Thread: Translation from English to Russian

Originally Posted by zakuski

Ambi - thank you for your translation. You were a tremendous help. I didn't mean to start a chain of events for Mr. Miss and Mrs.
What would you tell a russian child visiting in the US when you introduce them to an adult? For example - This is Mrs. Smith. Would you do the same thing for a Russian adult meeting an American adult?

Yes.

Basically Russians don't really use titles like Mr. Mrs. Miss. in the same way or as frequently as in English or other languages. But Russian use the English titles for English speaking people. So "this is Mrs. Smith" would be "eto missis Smit". However the English titles aren't used for Russians.

Originally Posted by zakuski

What would you tell a russian child visiting in the US when you introduce them to an adult? For example - This is Mrs. Smith. Would you do the same thing for a Russian adult meeting an American adult?

I don't think that a woman would introduce herself to a child (especially to a Russian child) as "Mrs.". I'm pretty sure they'd say to a child "This is [a name] (Paula, Emmy, Mary, etc)". I think the same with adults. Especially if they are in Russia. Because we use words like мисс, мистер, миссис mainly when reading literature, or translating English or American films...

Originally Posted by zakuski

Ambi - thank you for your translation. You were a tremendous help. I didn't mean to start a chain of events for Mr. Miss and Mrs.
What would you tell a russian child visiting in the US when you introduce them to an adult? For example - This is Mrs. Smith. Would you do the same thing for a Russian adult meeting an American adult?

My pleasure.
I think it doesn't really matter if it's a Russian child or an american one - in the US you would definitely tell them: This is Mrs. Smith. (or you have to know what to say if you're from US)
But if you ask me - What would you tell a Russian child in Russia when you introduce them to an adult? - I will tell you that we'd say, for example: Это дядя Ваня. If you think the kid is a big boy enough, you'd use the man's second name: Это Иван Петрович. The same about females, except for тётя: Это тётя Нина.

Originally Posted by ambi

I think it doesn't really matter if it's a Russian child or an American one

A Russian child could be not aware what "Miss" means. If he's little and speaks only Russian, he would never use this word because he just doesn't understand what an adressing like that means and how to use it. He could even think that Miss is a name and Smith is a surname.

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by ambi

I think it doesn't really matter if it's a Russian child or an American one

Oh yea? Go correct that guy too :P

A Russian child could be not aware what "Miss" means. If he's little and speaks only Russian, he would never use this word because he just doesn't understand what an adressing like that means and how to use it. He could even think that Miss is a name and Smith is a surname.

Really? Are we talkng about a Russian kid living in the US or where? Is he to be much dumber than his American friend not to get what "Miss" means? Wow, you made my day

ambi, не надо придираться к словам. Всё и так ясно, зачем уходить в дебри.

Originally Posted by Rtyom

ambi, не надо придираться к словам. Всё и так ясно, зачем уходить в дебри.

Я что ли придираюсь??

Originally Posted by ambi

Originally Posted by Rtyom

ambi, не надо придираться к словам. Всё и так ясно, зачем уходить в дебри.

Я, что ли, придираюсь?!

А кто, я?

Originally Posted by ambi

Are we talkng about a Russian kid living in the US or where?

A kid who came to the US, I think. Otherwise he's not actually Russian. I don't think that when zakuski asked about Russian child he meant a kid who was only born in Russia and afterwards growned up in America. "Russian child" in a sentence like that, without any special context, means just "a child who speaks Russian", right?

How goes "Go and get some coffee"? (command) in russia?

How "Move it!/Do it!" (command, in a case when object of command is waiting for further information while he should be going already)

1. "Приготовь и принеси кофе."
2. "Пошёл! Давай!"

Originally Posted by Cocos

1. "Приготовь и принеси кофе."
2. "Пошёл! Давай!"

1. Simply "Принеси кофе" or "Пойди принеси кофе". Приготовь is for Make here.

How is just a command "Go!"? Is it Приготовь?

to go is "Идтй" but how imperative mood is formed?

One more кофе-related question: "Go and buy coffee"

Originally Posted by PhrygianFire

How is just a command "Go!"? Is it Приготовь?

to go is "Идтй" but how imperative mood is formed?

One more кофе-related question: "Go and buy coffee"

"Go!" as a command can be said in Russian either "Иди!" or "Пошел!" depending on context.

Imperative mood for "идти" is "иди(те)".

"Иди (or Пойди (check the plural, add -те)), купи кофе!" You can also replace the comma with "и" for "and".

Originally Posted by ambi

Go!" as a command can be said in Russian either "Иди!" or "Пошел!" depending on context.

Which should a man with authority (boss, general, president) say to his minion(singular)?

Originally Posted by PhrygianFire

Originally Posted by ambi

Go!" as a command can be said in Russian either "Иди!" or "Пошел!" depending on context.

Which should a man with authority (boss, general, president) say to his minion(singular)?

As ambi said, it depends on context. "Иди." is neutral, like "You may go.", "Пошёл!" is more command and sounds like "Are you still here? Go!".

How is just a command "Go!"? Is it Приготовь?

to go is "Идти" but how imperative mood is formed?

One more кофе-related question: "Go and buy coffee"

"Пойди купи кофе" is the best translation, I think.

"Пошёл!" is more command and sounds like "Are you still here? Go!".

"Пошёл" as a command is ok only addressing a horse or a coachman...
If you say it to a person, it's VERY RUDE (and strange).