people were brought to its aid – and the settlers of soviet regime founded their first campfires close to it. When those workers could, they moved to better accommodations and more pleasant work, but that part, the 1^st region of Lasnamäe was what greeted them in the beginning. From what I have heard, it was also distinguished by having a higher crime rate.

The Pae street was in that 1^st region, too.

According to 1922 census, there were 91’100 russians in Estonia, of them 73’000 were citizens who had lived in Estonia since no later than 1915, while 18’000 were recent emigrees. From overall population it was 8,2% and before the Tartu treaty and acquiring 6’333 russians from areas beyond Narva and 38’412 russians that lived in Petseri, the percentage for Estonia Without these two areas was 3’7.

According to 2000 census, Estonia has 1 370 052 inhabitants it managed to register, 921 817 declared estonian as their native language, 406 755 said it was russian, 12 299 claimed ukrainian etc.

But let us not paint too bleak a picture. According to the Tallinn population registry data at http://www.tallinn.ee/est/g2677s45502 , of about 400 000 residents in 2008, around 52% were estonians and 38% russians, while ukrainians, belorussians, finnish and jews made up about 8%, collectively; other nationalities came in under 2%. That makes it a ratio of 3 non-russians to every 2 russians. Not that bad, if you want to learn some other language.

IF is the keyword here

Any language may be hard to learn, but lacking motivation makes it just so much worse.

In that article the 57-year old teacher was excused by the journalist both because of her age as well as the injustice of a difficult language that the estonian is.

According to that article, you cannot acquire Estonian citizenship, if you are not fluent in estonian. Therefore, we can rather safely assume that the teacher is not a recent contribution to Estonian population.

Q 1. How many years is it normal to learn a language?

Was she born in Estonia, then of USSR? That would make 57 years not sufficient.

Did she become a teacher in 2008 december? That would make 1,5 years not enough…

Commentary on that

Anyone who actually wants to learn a language, can, even more so if they happen to live in that particular country. I have spoken to foreigners who have been here just months and who catch the gist of what is said and can converse, even if haltingly. They say that they would be ashamed not to learn a local language if they’re here for duration. Only 2 things are necessary: desire and practice. Never heard of a case where anyone has ever learned a language without intent or practising it, not even a teacher.

Many a grown russian here resents learning estonian, they don’t want to learn it on principle. In that case, they surely won’t.

Is estonian so hard to learn? Not really, if you persist. It is no less difficult than finnish, and I know people who never bothered to learn estonian, while they have learned finnish instead – and better than I. Of course, working in Finland or selling to finnish tourists in markets gave them motivation they lacked to learn estonian – again, it is not the question of ability to learn a complex language, but a question of their choice whether to learn it.

It is not about there being no course designated to learn estonian, such programs have been in place for years. It is not because they cannot practice, they have ample opportunities – if they so choose.

I know a young woman whose native language is russian. She once recounted me a humorous story of having to write an essay in her native language class (that’d be russian), which she did. When she was called in and asked about what the ahem she had written, she did not understand, not even when told to re-read her essay. She did, and still did not understand, she thought it was just fine. “Look at the letters!” she was then told and alas! – she had written the essay in russian, naturally, but using the latin alphabet…

When I was little, my mother had a friend I called aunt Siina. I thought she was estonian. Years later I figured out I had adapted Zina without ever knowing the difference…

Many estonians, especially those in cities speak more than one language and quite a few more than one a foreign language. Many of middle-age or older generations speak russian, often once having spoken it without an accent. I get by in 4, 3 of them foreign, although I would not call myself fluent in but one.

There have never been restrictions to particular nationalities to learn a language in Estonian Republic – although, in USSR learning ‘outside’ languages did make you suspect. The independence of Estonian Republic was restored what – almost 20 years ago? 20 years of living in Estonian Republic, and you just cannot be bothered to learn the local language?

What does such mentality say about these people?

I leave that to yourself to determine.

The cruelty in imposing

Is it unreasonable to expect a teacher to know the language of the land? Or its inhabitants? Are the requirements too strict or the time too short?

