Thread: disrespect to Russian culture!

when i visited Masterrusian for the first time i ve noticed one strange thing - Leo Tolstoy, while his real name was Lev actually. I forgot about this, but recently i got acquainted with portugues translation of War and Peace...again Leon Tolstoy, Andrew Bolkonski, Peter Bezukhov and so on, it's appreared that in Italian translation situation is the same, moreover Italians know only Theodoro Dostoievski. Also in all translations there s something strange with women sirnames - Natasha Rostov for example, i was really shocked.
Why people dont respect russian culture? what for to translate names? and do other countries use the same method of translation?

I don't think it's intentional disrespect! Sure you say ГИТЛЕР instead of Hitler and Hamlet takes G too. However name changing gets right on my t!ts too.

Many christian names have their roots in the (Latin) bible and developed different forms in different languages. Therefore it is not completely wrong to "translate" names (John, Jean, Johannes, Иван). But today it is done less often then in former times (that's at least my impression).

About male / female forms of Russian surnames: For foreigners who are not familiar with Russian naming conventions it would often be confusing if two married persons have different surnames. Therefore some translaters decide to use only one (i.e. the male) form.
I don't think that it shows disrespect for Russian culture.

I do not think it's disrespect. Oftentimes it's simply impossible to immitate pronunciation of other languages and people are trying to find a way that works and means something for them.

How is changing some of the names disrespect pf the whole culture? Here in Sweden (where I am at the moment) they spell it Solzjenitsyn, and Pusjkin, because of the language special pronouciationrules...It is hardly discrespectful to adapt foregin names and places so that the natives can pronounce and say it. Same in all countries, everyone has their own way of saying things It is no more an issue of respect to say Швеция, than it is to say f.e Leo Tolstoy

Да.. Во наглые. Все нашу страну называют либо Россия либо Руссия а вы "Раша"

Китайцы, наверно, тоже обижаются - они ведь "хань" и живут в Чжунго, а их - "китайцы", "Китай"....

Theres this russian guy at my work and his name is Ivan but he insists everyone calls him jhon. I guess he's disrespecting himself?

I don't think that people who change Russian surnames to the male form in English mean it disrespectfully. My Russian teacher back in high school remembered when he was called to enrollment services and had to explain that 2 new Russian students really were brother and sister even though their last names weren't exactly the same. They weren't going to enroll the students because they thought they were lying about being siblings in order to enroll in our district using the same address. Keeping male and female surnames is difficult in the US where people are not used to it and it can cause confusion.

Mountain girl from seattle? Me too. Exept, there are not any mountains in seattle. Unless of course you are lying and you are really from the seattle tacoma metropolitan area. In which case you live in a city like renton, or puyalup even! So, are you from the mountains or from the city?

Also, about the names. Yea its no big thing. Some names are diffrent in diffrent languages.

Ok, you're right. There's no mountains in Seattle, just lots of hills and water. I'm from Mukilteo/unincorporated Snohomish county area and like spending my free time rock climbing and hiking in the mountains (hence the name mountain girl). After I graduate from school I'll probably get a job in the city of Seattle. Are you from right in the city?

No, I'm from the Auburn, Kent, Federal way Area. (AKA area code 253!!)

Calling Tolstoy "Leo" became a tradition. But these traditions are totally illogical.
I'll prefer to see "Lev Tolstoy", "Fyodor Dostoyevsky", "Pyotr the Great" (not Peter), "Nikolay II" (not Nicholas), etc.

Китайцы, наверно, тоже обижаются - они ведь "хань" и живут в Чжунго, а их - "китайцы", "Китай"....

точно...

[/quote]"Nikolay II" (not Nicholas)

Ok this one is doubtfull for me, I think that choosing "Nicholas" is just pushing it, it sounds silly to. Just like all biblical names sound very silly when made "Mary" instead of Maria, John instead of Josef and so on...

hm....reversed quoting...

Originally Posted by Старик

Many christian names have their roots in the (Latin) bible and developed different forms in different languages. Therefore it is not completely wrong to "translate" names (John, Jean, Johannes, Иван). But today it is done less often then in former times (that's at least my impression).

just imagin, you are reading russian folk tale and see such names: Johannes Zarevitsch(or even Kaiser), and you think that this is normal? People will absolutely forget that they are reading RUSSIAN story, it's nonsence! I was shocked also because nothing like this happens in russian translations. Пётр Джонс - if i saw this in a book, i would think that translator is a bit crazy.(with exception that it would be evident that the charachter was connected with russia/russians, was half russian, etc)

For foreigners who are not familiar with Russian naming conventions it would often be confusing if two married persons have different surnames.

so what? translator must explain everything in a book, like it s done in russian translations, many words can't be rendered, there are many cultural differences, but we read foreign literature not only for fun.

If to think like most of you, let's translate sirnames also, because foreign words, can confuse someone.

So do you believe that when Russians decline western male names (Джордж Буш --> Джорджа Буша -->Джордже Буше etc) , that they are disrespecting the English language, which doesn't decline names in this way?

Stop being paranoid.

Sometimes it can be a bit though.

Like when people say "White Russia" I think that's taking translaiton a bit too far.

Вера is the Russian equivalent of the english name Faith. But English aslo has the name Vera...

Артемида, just imagine: english-speackers call Stalin "Joseph" or even "uncle Joe"

So do you believe that when Russians decline western male names (Джордж Буш --> Джорджа Буша -->Джордже Буше etc) , that they are disrespecting the English language, which doesn't decline names in this way?

Because there are some rights in Russian. If they speak Russian of course. So they never say "Георгий Буш" or even "Юрий Буш". Maybe just as a joke.


...TATY, Вера is a short form of Вероника. (Veronica)

Originally Posted by TATY

Like when people say "White Russia" I think that's taking translaiton a bit too far.

Interestingly, but historically that's right ("Белая Русь").

Originally Posted by Nixer

Because there are some rights in Russian. If they speak Russian of course. So they never say "Георгий Буш" or even "Юрий Буш". Maybe just as a joke.

Клавка Шифер.