In this talk we explore who the Rusyns are, the language(s) they speak, and the complex interplay of issues that contribute to the construction of their ethnic and linguistic identities. Although we do not address the detailed workings of their language, we examine the position of Rusyn within the larger societies in which Rusyns live, and we also attempt to put it into perspective vis-à-vis its closest relative (Ukrainian) and other Slavic languages.