Feb 03 18:19:28 109 PA - The Russian Language More Advanced

From Chronicles

Feb 03 18:19:28 109 PA.

PAVEL'S FORGE AND MEADOW

With Fizzlesnoot having been staying with him these past few weeks, Pavel has been happy enough to have a little extra in the way of transporting raw materials here and there. Even a few light pieces of equipment taken into the city to be sold. The entire time has been spent trying to converse in Russian as best he could, total immersion as it were. Finally, he has taken time to sit down with his temporary roommate for what may be the final lesson. Once more, he brings out the hated technological translator just to ensure that there is no confusion, then sets himself comfortably on one of the big pillow piles.

Fizzlesnoot has done his best to help around the shop, his small stature not best suited to this type of task however, but always putting his best into it. He's not the complaining type, just get the work done, when it's done, one can relax and enjoy the rest. The little guy finds himself comfortably set across from Pavel eager to continue the lessons.

Smiling, Pavel pops on the translator and begins speaking. Clear words in American begin to emit from the thing three seconds later, though he obviously continues to speak in his native tongue. << Dobryj vyechyer, moi drug! >> Which comes out as, "Good evening, my friend!" << So, do you think that you've been doing well? Have you been practicing your 't' sounds? >>

Fizzlesnoot kinda frowns a bit with the translator, but understands its purpose with the lessons, << Yes, come much easier, >> nodding along with his answer. << Still make mistake sometimes. How you think I'm doing? >>

Pavel smiles. << Fizzlesnoot does well! You're doing a good job of leaving out the extra words. But if you listen to me speak... they are implied, even though they are not actually spoken. You need to learn how to use your tone of voice to make others know that they're there. >> He nods and waves a hand. << Now, say 't', 'k', and 'p' for me, without the hard clicking of the tongue with the consonant. >>

Fizzlesnoot mimics the three sounds, "Teh, Kah, Peh." Not perfect, but close. His mouth and tongue are slightly different from a human version of a pie hole. << How that? >>

<< That is close, >> Pavel says, but moves back into a previous lesson. He attempts to clarify the lack of words. << 'I will see you later, Anya, I go to store, stop at butcher, go to bar for some drinks, grab beer because vodka is shit at that place. Maybe he's asshole or something, but I will pay him anyway.' Or as you said before, 'Yes, it comes much easier. I still make mistakes sometimes, how am I doing?' We leave out participles, but it doesn't mean that we sound like cavemen. Plurals? Yes! It's 'the, a, an, to' and the combined 'to be' that never gets used. >> He leaves a moment for that to sink in, before instructing, << Same letters. I know what you're trying to do, but you're going too far, and puffing air from your mouth. Say it until you no longer puff air. >>

Fizzlesnoot listens carefully to the way Pavel speaks, listening to his rhythm, tone, and pace of the words he says. <> giving a shake of his head a second, << Bigger words are remembered better. Gets choppy when I do that, I know. More I use, the better I will get. >>

<< Exactly, >> Pavel says with a smile. << You're doing very well for the length of time that you've been listening and learning. Now, this is a very difficult thing to teach. I really don't know any other way to tell you than what I know myself. I'm sure that a proper school teacher could tell you better. But some nouns - you know what a noun is? A person, place or thing, essentially. Nouns have 'gender.' American words? Everything is just a word. In Russian? It can change the meaning of a word. For instance, 'rebenka' means a baby girl, while 'rebenko' would be a baby boy. All of the language is like that. You might get a patronymic. If your father's name was Daniel, and you were a girl, it would be Danielovna. For a son, it would be Danielovich. >>

Fizzlesnoot cocks his head funny at first as this is explained, but as his teacher goes on, it seems to start making sense to him. << What is rule to know difference? I'm guessing there is rule, even American has rules for certain aspects, just makes sense. >>

Pavel shakes his head. << Mostly, you simply need to learn. Some things are always male. Strong things, cliché. Weaker things, women. But not always, as I believe I told you last time that Russian women are considered just as strong as Russian men. Still, old habits die hard. This is when simple time becomes the best teacher. >>

Fizzlesnoot wrinkles his brow with the answer of no rule. << Odd there is no rule letting you know. Growing up with the language, you probably didn't notice, just made sense to you, will make sense to me soon enough. So all Russians are strong like you? >>

<< Like me? No. But I'm a very special case. All Russians are strong, particularly our women. However, I'll talk to you about that when we're finished, >> Pavel says, waggling a thick finger in the D-Bee's direction. << If you're actually going to be speaking Russian to a native speaker, you'll be immediately caught in some simple things. Like... perhaps you will find yourself with a beautiful young woman? No? >> He smirks. << If she says, 'U vas jazyk - prinesti!' it does not actually mean, 'show me your tongue.' It's an invitation - 'You have a tongue, use it!' See, all these little things that you must learn not through books, but by immersing yourself in the culture. With me, with Rasputin at Yakov's Deli, with the small Russian enclave in the 'Dregs. If you don't learn these things? You will... as I had to learn, 'stick out like a sore thumb.' >>

