Agathangel Krymsky and Ukrainian orthography

Abstract

The development of Ukrainian science in general and Ukrainian linguistics in particularis associated with Agathangel Krymsky (1871–1942). The article examines his heritage in the research of sources and the development of the norms of Ukrainian orthography. It is one of the areas in which the talent of Agathangel Krymsky was realized in his early age. During his studies at Moscow Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages Agathangel Krymsky published numerous articles in Lviv journals, as it was the only opportunity for him to publish his works in Ukrainian. At that time Agathangel Krymsky started his correspondence with such renowned Ukrainians as Ivan Franko, Borys Grinchenko, Vasyl Levitsky. The issue of Ukrainian spelling rules was constantly raised in their letters. They also held the discussion in Galician journals. Agathangel Krymsky covered the issue in his article "Our language adversity and how to settle this trouble" published in a magazine "Zoria" (1891). The academician developed Ukrainian linguistics within the system of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences as well and took part in the development of spelling rules in 1928. He was also the first director of the Institute of the Ukrainian scientific language.