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Thread: Help for a would-be author

  1. #1
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    Help for a would-be author

    Hi Everybody...

    I am currently working on a novel involving a Russian-based character and I have come across two complications...

    1) Whether or not to have the phrases writing in the Russian alphabet or in the English alphabet.

    2) I don't know any Russian whatsoever.

    If there is anyone out there that can lend me a hand, I would greatly appreciate the help.

    Right now, the character is somewhat flat (since he has only recently been introduced) and the phrases are pretty small...


    1) I have failed.

    2) Yes (I think the English version is Da, can anyone verify that?)

    3) No (again, I think the English version is Nyet)

    4) Death

    Once again, any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    I'd put them in 'english' letters, italicized, and then have translations at the bottom of the page (kinda like tom clandy does).


    Da - Yes
    Net - No
    Smert' - death

    I've failed. Dunno ... Maybe like Neudacha! or something.

    And, Maybe to spice him up a little, instead of using these bland boring words like "yes, no" you could use things like "Of course!" and "Never! Not for the world!" you know ?
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

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    the plan, at least for right now, is to show him saying the phrase, following it up with him translating it for others....

    as it is right now, the character, Nicholai has just been introduced and arrested, and is waiting to be interrogated by the police....

    any idea where i might be able to locate the translations like i'm looking for?

  4. #4
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    peeps would do it for you here, im sure.
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

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    would begging be inapproriate?


  6. #6
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    Probly not. Alot of people just post stuff on here and expect it. We'll see.
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

  7. #7
    Увлечённый спикер
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    I've failed - to use Neudacha would need some verb, like 'Poterpel Neudachu' (Потерпел неудачу - literally is Experienced failure) . But I'd rather regard it as out of place in every day spoken Russian (may be I'm wrong though) .

    been introduced and arrested, and is waiting to be interrogated by the police....
    in this context I'd suggest verbs like " OblazhAlsya " (close to " to get busted" ) and few others but then you'd need to follow with street-gang slang for translation to convey the mood .

  8. #8
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    thanks, aleph and dogboy....

    i'll use 'Poterpel Neudachu' for the time being, and try checking some other sources for that....

    but, i do have some more requests...

    1)I am from Russia. Please, call me Nich. (also, do Russians refer to Russia as Mother Russia or is that just something from the movies?)

    2)Fools or I am dealing with fools (something along those lines, suggestions are welcome)

    once again, any help that y'all can lend is greatly appreciated...

    Thanks!

  9. #9
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    1. Я - из россии. Пожалуйста, зовите меня Нич.
    2. Дураки, все дураки. (Fools, your all fools.)
    Какая разница, умереть богатым или бедным?

    Какой толк от богатства если ты не счастлив.

  10. #10
    Старший оракул
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    I'm learning russian but I'll try the first one.

    Я из россии. Пожалуйста, меня зовут Нич.
    And in english, "Ya eez rossee. Pozhalooista, menya zovoot Nich."
    Я знаю
    Что делаю
    Вилкою
    Пирогу

    How to Post

    Last edited by Darobat on Mon Mar 5, 1759 1:19 am; edited 243 times in total

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Writer
    also, do Russians refer to Russia as Mother Russia or is that just something from the movies?
    It's from the movies.

    There was an patriotic expression Родина-мать used in WW2 and Россия-матушка in poetic work, and мать-сыра-земля in fairy tales. But we don't use them in everyday life.

    kwatts59 have furnished the right answer.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by kwatts59
    1. Я - из россии. Пожалуйста, зовите меня Нич.
    2. Дураки, все дураки. (Fools, your all fools.)
    do you have an English lettering equivalent for that?

  13. #13
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    I do not know how to transliterate this into English sounds but I will give it a try.

    Я - из россии. Пожалуйста, зовите меня Нич.
    Ya eez rossee. Pazjaluicta, zoveete menya Neech.

    Дураки, все дураки.
    Durakee, fsyo durakee.

    и = sounds like "ee" in seed
    ж = sounds something like "zj" or the "s" as in measure.
    Какая разница, умереть богатым или бедным?

    Какой толк от богатства если ты не счастлив.

  14. #14
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    -))) It doesnt look very pretty. No offence

    Я - из россии. Пожалуйста, зовите меня Нич.
    Ya iz rossee. Pazhalsta, zovitey menya nich.
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

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    Завсегдатай kalinka_vinnie's Avatar
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    Transliterations are very tricky, because it depends on the language you are transliterating into. I don't think there are any standard ways to do it?

    Дураки, все дураки.
    Duraki, vse duraki
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

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    Yea, that is what i would have said too. I dont think the average american reader is too worried about soft consanants and all.
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

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    i know i'll get some odd looks for this one, but what about....

    vampire

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    just take off the e and then italicize it.

    vampir
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

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    Quote Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie
    Transliterations are very tricky, because it depends on the language you are transliterating into. I don't think there are any standard ways to do it?
    Of course there are standars. For example:
    "ISO Recommendation R9, International System for the Translation of Cyrillic Characters, 1st edition, October 1955"

    Or did you think that the transliteration is left to the hormone level of the librarian when the Library of Congress archives a Russian book ?

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    [quote=Старик]
    Quote Originally Posted by "kalinka_vinnie":1nzads2a
    Transliterations are very tricky, because it depends on the language you are transliterating into. I don't think there are any standard ways to do it?
    Of course there are standars. For example:
    "ISO Recommendation R9, International System for the Translation of Cyrillic Characters, 1st edition, October 1955"

    Or did you think that the transliteration is left to the hormone level of the librarian when the Library of Congress archives a Russian book ?[/quote:1nzads2a]

    It's even better to use IPA. Because not all of readers are familiar with it, the IPA pronunciation guide may be added to Writer's book, as appendix
    Кр. -- сестр. тал.

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