Fizzlesnoot nods along with all the tips and instructions, << I didn't know there were others to learn from, I knew about Deli, not enclave in Dregs, I try to avoid that place unless I have to. It's not very nice place, many bad things happen there, some very bad things. >>

The blacksmith-cum-language tutor nods. << Yes, I know. I either come and go during the day, or stay with Anya over the night. But you can stay there and speak with them. It's a nice enough place. Rasputin, too, he's a good man. Now, say, 'Na zerkalo necha penyat', koli rozha kriva.' Make sure that you really roll your 'r's. I can see by your mouth that it may be difficult... but if you don't you will sound, as we say, 'like a goat.' >> Pavel looks on, waiting.

Fizzlesnoot repeats the phrase paying particular attention to the rolling of the R's, the translator spewing out shortly after he says it, "On a mirror ???? to expostulate, if the physiognomy is curve." the R's are not that difficult to him when he gets the words actually correct, but he does have a distinct sound to his rolling R's.

Pavel leans back, throwing his head backwards, laughing and clapping his hands. << Yes, yes. This is why I hate translators. Some of those words are correct. Others vaguely express the definition. But it means none of that. It means to us Russians, 'Don't blame a broken mirror for your ugliness.' See, see? This is what I'm saying. You must live in the culture, or what you say may be an excellent word-for-word translation... but is otherwise meaningless. For instance, the American phrase, 'Silver tongued devil.' If you and I hadn't been speaking the language for years - or for me, understanding it, not necessarily speaking it - would that mean anything? No. A silver tongue? No. So you must immerse yourself, or you might find yourself saying something very bad to a potential customer. >>

Fizzlesnoot nods with an understanding wag of a finger to the last part, <>

<< Exactly, >> Pavel says, snapping his fingers. << Here's one for you. If you are working somewhere, and offer some kind of merchandise? If they might be showing some interest in it, you would say, 'nravitsa.' Which means, 'Do you like it?' Or in a more intimate setting, 'Is it pleasing to you?' You would not actually ask, 'vam eto nravit sya.' As I talked about last time - brevity and a premium on words. Just knowing which words are the right ones is the important part. >>

Fizzlesnoot grins, << If that far in deal, what would be word for 'How many do you want?' >> giving a slight chuckle, << For most part, I'm not trying to fit in, just allow communication naturally. I realize people may still make fun of word use or accent. I can work with that, lighten mood during deal, maybe they think I am not smart, they will get better deal. >>

<< Hmm, play the fool? Yes, that can be an excellent way to make a deal, as I have found as well, >> Pavel agrees with a knowing smirk. << You need to pay attention to the order in which you place your words, though. Again, this is something that you can really only learn by immersion, trial and error, or some kind of intense study at the library. Which, unfortunately, they do not have an abundant supply of Cyrillic-alphabet books. >> He makes a face. << Anyway, if you were to say, 'Ya dolzhen znat ya' to a customer, you would be expressing perhaps a repeat customer as, 'I should know you.' But a simple twist of words to 'Ya znat dolzhen ya' means, 'You owe me ten credits.' >> Pavel holds his hands up, pressing them toward Fizzlesnoot as if trying to make a wave. << The words are identical. But their order completely changed their meaning. >>

Fizzlesnoot chuckles at the drastic change in meaning, << Either way could make good deal, ten credits is not bad. >> Getting back to seriousness though, << American has same words that mean different meanings, can be confusing even if native speaker. I am starting to see many similarities despite many differences. >>

Pavel nods, then offers one more. << 'A delo byvalo - i koza volka sedala.' It's a mouthful. 'It was happening - a goat was eating up a wolf.' >> The big fellow shrugs. << Could that possibly have any meaning? Of course not. It is the unusual way that Russians say, 'When pigs fly.' I say unusual, because usually we're the ones with the short terminology. You may hear this around Little Russia out there in the 'Dregs. The literal words, 'I’m going to show him Kuzkin’s mother!' It means... well, it's a bit difficult to translate, but something along the lines of, 'I'm gonna let him have it,' or maybe 'He's not going to get away with it.' I means that some bad stuff's going to be happening to the guy. But, let's cover some more mundane topics. If I greet you with, 'Dobroye utro,' I'm saying, 'Good morning.' It is a greeting, and a greeting *only*. You would never *excuse* yourself with 'dobroye utro,' or 'dobryj dyen' - afternoon - or 'dobryj vyechyer' - evening. That's a very American thing. >>

Fizzlesnoot listens and smiles finding this topic amusing for the most part, << Those are good phrases to know, like American slang. But what would you say in departure? >>

<< If you are just saying goodbye to a friend? You could simply say, 'poka.' For a more formal departure? 'Do svidaniya.' Of course, you can never go wrong with 'do svidaniya.' Worst that can happen is that you're being formal to a friend. With 'poka,' you might get yourself in trouble if you aren't paying attention. >> Pavel allows his translator to finish doling out the information.

