{"id":3373,"date":"2012-07-17T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2012-07-17T08:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=3373"},"modified":"2014-07-17T18:36:50","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T18:36:50","slug":"if-you-dont-have-ozhegov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/if-you-dont-have-ozhegov\/","title":{"rendered":"If You Don’t Have Ozhegov"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

A few days ago I was at a weekly \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (tea party) with my Russian friends when the conversation turned to Russian books. After discussing how difficult and expensive it is to buy \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0438 \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0438<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0438<\/strong> (interesting high quality of print books), we talked about books we all brought with us years ago, when we moved from Russia. Not to date ourselves, but in those days of dial-up connections we brought lots of \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (dictionaries) with us.<\/p>\n

Since then both our Internet connections and our English skills improved dramatically. I got rid of most of my printed dictionaries. Yet even to this day when writing and translating I have occasional brain freezes and need to look up words and phrases. Here are the tools that I use:<\/p>\n

1. \u0412\u0438\u043a\u0438\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u044c<\/strong> (Russian Wiktionary) – Rob has already covered this wonderful resource in his post about \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u044c \u041e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/strong><\/a> (Ozhegov Dictionary of the Russian Language).<\/p>\n

2. \u0412\u0438\u043a\u0438\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (Russian Wikipedia) – ok, so Wikipedia articles in different languages are not necessarily translations of the original article. However, you can definitely use it as a reference for professional, technical terms or pop culture terms (it\u2019s invaluable in figuring out Russian translation of the Star Wars saga). Besides, it\u2019s a handy way to check whether the word in question is used in a given context.<\/p>\n

3. \u0413\u0440\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0430.\u0440\u0443<\/a><\/strong> – this is one of the best sites for reliably accurate \u0441\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0447\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0438\u043d\u0444\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (reference information). You do need to know some Russian as the interface is entirely in Russian and there are no images. But the site is so helpful that your efforts will pay off.<\/p>\n

To begin with, you can check spelling and word stress of any word with the \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430 \u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430<\/strong> (word check) function. Heck, you can even check entire sentences and paragraphs for errors with \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430 \u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (text check). However, keep in mind that this function works as a spell checker, alerting you only to \u043e\u0440\u0444\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0430\u0444\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u043e\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0431\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (spelling mistakes), not to \u043e\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0431\u043a\u0438 \u043f\u0443\u043d\u043a\u0442\u0443\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0438<\/strong> (punctuation mistakes).<\/p>\n

But the coolest \u0444\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (here: uber cool feature) of this site is its \u0441\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0431\u044e\u0440\u043e<\/span><\/strong> (information desk). Once you \u0437\u0430\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (register) on and \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (log in) to the site, you can ask just about any grammar questions you can think of, including questions about punctuation, word usage, and style. If you don\u2019t feel like registering, you can still search through extensive, over 250,000 entries, database of already-answered questions.<\/p>\n

4. Multitran.ru<\/a><\/strong> – If all you need is a simple and quick online dictionary that would let you translate from your language into Russian and back, then Google Translate will do. Just don\u2019t rely on it too much. But if you need a rich choice of contextual options, head over to Multitran. First, you will be prompted to \u0432\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span> \u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e \u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u0444\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0443 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0430<\/strong> (enter word or phrase to be translated) and select a language from a drop-down menu. The default selection is \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/strong> (English). Next you click \u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u0441\u043a<\/strong> (search) button and get an entire page of results with lots and lots of options to choose from.<\/p>\n

The cool thing about Multitran is that the results are sorted into groups. Now you can choose the most appropriate translation based on a given context, whether you are working with a text about laws, gaming, engineering, cooking, etc.<\/p>\n

The problem here is that the site uses lots of abbreviations for these groups. This might be an issue for a non-native speaker. So here are a few commonly used ones:<\/p>\n

