{"id":13868,"date":"2021-02-16T04:05:32","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T04:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=13868"},"modified":"2021-02-16T04:08:51","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T04:08:51","slug":"russian-grammar-is-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/russian-grammar-is-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian grammar is fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a fun Russian grammar post<\/a> circulating online that’s said to have been compiled by the Associate Dean of Foreign Languages Faculty at Moscow State University, Alla Leonidovna Nazarenko. Most Russian speakers find the post funny, whimsical even, or at least curious. Today, we go over my favorites from her list. Brace yourselves for the best the Russian language has to offer: sarcastic jabs disguised as compliments, trickster verbs, and double-negatives. To spice things up, I\u2019ll see if google translate will pick up on any of the fine linguistic intricacies of Russian for some of these sentences.<\/p>\n

\"sarcasm\"

Image by ?Merry Christmas ?<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Word Order Matters<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Take the phrases \u201c\u0442\u044b \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043d\u0443\u0301\u0436\u0435\u043d<\/strong>\u201d and \u201c\u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0442\u044b \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0443\u0301\u0436\u0435\u043d<\/strong>\u201d. Though they literally translate to \u201cI really need you\u201d, just with slightly different word order, they are opposites. The first one is a sincere \u201cI really need you\u201d worthy of a tear-jerking movie scene where characters confess their profound love for one another. The second is likely to be said with an extremely sarcastic eye-roll <\/em>or even a \u201cpfff\u201d type of remark and equal to \u201cpfff, I don\u2019t need you\u201d. Alas, Google didn\u2019t stand a chance.<\/p>\n

\"I

Image by author<\/p><\/div>\n

Negatives<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201c\u0427\u0430\u0301\u0439\u043d\u0438\u043a \u0434\u043e\u0301\u043b\u0433\u043e \u043e\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0435\u0442<\/strong>\u201d and \u201c\u0447\u0430\u0301\u0439\u043d\u0438\u043a \u0434\u043e\u0301\u043b\u0433\u043e \u043d\u0435 \u043e\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0435\u0442<\/strong>\u201d both mean \u201cthe tea kettle has been cooling down for a while now\u201d.<\/p>\n

If someone says \u201c\u041d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0301 \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0301\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c!<\/strong>\u201d they are expressing sadness and frustration over a failed task. Meanwhile, if someone says \u201c\u041d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0301 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0301\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c!<\/strong>\u201d they are approving whatever was accomplished with a hint of genuine surprise that it worked. Machine Translation – 0, Russian – 2.<\/p>\n

\"nothing

Image by author<\/p><\/div>\n

Lost in Translation<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The phrase \u201c\u042f \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301 \u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430\u0301 \u043d\u0435 \u0437\u0430\u0431\u0443\u0301\u0434\u0443<\/strong>\u201d (I\u2019ll never forget you) sounds romantic while \u201c\u042f \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044e<\/strong>\u201d (I\u2019ll remember you) has a much more threatening effect.<\/p>\n

The trick is in the word \u201c\u0437\u0430\u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d. It\u2019s tempting to only equate it with the nostalgic meaning of \u201cremember\u201d because \u201c\u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d is mostly used in sentences like:<\/p>\n

\u042f \u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044e \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0430\u0445 \u0431\u0430\u0301\u0431\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0434\u0443\u0445\u043e\u0432 \u041a\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0441\u043d\u0430\u044f \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0430.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I remember the smell of my grandma\u2019s perfume \u201cRed Moscow\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0417\u0430\u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d in \u201c\u042f \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044e<\/strong>\u201d makes the sentiment much closer to \u201cI\u2019ll commit you to memory\u201d (though nobody says that in English) or the simple \u201cI\u2019ll remember you\u201d, but in a much more threatening way. \u00a0By the way, is it just me, or the phrase \u201cI\u2019ll commit you to memory\u201d really does <\/em>sound threatening and worthy of the next Liam Neeson monologue?<\/p>\n

\"I'll

Image by author<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201c\u0411\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0301, \u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0439<\/strong>\u201d (Take it, come on!) is quite a hoot and half because at first glance the verbs have opposing meanings: \u201c\u0431\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0301<\/strong>\u201d is \u201ctake\u201d and \u201c\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0439<\/strong>\u201d is \u201cgive\u201d. However, the word \u201c\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0439\u201d here means \u201ccome on\u201d. Google \u2013 you\u2019re back in the game! (Google \u2013 1; Russian – 2)<\/p>\n

