Although worse but different: "The Manifesto of the Ukrainian Latin script" posted online

A draft of the Latin script for the Ukrainian language has been posted on the Internet. As "Phrases" journalists found out, the project is called "The Manifesto of the Ukrainian Latin script."

The editorial office of the portal "Na Chasi" ("Timely"), which proposed a new alphabet, notes that it wants to set an example of using the Latin script and encourages colleagues from other media to join the initiative. After testing, the resource intends to publish scripts in the public domain.

"Educational literature, which (especially in the humanities) requires revision, will update faster with the launch of a new alphabet at the national level," the authors explain.

In addition, in their opinion, in the case of the transition into the Latin script, chaos in street signs, signs and outdoor advertising will disappear, and the costs for the translation of publications, Internet sites, signboards, primarily of government agencies, as well as street signs, adverts, shops and cafes will quickly pay off, due to the additional revenue from tourists and taxes paid by firms producing signs.

As for the history, the editorial office of the portal notes that this cannot be changed, but lessons can be learned. "Our children and grandchildren will thank us for preparing the ground for language, cultural and technological integration. Yes, the older and middle-age generation will not appreciate this step and may even be outraged, but these changes are not needed by them, but by those who will come after them," the authors of the idea conclude, recalling that such countries as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Moldova have successfully introduced the Latin script earlier.

At the same time the People's Deputy from the "People’s Front" Nikolai Kniazhitsky expressed the opinion that Ukraine does not have any reason to switch from Cyrillic to Latin, since the alphabet is not an attribute of the "Russian world". "For Ukraine, the Cyrillic script is the native alphabet," the People's Deputy said.

As reported by the media, the idea of switching from the Cyrillic alphabet to Latin was first initiated in Lviv in 2014. The reform was promoted by Galician intellectuals.