By tradition humankind holds the notion that teachers teach the young, educate their minds and mould them to acceptable associates of the community.

Q 2: What community are the russian children to be part of?

Makes you wonder, doesn’t it. If you do not comprehend the language of the land, how can you, truly, be a part of it, belong? If you don’t really understand what is said or written, are unable to appreciate the culture, how can you belong?

The only true answer is: you really can’t. Is that the goal of those teachers of a school that boasts integration to Estonian society on their homepage?

The influence russian-language media has on estonian russian-speaking community is enormous. Due to bad or lacking any estonian, they watch Russian television channels, listen to radio in russian, read papers in russian, living in a limbo of biased reporting about their home country and sometimes, outright lies. I’d prefer they’d watch Finnish television – quite neutral reporting, not everybody is after russians’ hide, and it might help learn estonian, too. But that’s just my wishful thinking.

Is it less biased in schools? Would parents let it be?

Being descended from a nation of victorious liberators and culture bringers, would you volunteer to became a part of legacy of occupants, murderers?

In many a russian, especially the older, their identity is linked fast to belonging to the former and accepting Estonian Republic would, to them, mean acceptance of belonging to the latter. So they cannot but rail against it. How could they learn the language of the fashists? Can you imagine British colonialists learning indian, for that matter?

Those russians who have not had the need to identify with the former tend to be less resenting, both of the Republic and of estonian language. For them it is also not so outrageous an idea for them and their children to know and speak estonian, need they or do they or not. Besides, those who speak both have a significant advantage when competing in the labour market since younger estonians tend to have rather poor russian skills, if any. So, at least for some a school where your children can be helped to learn that ’devilishly complex language’, might be a good idea.

But it is not just parents who influence children, but also their friends, role models and yes – even schools.

Do as I say, not as I do

Let’s presume that you have a teacher in a russian school that says it is important to know estonian language and culture. Sounds good? What if the same teacher herself does not understand the language? Would you believe her now?

Talk about mixed messages.

What if the same teacher complains about learning the language? If during her lifetime in that country she has not seen a virtue in learning that language?

What does the message become then?

Culturecide with pencils

Upon reading the title my first thought was that I had missed the news and Estonia is about to eradicate all russian culture in the land. Whoa, what a relief afterwards!

The population of current Russian Federation is at how many million people? Even though alcoholism, drug abuse and declining birth rates have been increasingly quoted as threatening the survival of russians as a nation, I do not see any imminent catastrophy looming. Nor a sudden vanishing of a whole culture. Don’t fear: what ever it is, it’ll be still there for years to come.

Say, how do you imagine 400’000 lose their culture or identity just because they learn another language? Imagine, there are tens millions of such peoplein the whole world! Have they all lost their identity and culture, too? I’m all for more culture, beats ignorance and arrogance hands down. But with less than million native speakers, it is Estonia who worries.

Pray, what is the number of people considered to be essential to preserve a culture?

Anyone of russian descent can feel safe about their culture, whereas an estonian native has reason to be concerned. In that context you can understand the necessity to promote the use of estonian language on Estonian soil – it is not like estonians have en masse forced people in other countries to learn it. Estonian language is an important part of estonian culture, both of which are essential to survival of estonians as a nation. Nowhere has it been stated that anyone must disown their own heritage or spurn their parents. Besides, it is often that those who can appreciate their own, if foreign, roots, can fully appreciate the land and the people of the land they live in.

In the era of czars, Estonia was a vacationing spot for many an educated or high-born russian. The intellectuals of St. Petersburg or Moscow weren’t all strangers. It would be rather nice to help overcome the image of toothpaste-eating mongrel that has, among a few others, been etched into the collective memory of estonians. Hail Pushkin!

But if we already must celebrate diversity, would it not make sense to inlude the natives, too?

However, as has been said: you cannot build a bridge alone, it must touch ground on the othe side.

Law of the land

It really does seem unjust if a non-speaker, even if a teacher, is unexpectedly flummoxed by language requirements. From the article you would gather that the 2008 visit from the inspector was quite a surprise. In that context, a third to fail doesn’t seem so bad.

