{"id":155,"date":"2008-09-02T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-09-02T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=155"},"modified":"2014-07-16T18:22:08","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T18:22:08","slug":"learning-%e2%80%98conversational-russian%e2%80%99","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/learning-%e2%80%98conversational-russian%e2%80%99\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning \u2018Conversational Russian\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A good textbook often reads just like a novel. One excellent example of this is Helen Yakobson\u2019s \u201cConversational Russian: An Intermediate Course\u201d<\/a> from 1985 [\u043f\u0440\u0438<\/em> The George Washington University<\/a>]. Earlier this summer I found it in a box up in my mother\u2019s attic marked \u201cRussian books\u201d, this pale orange and tattered little book of no more than 223 pages. I bought it in a used bookstore in Key West<\/a> back in 2003, and brought it with me as a constant companion during my first two years in Russia. It never failed me, not when it came to come up with a good expression to survive a road trip in Ukraine (who knew \u00ab\u0411\u043e\u0433 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442!\u00bb<\/strong> would go down so well with the road police?), nor when I needed to spice my homework with fascinating phrases (\u00ab\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span><\/span>\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u043b\u0435\u0441 \u0437\u0430 \u0433\u0440\u0438\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> translated as \u2018to go mushroom hunting\u2019 might have fascinated me more than the Russian version). Since there isn\u2019t much information available on the internet about this wonderful little book, I thought I\u2019d give you a quick tour of the main goodies it has to offer. But beware \u2013 it is not recommended reading for anyone who has yet to learn how to distance oneself enough from the Soviet Union to crack a smile about it once in a while. Of course, considering we might be heading toward another \u00ab\u0445\u043e\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong><\/a> [cold war], something that Medvedev claims to be unafraid of<\/a>, it is perhaps politically incorrect to enjoy this trip down memory lane too much\u2026 But this isn\u2019t just fun or simply sweet, it is an important document of times gone by. Through all its fifteen units the textbook follows a red line of dialogue between the USA and the USSR. Rather impressive, I\u2019d say!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sometimes there\u2019s just too much stuff out there directed at us Russophiles and we can\u2019t make sense of it all\u2026 but! Be on the look out in old and used bookstores for the little orange-looking thing in the middle with the black and white photo of people in phone boxes on it <\/a>[it brings you right back, now doesn\u2019t it?].<\/em><\/div>\n


\nThe book consists, as I mentioned above, of fifteen chapters. They are properly named \u2018lessons\u2019<\/em> and deal with all sorts of things commonly found in textbooks directed at those trying to master a foreign language. Let\u2019s take a quick look at what kind phrases can be found in some of the chapters.<\/p>\n

In the first chapter, Lesson one: GREETINGS<\/big>, we are informed of \u2018some features of Conversational Russian\u2019<\/em>. A closer look at, yet still rather brief view of which I seem fitting to all:<\/p>\n

\u201cSpoken Russian differs from written Russian in its use of shorter sentences, contraction of grammatical forms, and colloquialisms<\/a>. Spoken Russian abunds in ejaculations<\/a>, metaphors<\/a>, hyperboles<\/a> and slang<\/a>. It is made more colourful by the frequent use of proverbs<\/a> and popular sayings<\/a>. [\u2026] Some of the more common interjections and expressions are listed below. Remember that \u00ab\u043d\u0443\u00bb<\/strong>, \u00ab\u0434\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>, \u00ab\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>, can be added at will to almost any of these expressions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00ab(\u0434\u0430) \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u043e!\u00bb<\/strong> = (yes) quite correct!<\/p>\n

\u00ab(\u0430) \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0435\u0442.\u00bb <\/strong>= (but) that\u2019s alright with me.<\/p>\n

\u00ab(\u043d\u043e) \u043e\u0431 \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u043c \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442 \u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c \u0438 \u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u0438!\u00bb<\/strong> = (but) it is out of the question!<\/p>\n

