Thread: A few sentences

Hello.

I would like to see the following sentences translated into russian. Not that I feel like using them anytime, but if I had to I would go for a word-by-word translation, resulting in clumsy, non-idiomatic russian. Many syntagms just can't be built up ex nihilo by a non-native beginner, like "до сих пор", "принять участие в чём-либо", "каким образом" ... You have to see them in context.

1. - So how are you doing with russian ?
- I already know the alphabet. Being done with prolegomena, I expect to be able to read Anna Karenina in a matter of weeks.

2. How many times do I have to tell you not to put the broom in here ? I almost broke my neck.

3. I must confess that my progress with Russian has been rather slow, nevertheless I have good hope that someday I'll be able to speak it fluently and thence may enjoy the treasures of its literature.

4. Until now she didn't utter a single word, but eventually she will.

5. It is unlikely that the door will open by itself, you know. 

6. This whole conversation has been very pleasant hitherto, but I have to ask you to put this gun down.

7. A lady is very anxious about her figure. Her terror is to become plump, even fat.

8. A man's breast may be hairy, though this is not a requisite.

9. The reader is advised not to carry on his reading, for a sole few will savour this fruit without risking losing their mind.

10. For the benefit of all your family, I have hereinafter indicated a list of benevolent counselors who will gladly assist you in choosing christian litterature that fit you best.

Yes it sounds stupid. The point is to see how you will translate words like "hitherto", "about", "being done with" ...

Also, I'm anything but able to speak english, let alone idiomatic english, so I can only hope these sentences make sense (in a grammatical way). If not, please correct me, for I do not want to be answered with faulty russian sentences!

Many thanks!

[Edit : typo]

I tried to keep the style of the original. Gender is masc. by default.

Originally Posted by Zubr

1. - So how are you doing with russian ?
- I already know the alphabet. Being done with prolegomena, I expect to be able to read Anna Karenina in a matter of weeks.

- Так как у вас с русским?
- Уже выучил алфавит. Думаю, за пару недель разберусь с основами в достаточной мере, чтобы приняться за "Анну Каренину".
I didn't found better way. Phrases with "Being ..., " are better to translate with reformulation though there is a formal word-by-word way.

2. How many times do I have to tell you not to put the broom in here ? I almost broke my neck.

Сколько раз говорить, чтоб ты не бросал здесь метлу? Я чуть шею себе не свернул.

3. I must confess that my progress with Russian has been rather slow, nevertheless I have good hope that someday I'll be able to speak it fluently and thence may enjoy the treasures of its literature.

Должен признаться, что учусь русскому языку довольно медленно. Тем не менее, не оставляю надежду однажды овладеть свободной речью и обрести возможность наслаждаться сокровищами русской литературы.

4. Until now she didn't utter a single word, but eventually she will.

До сих пор она не произнесла ни слова, но рано или поздно это произойдет.

5. It is unlikely that the door will open by itself, you know.

Маловероятно, что дверь откроется сама по себе, знаете ли.

6. This whole conversation has been very pleasant hitherto, but I have to ask you to put this gun down.

До сих пор весь этот разговор был весьма приятен, но я все же вынужден просить вас опустить пистолет.

7. A lady is very anxious about her figure. Her terror is to become plump, even fat.

Дама очень волнуется по поводу фигуры. Боится стать пухленькой, даже толстой.

To be continued...

8. A man's breast may be hairy, though this is not a requisite.

1. I didn't really get the essence. Is it a kind of wordplay? 2. To translate word requisite larger context is needed.

9. The reader is advised not to carry on his reading, for a sole few will savour this fruit without risking losing their mind.

Читателю лучше на этом остановиться, ибо лишь немногие способны вкусить сей плод, не подвергаясь опасности утратить рассудок.

10. For the benefit of all your family, I have hereinafter indicated a list of benevolent counselors who will gladly assist you in choosing christian litterature that fit you best.

Во имя блага всей вашей семьи, ниже я указал список <proper epithet not found> консультантов, которые с удовольствием помогут выбрать наиболее подходящую вам христианскую литературу.
<This style is rather problematic. Orthodox church traditionally use Old Church Slavonic but I can not imagine this in OCS. Orthodox church is not so aggressively benevolent. While western Protestant etc. organizations did not make specific style in Russian language.>

This is helpful, thanks ! I find interesting that "until now" and "hitherto" both translate as "до сих пор". In english they are not interchangeable I think.
Does "за пару недель" translate as "within a couple of weeks" ?
Number 8 is not a pun, this one (as well as number 7) was taken from an old english phrasebook full of non-sense and moral teachings. I am mostly interested in how you will translate "may", "though" and "requisite". As for the meaning, the sentence simply states that not every man has hairy torso. 

Thanks again ! I'm going to spend some time on all your answers.

Originally Posted by Zubr

Does "за пару недель" translate as "within a couple of weeks" ?

Yes, a number is needed there. Or maybe "несколько" - several. In principle there is a good literal equivalent for "It is a matter of <days>" - "Это вопрос дней", "Это дело дней". But 1) no way to use it like "in a matter of <days>" 2) "Это дело нескольких дней" is better.

I am mostly interested in how you will translate "may", "though" and "requisite". As for the meaning, the sentence simply states that not every man has hairy torso. 

Got it.

8. A man's breast may be hairy, though this is not a requisite.

У мужчин бывает волосатая грудь, хотя и не у всех.
Мужская грудь может оказаться волосатой, но всё же так бывает не всегда.
Попадаются мужчины с волосатой грудью, но не все они таковы.