Fizzlesnoot repeats slowly to get the accent right, "Do svidaniya. Poka. Do svidaniya. Poka." rocking his head back and forth slightly as he thinks he gets it, << The first formal, the second for friends, easy enough. Would be harder if the friend phrase were the longer one. >>

Offering a nod, Pavel repeats, << Do svidaniya is very common among friends, too. It's polite. Using 'poka' is certainly very friendly, but more like people here in Kingsdale waving a hand and yelling, 'later' when they take their leave. So unless you're genuinely really close friends, you would usually want to use 'do svidaniya.' You really can't go wrong with it. >>

Fizzlesnoot nods as he clarifies the point of each phrase. <> Pavel waves a hand and smiles. << They'll hear your accent before you say anything. You might get some ribbing, but not make a fool of yourself. Fools in Russia are different. Mistakes are accepted as inevitable parts of life - not that it's a good thing, just that you won't be called a moron if you do something like forget to carry the one. To really qualify as a fool, you would do something genuinely stupid, like lighting a fire inside your house. To this person? They might be a 'govnyuk.' >> He hesitates, then explains, << Shithead. >>

Fizzlesnoot laughs at the translation, the little guy is quite easily amused, <> having to switch back to American briefly, not able to think of the word, if there is any, "Would that same word work for dumbass?"

The blacksmith considers. << 'Dumbass' is really a North American word. I believe the closest would be simply, 'Vy tupitsa,' essentially just calling someone stupid. Or slightly more pointed, 'Vy osel,' calling someone an ass. But you can't just combine them. You can't say 'Vy tupistsa osel' and expect a Russian to understand 'stupid ass.' They're full phrases built into a few letters. No mix-and-match. >>

Fizzlesnoot nods as it is explained, <>

<< Yes, I'm sure you will, >> Pavel agrees. << Though if you immerse yourself, you'll learn faster. This is a very important phrase for you in particular, if you encounter a Russian - 'Vi gavarite pa angliski?' It asks, 'Do you speak English?' If he can't, and you aren't good enough yet? You'd beg off by saying, 'Ya ni panimayu,' meaning, 'I don't understand.' >>

Fizzlesnoot smiles as if meeting Pavel for the first time repeating the phrases, "Vi gavarite pa angliski?" hesitating as if Pavel would answer, but not giving that mush of a hesitation before repeating, "Ya ni panimayu." Both phrases said slowly to try and match the sounding of the syllables along with the accent.

The big blacksmith gives a gentle nod. << Not bad. Work on the pronunciation, obviously, but again... there's nothing better than time to learn the oddities of the language - every language has them. Now, again for you as a merchant around town, this would be very useful, 'Skolkah stoit.' The direct translation isn't very clear, but if you ask it of a Russian, it is a polite way to ask for the price of an item. Of course, you'd want to open the negotiations with, 'Zdrastochye,' the always-polite form of saying, 'Hello.' 'Privet' would be a familiar among friends. 'Allo,' well... that is a very simply common 'around town' method. Like just calling out, 'Hey!' >> Pavel stops, as if waiting for that to sink in, before adding, << 'Kak dila.' How are you. Very important in your business, I would think. >>

Fizzlesnoot again does his best to copy the big Russian’s pronunciation and accent as he repeats the short phrases. "Zdrastochye, Kak dila, Skolkah stoit." combining three into a sentence, well how he sees it anyways.

<< Close enough, >> Pavel allows. << You're still putting too much of a lilt into your tone, though. Remember, even among people like Anya and myself, it is a very monotone language. Until the actual tickling and giggling starts. Right? You know what I mean. >> He offers a wink to the odd D-Bee. << Now, we don't actually ask, 'how are you' in the literal. Rather, 'Kak tvoyo zdorovie?' Which means, 'How is your health?' If someone were to ask it of you, you might reply, 'U menya vsyo khorosho,' or 'U menya vsyo po prezhnemu.' Long ways to say, 'I'm fine,' or 'Not much.' >>

Fizzlesnoot chuckles, << That is quite the mouthful. >> Commenting before he gives the phrases a try for himself, "Kak tvoyo zdorovie? U menya vsyo khorosho. U menya vsyo po prezhnemu." <<That is mouthful.>> reiterating after finally spitting it out close enough to understand.

Pavel points a finger in Fizzlesnoot's direction. << Perhaps you encounter a nice person who only speaks Russian, and your Russian isn't good enough yet? It would be polite to tell him or her, 'K sozhaleniyu, ya poka ne govoryu po russki.' >> No explanation is given, perhaps he's waiting to see if it's figured out.

