Writing for the Russian blog is, without any doubt, one of the most interesting and rewarding things I\u2019ve done up until now. Not only do I get to better my English (how else would I learn the difference between \u201cenunciation\u201d and \u201cannunciation\u201d) and watching \u041d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0430 \u0420\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0430<\/strong> (Our Russia) for hours on end, but I get to improve my native language.<\/p>\n For example, thanks to the blog, I am now reading \u0421\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e \u043e \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0445<\/strong> (A Word About Words) by \u041b\u0435\u0432 \u0423\u0441\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/strong> (Lev Uspensky), a Russian \u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c<\/strong> (writer) and \u0444\u0438\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0433<\/strong> (philologist).<\/p>\n \u0418\u0437 \u0432\u0441\u0435\u0445 \u043e\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u0437\u044b<\/span>\u043a – \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u043e\u0435 \u0443\u0434\u0438\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0438 \u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/strong> (Of all the tools language is the most amazing and complex)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n says Uspensky at the beginning of his book. He then adds that to achieve mastery of a tool one must know \u0434\u043e \u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0439<\/strong> (to the finest details) how this tool works and what it is made out of.<\/p>\n If you ever wonder about all the inconsistencies and quirks of the Russian language, then this is the book for you. It is available free online<\/a>, but only in its original Russian. If you know where we can find its English translation (if it even exists), please share in the comments.<\/p>\n I came across this book while reading about the phrase \u0433\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0430\u044f \u043a\u0443\u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430 \u0448\u0442\u0435\u043a\u043e \u0431\u043e\u0434\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430 \u0431\u043e\u043a\u0440\u0430 \u0438 \u043a\u0443\u0434\u043b\u0430\u0447\u0438\u0442 \u0431\u043e\u043a\u0440\u0451\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong>. Not a single word in this phrase can be found in the dictionary (ok, except for the \u0441\u043e\u044e<\/span>\u0437<\/strong> (conjunction) \u0438<\/strong>. And yet, if you know Russian, you will understand the general meaning, the gist, of the phrase. Just like if you know English you will deduce the gist of another famous nonsensical phrase \u201cThe iggle squiggs trazed wombly in the harlish hoop<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n Of course, when it comes to non-existing words, nothing comes even close to \u0411\u0430\u0440\u043c\u0430\u0433\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0442<\/strong>. Ok, so this one you probably already know. Here\u2019s how it goes:<\/p>\n \u0412\u0430\u0440\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c. \u0425\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u0448\u043e\u0440\u044c\u043a\u0438<\/span><\/strong> If you\u2019re not sure what I\u2019m talking about, here\u2019s the original English version you might be more familiar with:<\/p>\n \u2018Twas brillig, and the slithy toves<\/em> Yes, that was Jabberwocky<\/em> in Russian.<\/p>\n So I discovered \u0421\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e \u043e \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0445<\/strong> (A Word about Words) while reading about \u0433\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0430\u044f \u043a\u0443\u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430<\/strong> which, in turn, I found by way of \u0411\u0430\u0440\u043c\u0430\u0433\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0442<\/strong>\/Jabberwocky. And I was reminded about \u0411\u0430\u0440\u043c\u0430\u0433\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0442<\/strong> while helping with a Russian-language version of Transparent’s new online game.<\/p>\n The Russian version is not ready yet, but you can try out the original English language one, called Which is English<\/a>, to get an idea of how the game is played. The rules are simple: you are presented with two words or phrases, one real and the other one – fake. You must click on the real word. If you choose correctly, you are given a new, slightly more difficult, pair. The more correct answer you give, the higher your score gets and, consequently, the more difficult the game becomes. Simple, yet addictive.<\/p>\n My role consists of creating fake words for the Russian version. This is not as simple or straightforward as it sounds. Don\u2019t believe me? Well, give it a go then.<\/p>\n Below is a list of 10 real Russian words. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to create 10 fake words, similar in length to the real ones. Post your fake words in the comments. The 10 that sound the most like Russian words without being actual Russian words will be used in the game. Their authors will be honored in a pre-release blog post. Ready for the challenge? Here we go:<\/p>\n Example: \u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0430 – \u0433\u0440\u0435\u0436\u0430<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t worry if you don’t know what these words mean. Just fake them and share your fakes here or on the Facebook page<\/a>. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (If you don’t feel like reading the entire post, skip to the end\u00a0for a fun challenge)\u00a0 Writing for the Russian blog is, without any doubt, one of the most interesting and rewarding things I\u2019ve done up until now. Not only do I get to better my English (how else would I learn the difference between…<\/p>\n
\n\u041f\u044b\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u043f\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0432\u0435<\/span>.<\/strong>
\n\u0418 \u0445\u0440\u044e\u043a\u043e\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u0437\u0435\u043b\u044e\u043a\u0438<\/span>,<\/strong>
\n\u041a\u0430\u043a \u043c\u044e<\/span>\u043c\u0437\u0438\u043a\u0438 \u0432 \u043c\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nDid gyre and gymble in the wabe;<\/em>
\nAnd mimsy were the borogoves<\/em>
\nAnd the mome raths outgrabe.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2012\/07\/WhichIsEnglish-1024x490.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2012\/07\/WhichIsEnglish-350x168.jpg\")