Archive for 'language'
Russian Cases: «Именительный падеж» [Nominative] Posted by josefina on Apr 6, 2009
«Именительный падеж» [nominative case] is a good case to use in the names of shops, cafes, movie theaters and restaurants, like this one on the picture above: «РесторанРусьВеликая» [Restaurant The Great Rus’]. Even though it is obvious to anyone who reads this blog once in a while that there cannot be a single post about…
Word of the Week: «блаженство» [bliss] Posted by josefina on Mar 29, 2009
In Russia there’s a ‘candy company’ called «Россия: щедрая душа» [Russia: The Generous Soul] that makes a lot of yummy chocolate products with astonishing names. The one above is named after today’s word (or perhaps it’s the other way around?) – «блаженство» [bliss]. This kind contains «молочный шоколад» [milk chocolate] and is delicious, just like…
Once Again About ‘The Great and Mighty’ [«ещё раз о великом и могучем»…] Posted by josefina on Mar 25, 2009
Sorry for the poor quality of this picture from the student magazine «Студик» that published my little article «Великий и могучий – с точки зрения не-носительницы его» [The Great and Mighty from a (female) non-native speaker’s point of view” in its March 2009 number. In many ways I can honestly say that «мне повезло с…
Word of the Week: «Пропуск» [pass; permit] Posted by josefina on Mar 22, 2009
This week was a great week for me because during it a great progress was made in my Russian life – I finally received a new «пропуск» [pass; permit, pl. пропуска], something that I’ve been craving for over a year and a half now. It does, as a matter of fact, have another, more official…
Word of the Week: «Скользко!» Posted by josefina on Mar 2, 2009
Now that I’ve scared up everyone with my previous post about stray dogs in Russia, it’s time to set the record straight and raise awareness on another large problem in Russian society today – slippery sidewalks. The problem with stray dogs in Russia is, just as the problem with slippery sidewalks, nothing that someone should…
Word of the Week: «Ли» Posted by josefina on Feb 22, 2009
«Поздравляем сильную половину человечества с Днём защитника Отечества!» [(We) congratulate the strong half of humanity with Defender of the Fatherland Day!]. Coming across this home-made poster on the first floor of my dormitory, I could have used the marvelous little word «ли» to pose a direct question like: «Являются ли мужчины сильной половиной человечества?» [Are…
Reading Russian literature: А. П. Чехов «Человек в футляре» Posted by josefina on Feb 18, 2009
Today is the day I share with you – long overdue, of which I am aware – my post on how to read a Russian short story in the original. For a long time I pondered on exactly what short story to choose for today’s post, as there is an abundance of great short stories…