«Песня о далёкой Родине» [Song about a faraway Motherland] aka «Где-то далеко» [Somewhere far away] I chose the video because of a very good (IMHO) translation in the comments (by SoundofMusic777).

It seems that hardly a day goes by without another Russian spy story in the news. First it was «горячая десятка» [the hot ten], including a fellow former «волгоградка» [resident of Volgograd] – Anna Chapman. And now it’s Anna Fermanova, a beautician from Texas.

The way news outlets describe these two, you’d think you’re reading tabloids or watching James Bond re-runs on Spike Channel (you know, the old ones with Sean Connery and Roger Moore): “agent 90-60-90” (don’t forget to convert these vital stats from metric system), “hot babe”, “sexy outlaw”, “flame-haired bombshell”, etc.

This is «не по-русски» [not in the Russian style] and best left to James Bond or, at the very least, to Jason Bourne. Russian iconic spy is, after all, «Макс Отто Штирлиц» [Max Otto von Stierlitz] or simply «Штирлиц».

If you’ve never seen «17 мгновений весны» [17 Moments of Spring], then I highly recommend it. «Дорогое удовольствие, конечно» [Of course, this is an expensive pleasure] – the DVD collection, that is. «Но оно того стоит» [But it’s worth it].

But the whole spy ring «афера» [shenanigans] and, specifically, constantly coming across the word “spy” got me thinking about, what else, Russian language in all its richness.

To begin with, it’s a “spy” v. “spy” issue.  A spy who’s a bad guy – works for a foreign government, collects intelligence to be used against Soviet Union Russian Federation – is called «шпион». Or if it’s a she – «шпионка». «Шпион – это человек двуличный, беспринципный, жестокий и морально разложившийся» [A spy is someone who’s two-faced, unprincipled, cruel, and morally corrupt]. In case you have any doubts about it, remember «быть шпионом – плохо» [To spy is bad].

«Говорят, шпионы отравили воду самогоном» [Rumor has it that spies poisoned water with moonshine] – from a song by «Владимир Высоцкий» [Vladimir Visotzkiy]. Yes, only «шпионы» would do such a despicable thing.

If, on the other hand a spy’s work benefits his Motherland, then he is «разведчик» and she is «разведчица». «Разведчик – умный, отважный и преданный Родине» [An intelligence agent is someone who’s smart, brave and loyal to the Motherland]. Besides, «разведчик за юбками не бегает» [An intelligence agent does not chase skirts]. «быть разведчиком – трудно, но почетно» [To gather intelligence is difficult, but honorable].

The only time «разведка» [spying, intelligence gathering] turns bad is when, once again, it’s done by «агент иностранной разведки» [agent of foreign intelligence service].

«Шпионить может каждый» [Everyone can spy]. After all, «шпионы» [spies] are known to rely heavily on technology and gadgets – «шпионские штучки» (again, James Bond comes to mind).  Not only do they spy, they «вербовать» [recruit] people to gather «ценная информация» [valuable information].

Another method of intelligence gathering is to find «болтливый человек» [talkative person] who also has access to «секретная информация» [secret information]. As the saying goes «болтун – находка для шпиона» [loose lips sink ships; lit: A chatterbox is boon to a spy].

That’s why «Штирлиц» [Stirlitz] exemplifies the ideal of «разведчик» (of course, being a fictional character certainly helps):

«невозмутимый» [calm] – «характер – нордический» [disposition – Nordic], able to think and act calmly even when «под колпаком» [under watch] of enemy counterespionage agents;

«сообразительный» [quick thinking] – «Солдаты СС перекрыли все выходы, но Штирлиц вышел через вход» [SS soldiers blocked off all the exits, but Stirlitz escaped through the entrance] (this, of course, is one of the many jokes about Stirlitz);

«преданный Родине» [loyal to the Motherland] and «верный жене» [faithful to his wife].

In fact, Strilitz’s only weakness seems to be «ностальгия» [nostalgia].

In addition to «шпион» and «разведчик», there’s one more word that you might like – «сексот». Contrary to how it sounds, it has nothing to do with sex in general or sex appeal of a particular agent. Instead, it’s short for «секретный сотрудник» [secret agent]. I’ve never heard it used in regular conversations, but apparently it’s used by «соответствующие органы» [here – appropriate agencies].

P.S. «Кстати, Путин мечтал быть разведчиком с детства» [By the way, Putin dreamt of being a spy since childhood]. Do you know which movie influenced his professional choice? Hint: It’s NOT “17 Moments”.

P.P.S. Are you curious as to why the stress in the word «беспринципный» [unprincipled] is on the last «и» and not on the first one (as in the word «принцип» [principle])? If yes, let me know and I’ll do a quick post about it.