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Most foreign language speakers, me included are much better translating into their native language from the target language. Fortunately, I think this is what's more in demand in Russia. .
One of my best friends in Moscow works for a company that does movie/TV translations from English to Russian. She was born in Moscow and has lived there her whole life. She told me that translating comedies over is hard as hell because you have to get the desired effect and it's hard.
On a side note, in the past week, I have watched:
Operation Y and the Other Adventures of Shurik
Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions
Kidnapping, Caucasian Style
Gentlemen of Fortune
The 3 Shurik movies are absolutely hilarious. Gentlemen of Fortune was less funny, but funny nonetheless! Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions is definitely one of my favorite movies now.
One of my best friends in Moscow works for a company that does movie/TV translations from English to Russian. She was born in Moscow and has lived there her whole life. She told me that translating comedies over is hard as hell because you have to get the desired effect and it's hard.
On a side note, in the past week, I have watched:
Operation Y and the Other Adventures of Shurik
Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions
Kidnapping, Caucasian Style
Gentlemen of Fortune
The 3 Shurik movies are absolutely hilarious. Gentlemen of Fortune was less funny, but funny nonetheless! Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions is definitely one of my favorite movies now.
^
You are ready to live in Russia indeed)))
( These are the "cultural icons")
Oh, don't forget to add "Ironia sud'bi" and "Brilliantovay ruka" to the list and you are good to go.
Another general comment - when I went there frequently, dealing with various nuclear institutes, particularly Kurchatov - I made a point of always clearly NOT being any sort of spy or intel gatherer. I made it a point to stay with my escort, to participate in the legitimate work we were doing together, and not go "off topic". That's not to say I didn't hunt like Daniel Boone for new business, but I kept my nose out of any sensitive topic. I didn't bring home as much information as I could have - I debriefed truthfully, but I didn't make an effort to paint a picture with extraordinary detail. That kind of thing goes back and forth. With the way things are now, you can do that, and you will still be watched hard. The Russian intelligence services are always suspicious of Americans, we have had some bad actors who have given them reason to be suspicious. You as an American wanting to maybe even emigrate to Russia - well, there are not that many Americans who want to emigrate, period, and damn few to Russia, so, yeah, one reasonable explanation is that you are some sort of intelligence agent. So they are going to "go there", be ready for it.
Dumb question perhaps, after you posted this, but I'm still curious as to where you got your info, that they're watching Americans generally. You were in a special field. It's understandable, that they might have some concerns. But tourists? Or people visiting relatives? Or people doing academic research on a variety of subjects: archaeology, history, Native life ways, etc.? People collaborating with art museums, or whatever? I need more info, in order to believe that it goes that far, if it in fact does.
You know, it's very interesting. Even during the soviet period, I wasn't followed. And that was back when people weren't supposed to talk to foreigners at all, hardly. I found ways around the system, and made friends, and had fun. This is why I have trouble believing Americans are followed routinely now. But it's an important question to clarify.
Oh, don't forget to add "Ironia sud'bi" and "Brilliantovay ruka" to the list and you are good to go.
I will add those to my list! I obviously watched with English subtitles, but it's still just as funny. My close friend said that there are plenty of memes from that movie, and certain sayings are Jokes because of that movie. I think one was the line the Tsar says when he thinks he's trapped in the elevator and crosses himself?
I will watch one of the two tomorrow!
I've also started listening to some of the folks music...(The Alexandrov Ensemble is fantastic). The Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl (Katya! Katya! Katerina!), as well as others. Doesn't hurt me at all when I get to watch a few pretty women sing Zabolela Dunina Golovka...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
Dumb question perhaps, after you posted this, but I'm still curious as to where you got your info, that they're watching Americans generally. You were in a special field. It's understandable, that they might have some concerns. But tourists? Or people visiting relatives? Or people doing academic research on a variety of subjects: archaeology, history, Native life ways, etc.? People collaborating with art museums, or whatever? I need more info, in order to believe that it goes that far, if it in fact does.
You know, it's very interesting. Even during the soviet period, I wasn't followed. And that was back when people weren't supposed to talk to foreigners at all, hardly. I found ways around the system, and made friends, and had fun. This is why I have trouble believing Americans are followed routinely now. But it's an important question to clarify.
It's very hard for me to imagine this as well, but that's just because I grew up sheltered in the U.S my whole life.
Also...С ДНЁМ КОСМОНАВТИКИ!!!!
Last edited by CuriousAboutRussia; 04-12-2019 at 10:22 PM..
I will add those to my list! I obviously watched with English subtitles, but it's still just as funny. My close friend said that there are plenty of memes from that movie, and certain sayings are Jokes because of that movie. I think one was the line the Tsar says when he thinks he's trapped in the elevator and crosses himself? I will watch one of the two tomorrow!
