SHASHKA 777-200LR

Looks nice

Шашка? What?

Shakira Waka Waka

...this time for Africa!

UШU whats that

Шашка? What?

Shakira Waka Waka

 

 

...this time for Africa!

UШU whats that

It is a Russian word for "sabre" and it is pronounced, as in the image, "Shashka".  That is not a "W", it is a "Ш".

It is a Russian word for "sabre" and it is pronounced, as in the image, "Shashka".  That is not a "W", it is a "Ш".

Well, POTKC is Russian himself so if he's confused, I'm pretty sure you made a mistake with the name somewhere.

Well, POTKC is Russian himself so if he's confused, I'm pretty sure you made a mistake with the name somewhere.

I'm not Russian, but I do live in Russia and speak the language. And yeah, while it does mean sabre, it doesn't really work as an airline name. And the letter Ш...yeah that's a weird one. Can't image anyone using that as a logo.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong the design is good for an early-post-Soviet airline, seeing this actually reminded me of Aeroflot's 777-200s (except in green). It's just the name and logo that don't make sense.

Well, POTKC is Russian himself so if he's confused, I'm pretty sure you made a mistake with the name somewhere.

The name and meaning is accurate. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashka

I'm not Russian, but I do live in Russia and speak the language. And yeah, while it does mean sabre, it doesn't really work as an airline name. And the letter Ш...yeah that's a weird one. Can't image anyone using that as a logo.

 

EDIT: Don't get me wrong the design is good for an early-post-Soviet airline, seeing this actually reminded me of Aeroflot's 777-200s (except in green). It's just the name and logo that don't make sense.

Sorry it's not called Russian Airlines, Air Russia, AeroRus, etc.  I don't see anything inherently objectionable about the name, though it is not an orthodox airline name.  It invokes a Russian adventurism, swiftness, skill, elegance, strength, and tradition.  The logo is the way it is because I like the symmetry of the letter and the uprightness about it, like it is on guard.

The name and meaning is accurate. 

 

Sorry it's not called Russian Airlines, Air Russia, AeroRus, etc.  I don't see anything inherently objectionable about the name, though it is not an orthodox airline name.  It invokes a Russian adventurism, swiftness, skill, elegance, strength, and tradition.  The logo is the way it is because I like the symmetry of the letter and the uprightness about it, like it is on guard.

You're right about the meaning being accurate, and of course not everything in Russia has to be called Russian Airlines, Air Russia, etc. But the word shashka doesn't work as an airline name. It's not something you'd use to name any business, really. It just doesn't make sense - it's like naming an airline 'Broccoli' or some random word like that. As for your argument for what it invokes - shashka is actually not a Russian sword type, but a caucasian or cossack sword used to fight against Russians in most 18th and 19th century literature, which is what most people today would associate it with.

Additionally, Ш doesn't work as a logo for several reasons. First of all the practice of using letters as logos isn't as widespread in Russia as it is in the west, apart from some notable exceptions like ПИК or РЖД, which are actually acronyms, not single letters. Apart from that, it doesn't work because of how the language works. All consonants are divided into either 'hard' or 'soft' letters (Ш is soft), and Ш is also in a subset called the 'hissing' letters. Basically, you've picked one of the 'weakest' letters there is, and it's definitely not associated with being 'upright' and 'on guard'. When using letters as logos, especially in a language you don't speak, you have to be careful not to look just at how the letter looks, but also at what it is.

You're right about the meaning being accurate, and of course not everything in Russia has to be called Russian Airlines, Air Russia, etc. But the word shashka doesn't work as an airline name. It's not something you'd use to name any business, really. It just doesn't make sense - it's like naming an airline 'Broccoli' or some random word like that. As for your argument for what it invokes - shashka is actually not a Russian sword type, but a caucasian or cossack sword used to fight against Russians in most 18th and 19th century literature, which is what most people today would associate it with.

 

Additionally, Ш doesn't work as a logo for several reasons. First of all the practice of using letters as logos isn't as widespread in Russia as it is in the west, apart from some notable exceptions like ПИК or РЖД, which are actually acronyms, not single letters. Apart from that, it doesn't work because of how the language works. All consonants are divided into either 'hard' or 'soft' letters (Ш is soft), and Ш is also in a subset called the 'hissing' letters. Basically, you've picked one of the 'weakest' letters there is, and it's definitely not associated with being 'upright' and 'on guard'. When using letters as logos, especially in a language you don't speak, you have to be careful not to look just at how the letter looks, but also at what it is.

Firstly, while Cossacks have fought against various Russian peoples in their history or have been employed as mercenaries by Russian states, they have often been the saviors and protectors of Russia, its culture, and traditions (see: Cossack Hetmanate) and the various hosts have been loyal to the Tsar and also served with distinction in the Great War.  Cossacks and Cossack culture is intertwined with plenty of Russian culture (the "Five" composers who created a lot of the modern fabric of Russian cultural identity of Borodin, Balakirev, Rimsky-Korskov, Mussogrsky, and Cui frequently invoke Cossack themes and fantasies or even today you have the popular cossack choirs) that actually receives criticism from the west for being too nationalistic, especially when it is juxtaposed in southern Russia to Russian muslims. Thus, I reject your assertion that modern Russians would feel alienated or offended by something being related to Cossacks.

Secondly, your criticism of using Ш as a logo seems fair I suppose, but I also don't look at letters in the context of symbols or logos and relate to them phonetically.  If I see a logo that is a stylized "K", I don't think of the sound a "K" makes, I understand it is just a logo or symbol for something.  But if you are saying that Russians actually are inclined to do this, then I will take it into consideration to change the logo.