In lesson twelve: IN THE CITY<\/big> we are invited to come along on two trips to big cities, the first with two Americans visiting Moscow<\/a> and the second with a Mr. Bochkarev who\u2019s arriving in New York<\/a>. Among the phrases found in the text about being new and an alien in Moscow were such as:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0435<\/span>\u0445\u0430\u043b \u043f\u043e \u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u043c \u0432 \u043a\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0443\u00bb <\/strong>= came on official business.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u043d\u0430\u043c \u0441 \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> = we are going the same way.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u044f \u0432\u044b\u0445\u043e\u0436\u0443<\/span> \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0435\u0439 \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> = I get off at the next stop.<\/p>\n

Whereas the sentences considered useful in connection with New York were as follows:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0432 \u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0439 \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u00bb<\/strong> = for the first and last time.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span> \u043a\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> = head spins (feel dizzy)<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b\u0439 \u0436\u0438\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0442 \u043f\u043e-\u0441\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u043c\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> = everyone lives in his own way.<\/p>\n

But the most food for thought is offered in chapter 18: PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE DIPLOMACY<\/big>, which also carries the Russian title of \u00ab\u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u0442\u0443\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044b \u0432 \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [American tourists in Moscow]. Through such texts as \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0438\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0434 \u0432 \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0443<\/span>\u00bb <\/strong>[Arrival in Moscow], \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430 \u043f\u043e \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [A walk around in Moscow], \u00ab\u0420\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0440 \u0432 \u0433\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u043c \u0418\u043d\u0442\u0443\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [A conversation with a guide from Intourist], \u00ab\u0412\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u0430 \u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u0441\u0442\u0443\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u043e\u0432 \u0441 \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u043a\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0441\u0442\u0443\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u0430\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong>[American students\u2019 meeting with Soviet students], and \u00ab\u0422\u0443\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044b \u043e\u0431\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044e\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0432\u043f\u0435\u0447\u0430\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [The tourists exchange impressions] we follow a group of Russian-speaking American tourists around the capital trying to make sense of the Soviet Union in mid80\u2019s<\/a>. Of course, this was no easy piece of bliny<\/a> to bake, but rather difficult. To their aid, luckily, they had handy expressions like these:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044b \u0441 \u043e\u0442\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> = rooms with private baths.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0441 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438 \u0441\u043e\u0446\u0438\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430\u00bb <\/strong>= to get to know the achievements of socialist construction.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0443<\/span>\u0437\u043a\u043e-\u044d\u0433\u043e\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0435\u043c\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> = narrow-egoistical aspirations.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> = \u201cStalin Gothic\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u043d\u0435\u0442 \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430 \u2018\u0431\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u043c\u2019\u00bb<\/strong> = we have no use for people who do not want to dirty their hands with work.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0447\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u043c \u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0449\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> = to be a useful member of society.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u0432\u0435\u0434\u0451<\/span>\u0442 \u043a \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435 \u0438\u043d\u0434\u0438\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0443\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> = it leads to the loss of individuality.<\/p>\n

Yes, I admit that this \u2018selection\u2019<\/em> of mine above is tremendously prejudiced. I can only defend myself by saying that I was born when this book was printed and thus never got to experience \u2018the promised land\u2019<\/em><\/a>, and no matter how disastrous<\/a> or contradictive<\/a> or destructive<\/a> it may have been I still wish I had been able to catch just a glimpse of it. This book gives a tiny bit of what I never had and, hopefully, never will have, I suppose. Apart from being soaked in intense amounts of Soviet memorabilia<\/a>, this book also contains much constructive material that hasn\u2019t gone out of style just because statues of Lenin <\/a>did. But don\u2019t take my word for it, go find out for yourselves! And if you\u2019d much rather learn \u2018Colloquial Russian\u2019<\/a> instead, break a leg!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A good textbook often reads just like a novel. One excellent example of this is Helen Yakobson\u2019s \u201cConversational Russian: An Intermediate Course\u201d from 1985 [\u043f\u0440\u0438 The George Washington University]. Earlier this summer I found it in a box up in my mother\u2019s attic marked \u201cRussian books\u201d, this pale orange and tattered little book of no…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,8,995],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-155","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-culture","category-language","category-soviet-union"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155","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\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6079,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155\/revisions\/6079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}