\u043e\u0431\u0449<\/strong><\/em>. – \u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0449\u0435\u0435<\/strong> (general, non-specialized)
\n\u0431\u0430\u043d\u043a.<\/strong><\/em> – \u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e<\/strong> (banking)
\n\u0431\u0438\u0437\u043d<\/em>. – \u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u0435\u0441<\/strong> (business)
\n\u0432\u044b\u0447.<\/em> – \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0447\u0443\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/del><\/strong> (fanciful, mannered) Note: As Phil pointed out in the comments, \u0432\u044b\u0447. actually means <\/em><\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0447\u0438\u0441\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0445\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/strong><\/em> (computers) in Multitran. Thank you, Phil.<\/em><\/span>
\n\u0415\u0411\u0420\u0420<\/strong><\/em> – \u0415\u0432\u0440\u043e\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0431\u0430\u043d\u043a \u0440\u0435\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0446\u0438\u0438 \u0438 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
\n\u043a\u043e\u043c\u043f.<\/em> – \u043a\u043e\u043c\u043f\u044c\u044e<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0445\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (IT, computers)
\n\u043c\u0435\u0434.<\/em> – \u043c\u0435\u0434\u0438\u0446\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430<\/strong> (medical)
\n\u0441\u043b.<\/em> – \u0441\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0433<\/strong> (slang)
\n\u0442\u0435\u0445.<\/em> – \u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0445\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (technology)
\n\u044d\u043a\u043e\u043d.<\/em> – \u044d\u043a\u043e\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (economics)
\n\u044e\u0440<\/em>. – \u044e\u0440\u0438\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043c\u0438\u043d<\/strong> (legal terminology)<\/p>\n

If you encounter a confusing abbreviation that\u2019s not on this list, simply mouse over it and you will see its full name (in Russian).<\/p>\n

Another \u043a\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0448\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (cool thing) that Multitran allows you to do is to search for translated phrases that use the word you\u2019re working with.<\/p>\n

The biggest drawback of Multitran is that it\u2019s not always accurate. It\u2019s a community-developed resource, but without apparent quality control mechanisms. Sometimes suggested translations are wildly off the mark, especially with slang terms, human resources, and some idiomatic expressions. When in doubt, go with translation options in the \u0415\u0411\u0420\u0420<\/strong> and \u041c\u0430\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432<\/strong> groups.<\/p>\n

5. Proz.com<\/a><\/strong> – Multitran falls short when it comes to translating entire phrases and idioms. It is also clumsy with \u043d\u0435\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0433\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043c\u044b<\/strong> (newly-coined words and phrases), literary turns of phrases, and such. After all, it\u2019s just a dictionary. That\u2019s exactly why Proz.com is such a great resource.<\/p>\n

Proz.com is a huge community of translators and interpreters. However, you don\u2019t have to be one to join (and it\u2019s free for basic accounts). Even before you join the site, you can search its extensive glossaries in the Terminology section and existing KudoZ questions. Once you join, you can start asking questions yourself. Here\u2019s the twist – not only can ProZ members ask and answer questions, but rate other answers and comment on them.<\/p>\n

These are some very powerful online translation resources. So use them wisely and \u0434\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u0441 \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0438 \u0421\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0430 \u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (may the Force of the Russian language be with you!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

A few days ago I was at a weekly \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438\u0442\u0438\u0435 (tea party) with my Russian friends when the conversation turned to Russian books. After discussing how difficult and expensive it is to buy \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0438 \u043a\u0430\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0438\u0437\u0434\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0438 (interesting high quality of print books), we talked about books we all brought with us years ago…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":3377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[165030,165028,165027,165029,165033,1237,165031,165026,165032],"class_list":["post-3373","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-multitran","tag-online-russian-dictionary","tag-online-translation","tag-proz-com","tag-russian-dictionary","tag-russian-grammar","tag-russian-spell-check","tag-russian-translation","tag-russian-wikipedia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3373","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\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3373"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6480,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3373\/revisions\/6480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}