Thread: Help with Pravda Headline

Hello, all! I just visited the Pravda website and saw this headline beside a photo of Hugo Chavez:

"Алло, президент Чавес слушает!"

(You can find the article here: http://www.pravda.ru/world/restofworld/ ... 2552-ven-0

I understand, so far: "Hello, President Chavez--!" but I can't find the proper translation for "слушает"

Can somebody please tell me what this word means?

Thanks!

Hello! President Chavez listens to you! Speak.

(Assumed that this phrase is a response by Chavez himself for a phone call.)

Hey, thanks for the prompt (and detailed) replies! I really appreciate it!

Now I'm off to try and read the actual article.... heh

Although “President Chavez listens to you!” is a word for word translation, in this context I would translate it as “President Chavez speaking.” «Слушаю вас» and it's variations are standard responses when answering the telephone. In a good translation you want to replace the standard phrases of the source language with the standard phrases of the target language. Similarly when translating from Russian to English you would never translate «ни пуха, ни пера» as “neither down nor feather.” Instead you just translate it as “Good luck.”