\"take

Image by author<\/p><\/div>\n

One would think the words \u201c\u0431\u0435\u0441\u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0301\u0447\u043d\u043e<\/strong>\u201d and \u201c\u0431\u0435\u0437\u043b\u044e\u0301\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/strong>\u201d will be synonymous, since \u201c\u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043a<\/strong>\u201d (person) is the singular of \u201c\u043b\u044e\u0434\u0438<\/strong>\u201d (people). Wrong. \u201c\u0411\u0435\u0441\u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0301\u0447\u043d\u043e<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cinhumanely\u201d while \u201c\u0431\u0435\u0437\u043b\u044e\u0301\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/strong>\u201d is \u201cdeserted\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"four_phrases\"

Image by author<\/p><\/div>\n

Speed round! How will Google translate these phrases?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u0415\u0301\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u0441\u0438\u0301\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e \u043e\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0301\u043b \u2013 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430 \u0437\u0430\u0432\u044f\u0301\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0420\u0443\u0301\u043a\u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0434\u044f\u0442 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u041d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u043d\u0430 \u0434\u0443\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0439\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u041d\u043e\u0301\u0433\u0438 \u0432 \u0440\u0443\u0301\u043a\u0438 \u0438 \u0432\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0451\u0434\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first one is about knowing when to stop drinking. \u201c\u041e\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d means to get cross-eyed and to get wasted, so we get a nice play on words in the phrase above. \u201c\u0417\u0430\u0432\u044f\u0301\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d is literally to \u201ctie\u201d like \u201c\u0437\u0430\u0432\u044f\u0301\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0448\u043d\u0443\u0440\u043a\u0438\u0301\u201d<\/strong> (\u201cto tie shoes\u201d). Idiomatically though, it means to \u201cstop doing something\u201d or \u201cto stop drinking\u201d in this context.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0420\u0443\u0301\u043a\u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0434\u044f\u0442 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d is a linguistic equivalent of a Frankenstein\u2019s monster stitched up from random parts. What can arms (\u201c\u0440\u0443\u0301\u043a\u0438<\/strong> \u201d) have to do with the negative of the verb for getting somewhere (\u201c\u043d\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0434\u044f\u0442<\/strong> \u201d) in order to look at something (\u201c\u043f\u043e\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d)? Do you know?\u00a0 Because I haven\u2019t gotten around to look that up (or should I say my hands didn\u2019t get to look that up). Wink-wink.<\/p>\n

You can use \u201c\u043d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u043d\u0430 \u0434\u0443\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0439<\/strong>\u201d to let the person annoying you know that they are annoying you. Physical proximity is not paramount, even though the phrase literally means \u201cdon\u2019t stand above my soul\u201d.<\/p>\n

And even though Google didn\u2019t stand a chance with the \u201c\u043d\u043e\u0301\u0433\u0438 \u0432 \u0440\u0443\u0301\u043a\u0438 \u0438 \u0432\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0451\u0434<\/strong>\u201d, its literal translation carries over the sentiment of \u201cyou should get started on that thing right away\u201d.<\/p>\n

Adjectival rivals<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. \u201c\u041e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0443\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong>\u201d is likely a compliment but can be a sarcastic remark depending on the speaker\u2019s intonation.<\/li>\n
  2. \u201c\u0423\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c<\/strong>\u201d is definitely a sarcasm.<\/li>\n
  3. \u201c\u0421\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c \u0443\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong>” is more of a threat and comes off as a suggestion for someone to stop talking.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For more, check out a similar blog I\u2019ve done on Russian phrases-homophones<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"sarcasm\"

    There is a fun Russian grammar post circulating online that’s said to have been compiled by the Associate Dean of Foreign Languages Faculty at Moscow State University, Alla Leonidovna Nazarenko. Most Russian speakers find the post funny, whimsical even, or at least curious. Today, we go over my favorites from her list. Brace yourselves for…<\/p>\n

    Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":13870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[6,8],"tags":[541488,13334,1237,1248,541487,111747,1696],"class_list":["post-13868","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar","category-language","tag-google-translate-russian","tag-learning-russian-is-fun","tag-russian-grammar","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-sarcasm","tag-useful-russian-phrases","tag-1696"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13868"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13901,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13868\/revisions\/13901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}