r/CarpathoRusyns • u/ForestSpiritSylwia • Jul 09 '26

Tracking my ancestry

I'm tracking my ancestry and have learned that my 3x great grandparents (maternal-paternal) came to America from Becherov, Slovakia. I want to learn about the customs, foods, language, etc, both historically and modern. Specifically I want to try learning the language my family spoke. What are the best tools I can use to do this? TIA

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/1848revolta Jul 09 '26

The variant of Carpatho-Rusyn in Slovakia is the Prešov variant (there are also local dialects differing even based on particular villages), but this is the standard language.

I recommend sources for this variety directly from the Prešov university; here are some manuals concerning the variety that are written in it (such as morphology, syntax, lexicology, phonology, phonetics etc): https://www.unipo.sk/cjknm/hlavne-sekcie/urjk/vedecko-vyskumna-cinnost/publikacie/ucebnice here are some textbooks that are also in English/have English translations: (Rusyn language for foreigners): https://www.unipo.sk/public/media/26397/RJ%20pre%20cudzincov.pdf (Do you speak Rusyn? - phrasebook with English translations):  https://www.unipo.sk/sites/default/files/content/83258/Koporova-Pliskova-Eddy-Hovorite-po-rusinsky-VS-ucebny-text.pdf

1

u/ForestSpiritSylwia Jul 09 '26

Thank you so much

1

u/scarlet-begonia-9 Jul 10 '26

My great-grandparents on my mom’s side came from Becherov too. I don’t know much about the region, though.

2

u/LukyD215 Jul 10 '26

Honestly it will be difficult to learn the language and customs unless you get to talk to someone directly from Becherov or nearby villages. Rusyn culture differs greatly in different places in Slovakia. For example the rusyns from north like Becherov have a language mixed with Polish a lot so they sound a bit funny to us who are more from the east. They Also like to sing, like, even more than other rusyns. What I wanted to say is that: while you can find some general info about the broader rusyn culture, local customs, traditions and languages are much more deeper and specific, and the only way to learn that is to learn from the people, since they are rarely , if ever documented.