{"id":14814,"date":"2021-11-22T16:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=14814"},"modified":"2021-11-22T17:06:39","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T17:06:39","slug":"thanks-mama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/thanks-mama\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanks, mama."},"content":{"rendered":"

Understanding humor in another language is a whole new level of engaging with it. Those learning Russian know that \u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0301\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0438<\/strong> \u041c\u043e\u0433\u0443\u0301\u0447\u0438\u0439 \u0420\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u042f\u0437\u044b\u0301\u043a <\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>The Great and Mighty Russian language<\/span>, being the rich language that it is, loves to indulge in word play and irony. That can be a bit confusing, but with practice and exposure to more Russian jokes, you will soon find yourself not only chuckling at \u0430\u043d\u0435\u043a\u0434\u043e\u0301\u0442\u044b \u0438 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0301\u043b\u044b<\/strong> 2<\/a><\/sup>jokes and gags<\/span> but coming up with a few of your own in conversation.<\/p>\n

A couple of my friends forwarded me the post below and I thought it was funny and quite telling of the way Russian humor works. Most of its humor is straight-forward about making fun of things that moms stereotypically do, however a few points require a bit of grammar reference. Back in 2013 Rob has done a similar thing \u2013 check out his wonderful blog here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"joke

Image from author’s phone<\/p><\/div>\n

*And by the way, the forwarded picture above has a grammatical error. Let me know in the comments if you caught it \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Now, the overarching theme of this joke post is the juxtaposition of the formal way the \u201cmom lessons\u201d are labeled and the flashback one-sentence examples that are followed. However, there are a few grammar points that are worth going over.<\/p>\n

\u041c\u0430<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/strong> \u043d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u0438<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u043b\u0430<\/strong> \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/strong>\u0301 <\/strong>\u043c\u043d\u043e<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u043c\u0443<\/strong> (My mom taught me a lot of things):<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \u041f\u0440\u0435\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0437\u043c\u043e\u0301\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0435. \u00ab\u0417\u0430\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u0440\u043e\u0442 \u0438 \u0435\u0448\u044c \u0441\u0443\u043f\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Do the impossible. \u201cShut up and eat your soup.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The Russian joke makes it especially funny because \u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u0440\u043e\u0442<\/strong> is literally \u201cclose your mouth\u201d, which is the opposite of what one does when eating soup. Another way you could say \u201cshut up\u201d is \u201c\u0437\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043b\u0447\u0438<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u201d which is a bit less rough, though, now that I think of it, there isn\u2019t really a polite way to tell someone to stop talking.<\/p>\n

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      \u041e\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u0430\u043c \u0440\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0433\u0438\u0438. \u00ab\u041c\u043e\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0441\u044c, \u0447\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0431\u044b \u044d\u0301\u0442\u0430 \u0433\u0430\u0301\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043e\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Religious foundation. \u201cPray that this ghastly thing comes off.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u0413\u0430<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is such a great Russian word. Remember, \u0418\u0440\u043e\u0301\u043d\u0438\u044f \u0421\u0443\u0434\u044c\u0431\u044b \u0438\u0301\u043b\u0438 \u0421 \u043b\u0451\u0433\u043a\u0438\u043c \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043e\u043c? This scene<\/a> in the movie where he says \u201c\u041a\u0430\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0433\u0430\u0301\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c, \u043a\u0430\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0433\u0430\u0301\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c, \u044d\u0301\u0442\u0430 \u0432\u0430\u0301\u0448\u0430 \u0437\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0432\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0440\u044b\u0301\u0431\u0430!\u201d<\/strong> (\u201cWhat a ghastly thing is this fish aspic dish of yours!\u201d) is all the definition you need to understand just how disgusting, abominable, and ghastly something is when you have to call it \u0433\u0430<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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        \u041b\u043e\u0301\u0433\u0438\u043a\u0435. \u00ab\u041f\u043e\u0442\u043e\u043c\u0443\u0301 \u0447\u0442\u043e \u044f \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0430\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Logic. \u201cBecause I said so.\u201d<\/p>\n