Fizzlesnoot thinks about the phrase carefully, then smiles as it would appear he thinks he figures it out and repeats it before giving the English translation, as best as he can tell, "Unfortunately, I do not speak Russian," looking to Pavel for approval on the translation.

<< Excellent! >> Pavel exclaims, clapping his hands and dropping the damnable electronic translator - which he needs to reach for and grab before using again. << So yes, you would say that. You could also add, 'izvinite' which is a generic word for a generic, 'sorry' or 'pardon me.' How about, ever meet Anya, or another nice girl down in Little Russia, or working at Yakov's? It would be polite to compliment her looks with, 'Vy ochen' krasivy.' >>

Fizzlesnoot thinks about this one even more so due to the content, at first thinking it could be a trick, a bit cliche' maybe. Though when he figures it out to be an honest compliment he grins, << Ah, very beautiful. Yes, I hope I don't mess that one up, would be embarrassing. >>

Pavel offers a nod. << Embarrassing, perhaps. But Russian women are hardy, and it's difficult to insult them. But when you do, you want to put some significant miles between her, and you. Maybe stay away for a year or two before coming back to apologize, otherwise you might not leave with all of your extremities - even the important ones. >> He needs a moment to scratch at his nose before continuing. <> He holds up a finger. << If you translate it? It comes out as a triumphant, 'I ate the dog on that!' Which would obviously be rather confusing. >>

Fizzlesnoot gets a good laugh at the next phrase and its double meaning. <> "Ya na ehtu sobaku syel." repeating to get the pronunciations as best he can at the moment.

<< Good, good. You obviously have a knack for languages. Lots of studying, too? Immersion at Yakov's? >> Pavel seems to be curious to so Fizzlesnoot's quick pickup of the language. << You're a tailor too, yes? Then this would be very useful in that profession. 'Vam ide't etot kostyum.' Again, there's not a good direct translation, but it is a direct complement to how a man looks in a suit. Good, right? >>

Fizzlesnoot gives a nod to the knack for languages, << Being merchants mostly, language is very important, to study I use language on everyday things, when I say something in American, I repeat in Russian, mostly to self while cleaning up around shop, when doing carvings, say phrases many times, try getting accent and sounds perfect, will spend much time around Yakov's and little Russia to get little thing that make the language conversation now. >>

Pavel chuckles again and leans forward far enough to pat Fizzlesnoot's shoulder. Or whatever stands in for one on his species' physiology. << I may have misled you with my explanation of grammar. You're going overboard leaving out unnecessary words. You're doing it just like taking a literal translation, essentially, except that it's grammar. Listen to how I speak. I may be leaving out those words as far as the English language would say, but you still hear all of them, right? The language is just as smooth as any other, to our own ears. It's only when someone learning tries to understand it that these words are 'left out.' If you went to Little Russia and spoke like this? >> He holds out his palms. << They would probably give you a bit of a hard time - though still appreciating the effort. >> Fizzlesnoot understands, signified with a nod, << I'm trying still with the flow of words, still forgetting some things trying to make sure I get the literal meaning right now, the other parts of speech will come through experience rather than instruction I think. If it takes getting made fun of, what can I do, take it in good fun and learn from it. We will have to go out sometime for drinks, make a social event out of it, speaking only Russian all night. >>

<< Absolutely, >> Pavel guarantees. He seems to be ready to wrap up the lesson, but takes a while to think. He seems to be pleased then, and offers only, << Okay, when we go to a bar and make a social event of it? Remember this phrase - 'Pei do dna!' Literally 'drink to the bottom,' but our version of, 'Bottom's up!' So... any questions before I send you back out into the wilderness? Are you thinking of still living here? Any interesting word questions? >>

Fizzlesnoot scratches his chin a bit in contemplation, "Hmmm, Is there a word for 'Have I got a bargain for you.'?" Asking in American before answering the other questions as taught, << I will head back to city in morning if fine with you, the evening can be dangerous with little traffic on the road. I can't thank you enough my friend for lending your time like this, if ever I can help out or do for you, please just ask. >>

Pavel stands and switches off the translator that he gratefully tosses into a distant corner. << One word? No. 'Torgovaya sdelka horoshii den'gi ty' would be a long way of saying it. Might as well say it the long way in a deal though, right? You did well, Fizzlesnoot, you should be proud. >> He moves over, possibly considering heading out on some kind of errand. << You're welcome to stay here, I certainly have plenty of room. Just when Anya visits... expect some quiet time. >> He winks at the funny-looking fellow.

Fizzlesnoot smiles thankfully to the compliment, <> he chuckles, <>

Feb 03 18:19:28 109 PA - The Russian Language More Advanced

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