Bandera in a Skirt. Renowned Linguist Shared Her Friendship with Farion.

Colleague's Memories of Iryna Farion

On the birthday of the late linguist Iryna Farion, her colleague Larysa Nitsoy shared her memories of their friendship. She called Farion 'Bandera in a skirt' for her principled stance.

We are both spring-like. She used to tell me that I am a March snowdrop, a flower that breaks through the thickness of snow and ice. And I would laugh in response: 'What does that snow matter? You are our fragile flower, but what a flower! A flower that breaks through stones. You grow through the rocks.' But lately, I often called her Bandera in a skirt.

Nitsoy also recalled their conversations about language policy and the societal reaction to Farion's position.

When I was outraged: 'What is this! Instead of supporting 'without language, no work' - they raised a howl 'you can't be so abrupt, don't split society, it should be through personal example, not coercion.' I understand if this were the opposition or some other scum... But it's our people who are freezing! We stood together on Maidan. They are from our world, the Ukrainian one, instead of supporting they bring such 'nonsense'!' - Farion listened calmly, and then reasonably pointed out: 'WHO DO YOU CALL OURS?'. Pfff. And I deflated like a balloon: 'Oh really?'

The linguist compared Farion to a taut string.

When I first heard Iryna Farion speak live, I told my Andrii: 'She is like a taut string. Can you imagine how much strength it takes to be in such tone all the time...'. But it is the taut strings that sound. And she really did sound!

It should be noted that the daughter of the linguist, Sofia Osoba, shared her memories of her mother's last birthday. Iryna Farion passed away on July 19, 2024, in Lviv.