        Russian moms are famous for answering the \u201c\u041f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>?\u201d with \u201c\u041f\u043e\u0442\u043e\u043c\u0443<\/strong>\u0301 <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n

        \"mom

        Image by Karolina Grabowska<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0Pexels<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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          \u0421\u0442\u043e<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0439\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong>. <\/strong>\u00ab\u041d\u0435 \u0432\u044b\u0301\u0439\u0434\u0435\u0448\u044c \u0438\u0437-\u0437\u0430\u0301 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0430\u0301, \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0301 \u043d\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u0435\u0301\u0448\u044c\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Resilience. \u201cYou are not leaving the table until you finish your plate.\u201d<\/p>\n

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            \u0421\u043c\u0435\u043b\u043e \u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0431\u0443\u0301\u0434\u0443\u0449\u0435\u0435. \u00ab\u041d\u0443 \u044f \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0430 \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435\u0301 \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0301\u044e\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Look out into the future bravely. \u201cI\u2019m gonna scold you when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

            \u0423\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u044e<\/strong> can be a very confusing verb here. You might think: \u201cIs the mom going to build something or is it about setting someone up with a job? Isn\u2019t \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> also used to talk about organizing parties?\u201d \u0421\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> means to build, \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u043d\u0430<\/strong> \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0443<\/strong> is to get someone a job, \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u0432\u0435\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043a\u0443<\/strong> is to organize a party.\u00a0\u0423\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c <\/strong>on its own\u00a0can also mean \u201cgive someone a good talking to\u201d.<\/p>\n

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              \u041e\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u0430\u043c \u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0301\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0438. \u00ab\u0422\u044b \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0436\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0442\u0432\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0446\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Foundations of genetics. \u201cYou are just like your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

              \"girl

              Image by Mikhail Nilov<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0Pexels<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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                \u041f\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0438\u043d\u043d\u043e-\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0441\u0432\u044f\u0301\u0437\u044f\u043c. \u00ab\u041d\u0438\u043a\u0443\u0434\u0430\u0301 \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0439\u0434\u0451\u0448\u044c, \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0301 \u0432\u0441\u044f \u043a\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0442\u0438\u0301\u0440\u0430 \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u0443\u0301\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u0431\u043b\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Cause-and-effect relations. \u201cYou are not going anywhere until the whole apartment is clean.\u201d<\/p>\n

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                  \u0414\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0436\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0438\u044e \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0301\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0446\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439. \u00ab\u0425\u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0448\u044c \u0447\u0430\u0439? \u0418\u0434\u0438<\/strong>\u0301, <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0435<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0439<\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Reaching your goals. \u201cYou want tea? Go and get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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                    \u0421\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438. \u00ab\u042f \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435\u0301 \u0442\u0443\u0442 \u043d\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Independence. \u201cI\u2019m not your maid.\u201d<\/p>\n

                    \"boy

                    Image by Kampus Production<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0Pexels<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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                      \u041f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u0440\u0430\u0437\u043b\u0438<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0435<\/strong> \u0444\u043e<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0440\u043c\u044b<\/strong>. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043b\u044f<\/strong>\u0301<\/strong>\u0439\u0441\u044f<\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Assume many forms. \u201cWrap up.\u201d<\/p>\n

                      This last one is a killer joke once you understand the verb \u201c\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong>\u201d. At its root is the noun \u201c\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433<\/strong>\u201d which is a \u2018circle\u2019. There is a verb \u201c\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u0433\u0443\u043b\u044f\u0442\u044c<\/strong>\u201d which can be used literally, as in \u201c\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u0443\u0433\u043b\u044b<\/strong> \u0444\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/strong>\u201d \u2018round the corners of the photo\u2019. But as soon as you add the reflexive \u2013\u0441\u044f<\/strong> this verbs means \u201cto wrap up\/to finish up\u201d. That\u2019s why \u201cmom\u2019s lesson #10\u201d talks about \u201c\u0444\u043e\u0440\u043c\u044b<\/strong>\u201d (forms) \u2013 it\u2019s a play on the word \u2018\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong> which can be jokingly read as \u201cbecome a circle\u201d but really means \u201cfinish up whatever you are doing\u201d.<\/p>\n