The particular standards of estonian levels required from civil servants are stated here, as of 2008 (in estonian, of course):

Avalike teenistujate, töötajate ning füüsilisest isikust ettevõtjate eesti keele oskuse ja kasutamise nõuded, Vabariigi Valitsuse 26. juuni 2008. a määrus nr 105 http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=12983186

Nope, no doubt about that.

What the article fails to mention, are the requirements in place since a year 1996:

Isikutega tööalaselt suhtlevatele riigiasutuste ja kohalike omavalitsuste teenistujatele ning asutuste, ettevõtete ja organisatsioonide töötajatele eesti keele valdamise ja kasutamise nõuete kehtestamine, Vabariigi Valitsuse 29. jaanuari 1996. a määrus nr 31 http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=33330

So, can we really talk about a year-and-half reprieve to ‘learn a language’? Or, more like 14,5 years?

If anything, these regulations have not been enforced. There have been proven cases of bought certificates and many a current holder of a certificate cannot, in reality, live up to the standard.

The ‘newly young’ Estonian Republic has all but neglected those standards, what with being occupied with reinstating constitution in 1992, getting rid of Russian army in 1994, having to deal with crashing Russian economy and vanishing import opportunuties as well as losing logistical transactions and having an economy downfall of our own. Well, nobody really cared about these when the economy boomed, we were too busy spending. And we wanted into NATO and EU and we’re told we wanted Euro too. But it seems that during this century inspectors are actually doing their job.

Now, I would understand if a teacher in a russian school doesn’t start to speak estonian overnight in 1992 – who knows, tomorrow may feature a red flag hoisted at Tall Hermann… so why bother. But in 2002 or 2010? Still betting on another government?

I agree to an extent that we, as a nation and a republic, have failed a part of its inhabitants. In general, estonians can be rather mind-your-own-keep-out-of-others’ business at times and although I doubt a culture can be successfully forced down anyone’s throat, we could have certainly done more. I prefer to think we are doing some now, not necessarily all government-arranged.

In a way small Estonia has to clear up the mistakes and indifference and intent of USSR machinery. It was a forceful one and influenced people and their thinking patterns for decades. We’re still not over the influence of USSR, I doubt another generation makes it so.

Since USSR won’t come to help to deal with those hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their descendants, we’re left the task.

It would be less onerous, if we wouldn’t get blamed of causing it. We didn’t, USSR did. We’re just cleaning it up.

And so far we’re doing an infinitely better job than Palestine and Israel.

Racism and condescension

There are 2 parts that determine person’s ablities: genes and influence of environment. Until you show me some hard data that people of russian descent are genetically impaired and because of that cannot learn other languages, I shall include them among the whole of humankind that has not been shown to have any such disablities. That leaves us with the influence of environment: culture, disposition of kin, personal choices.

A teacher I expect to set a good example, not a bad one.

We hold a long record of looking down on natives, considering them less intelligent because don’t use a napkin or cite quotes in latin, and that mentality often pervades our thinking without us even realizing it. The bottom line is simple: you either hold another human being equal to yourself or not.

Equals you hold to the same standards, you expect them to act civil and sensible and when they stray, you hold them accountable as you would yourself. Someone lesser, or deficient, you do not.

When you do not expect someone to learn a language because of their nationality, then you not only discriminate but humiliate.

Keep that in mind tomorrow.

An opportunity, wasted

The topic as a whole has potential to support a really interesting article, intriguing interviews with remarkable persons, insights into culture and daily life of an obscure country, unexpected revelations and views – none of which were employed by mr Levy.

Maybe he was just indisposed and could not rise to the challenge, maybe he was told to water it down. However, what remains is a neutered article about my homeland in a foreign paper that isn’t likely to have something of import written about it any time soon. I would have preferred that article had never seen daylight, in hopes a more worthy one would. I am surprised that I hold NYT to a higher standard than they do themselves, publishing articles of which even I can write better of.

Oh, wait, I think I just did.

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The 1922 census data was taken from Kaks algust. Eesti Vabariik – 1920. ja 1990. aastad, 3; ISBN 9985-9103-8-9, copyright by Riigiarhiiv (State Archive)