I could never "get" the first one, ( however it's THE movie that's watched by generations before the New Year, sort of like "Miracle on the 34th street" before Christmas in the US, ) but the second one is a masterpiece IMHO.
Quote:
I've also started listening to some of the folks music...(The Alexandrov Ensemble is fantastic). The Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl (Katya! Katya! Katerina!), as well as others. Doesn't hurt me at all when I get to watch a few pretty women sing Zabolela Dunina Golovka...
Enjoy.
As for me -
( The best I can do under the circumstances is to watch GAANT from time to time ( Moiseev's ballet.)
While I'm pretty clueless about the topic at hand, the English teaching route is certainly very popular globally. A Russian guy told me last year that many Russians struggle with English due to the fact that the language has a very different structure to Russian, which is very much on point.
I know that personally, I would never be able to offer language courses since I'd be terrible at explaining different tenses.
On another note, and this goes for any place you travel to (not just Russia), avoid engaging in political discussions with locals or strangers. Some may try to pick your brains out, but the best way to sidestep the issue is to either politely decline or state that you're not interested in the matter.
Best of luck TC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by erasure
Yes.
English language has tendency to "cluster," where Russian tends to specify every little thing.
In a way Russian is closer to German ( or even Latin languages) in this respect, just not English.
So would I, and not "different tenses" only)))
English, unlike Russian, has a strictly defined word order in a sentence. In Russian, you can change the order of words in a sentence and the meaning will not change. Therefore, in the initial study of the language we try to speak English using the Russian structure of sentences.I think it looks funny in English. I have heard that, in terms of grammar and sentence structure, Russian is very close to French.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
Dumb question perhaps, after you posted this, but I'm still curious as to where you got your info, that they're watching Americans generally. You were in a special field. It's understandable, that they might have some concerns. But tourists? Or people visiting relatives? Or people doing academic research on a variety of subjects: archaeology, history, Native life ways, etc.? People collaborating with art museums, or whatever? I need more info, in order to believe that it goes that far, if it in fact does.
You know, it's very interesting. Even during the soviet period, I wasn't followed. And that was back when people weren't supposed to talk to foreigners at all, hardly. I found ways around the system, and made friends, and had fun. This is why I have trouble believing Americans are followed routinely now. But it's an important question to clarify.
I think all this spy mania is hyped up by the Western media. Especially when every Russian in the West is seen as a spy. In Russia live, work and study thousands of foreigners and that agents FSB watch for all they? That's nounsense. I think not for whom not secret that agents work mostly under the cover of embassies and various government organizations. So I think what intelligence agencies don't care to ordinary foreigners if they do not go where it's not necessary.
English, unlike Russian, has a strictly defined word order in a sentence. In Russian, you can change the order of words in a sentence and the meaning will not change. Therefore, in the initial study of the language we try to speak English using the Russian structure of sentences.I think it looks funny in English.
Yeah.. Strange kinda.
Quote:
I have heard that, in terms of grammar and sentence structure, Russian is very close to French.
Clo-ser than Englsih, but not really "very close."
Quote:
I think all this espionage is hyped up by the Western media. Especially when every Russian in the West is seen as a spy. In Russia live, work and study thousands of foreigners and that agents FSB watch for all they? That's nounsense. I think not for whom not secret that agents work mostly under the cover of embassies and various government organizations. So I think what intelligence agencies don't care to ordinary foreigners if they do not go where it's not necessary.
One of my best friends in Moscow works for a company that does movie/TV translations from English to Russian. She was born in Moscow and has lived there her whole life. She told me that translating comedies over is hard as hell because you have to get the desired effect and it's hard.
On a side note, in the past week, I have watched:
Operation Y and the Other Adventures of Shurik
Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions
Kidnapping, Caucasian Style
Gentlemen of Fortune
The 3 Shurik movies are absolutely hilarious. Gentlemen of Fortune was less funny, but funny nonetheless! Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions is definitely one of my favorite movies now.
More to the list;
Irony of Fate (NYE custom to watch)
Moscow does not Believe in tears
Quiet Flows the Don (and reading the book is a must)
Love and Dove
Also;
Yellow flowers and even number flowers are for things like a grave. For a girl, give an odd number and any color but red. Put your empty glass bottle on the floor, not the table, and watch that spiced vodka, lol.
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In Russia live, work and study thousands of foreigners and that agents FSB watch for all they? That's nounsense. I think not for whom not secret that agents work mostly under the cover of embassies and various government organizations. So I think what intelligence agencies don't care to ordinary foreigners if they do not go where it's not necessary.
