Thread: Translation from Russian to English

Hello all. I'm hoping to enlist some help with the translation of a short story that I'm working on. It's a Russian sea story (go figure !) which takes place aboard a Soviet nuclear sub some years ago, so there are some technical terms and nautical/military slang/jargon that I'm not sure of, and, of course, the colloquialisms that I don't get. Anyhow, I'm not sure if I ought to post the whole thing here. It's two and a half pages long, and, being a story about sailors, it does include a little foul language - so I was wondering if anyone here would be kind enough to let me email them what I have so far to be checked. Thanks!

P.S. - the original is here:

http://www.submarina.ru/kurianchik/nnk/rus_souv.htm

Некоторые слова из этого рассказа я и сама не знаю, о некоторых только догадываюсь. Наверное, нужно служить на ядерной подлодке, чтобы понять все тонкости (например, для вестовых такое счастье - лишний раз наверх подняться)

The story is more or less clear. I did not find any puzzling nautical terms. What are the words that you need nelp with?

Here they are:

-каштан - my guess is that it's the sound-powered telephone system, or a particular circuit on it

-the exclamation "во дают!". Don't have a clue how to put it in English

-он чувствовал продолжение спинным мозгом - did the chief actually say what follows, or did the aide imagine it?

-"командир группы автоматики...напялил ПДУ..." - 1. automatic control of something?. 2. a uniform part?

-“Да там от радости в штаны наложат..." - ...??

That's what I've got so far - I'm not quite finished yet. And I've been having some difficulty translating "пультовик". Any idea what this would be in English? -somthing shorter than "one who works at the main reactor control panel. " Is this a nuke, mechanic, an electrician, a boiler tech, machinist's mate, etc.?

Originally Posted by Moryachka

Here they are:

-каштан - my guess is that it's the sound-powered telephone system, or a particular circuit on it

Kaштан - название одной из систем громкоговорящей связи - intercom.

Originally Posted by Moryachka

-the exclamation "во дают!". Don't have a clue how to put it in English

Wow! (удивление )

Originally Posted by Moryachka

-он чувствовал продолжение спинным мозгом - did the chief actually say what follows, or did the aide imagine it?

subconsciously

Originally Posted by Moryachka

-"командир группы автоматики...напялил ПДУ..." - 1. automatic control of something?. 2. a uniform part?

ПДУ - портативное дыхательное устройство

FYI: Российский подводный флот. Словарь терминов
http://submarine.id.ru/Glossary_page.htm

Originally Posted by Moryachka

....
-"командир группы автоматики...напялил ПДУ..." - 1. automatic control of something?. 2. a uniform part?

It could be one of these:
ГАДД - группа автоматики дивизиона движения
ГАКС - группа автоматики корабельных систем

Originally Posted by Moryachka

-“Да там от радости в штаны наложат..." - ...??

They will shit their pants out of joy

Originally Posted by Moryachka

That's what I've got so far - I'm not quite finished yet. And I've been having some difficulty translating "пультовик". Any idea what this would be in English? -somthing shorter than "one who works at the main reactor control panel. " Is this a nuke, mechanic, an electrician, a boiler tech, machinist's mate, etc.?

operator?

Originally Posted by Moryachka

-он чувствовал продолжение спинным мозгом - did the chief actually say what follows, or did the aide imagine it?

The aide imagined it.

Moryachka you gonna love it :
http://artofwar.ru/l/lomachinskij_a_a/text_0010.shtml

Originally Posted by DenisM

Moryachka you gonna love it :
http://artofwar.ru/l/lomachinskij_a_a/text_0010.shtml

Пока вы здесь в ванночке с кафелем,
Моетесь, нежитесь, греетесь, -
В холоде сам себе скальпелем
Он вырезает аппендикс.
В. Высoцкий

Хороший рассказ.

Hey thanks! That story you mentioned is great, DenisM - it cracked me up. Only now I'll have to translate it into English so other people I know can read it too!

I still have one question though - why would the fellow put on an oxygen breathing device before leaving the space he was in? I had looked at sokr.ru and found that definition, but it still just didn't make sense to me. Perhaps I just don't understand shipboard procedure well enough.

Originally Posted by Moryachka

Hey thanks! That story you mentioned is great, DenisM - it cracked me up. Only now I'll have to translate it into English so other people I know can read it too!

I still have one question though - why would the fellow put on an oxygen breathing device before leaving the space he was in? I had looked at sokr.ru and found that definition, but it still just didn't make sense to me. Perhaps I just don't understand shipboard procedure well enough.

Huh although theoretically I'm russian navy lieutenant in reserve I know almost nothing about routine on submarines since I was supposed to serve on a ship .

About the first story: The author plays with language, jokingly. You cannot find words like "десять жетоно-человек" or "единоначальник" in the dictionary, though they are quite understandable.

DenisM - you were supposed to serve on a ship but didn't?

Indra - Right - I've just got to do my best to get the same idea across in English. Putting Russian slang and made-up words into English is the worst part, because sometimes I'll read it, and I'll know just what it means, but I can't for the life of me think of how to translate it properly. It's HARD, but that's what makes it fun. [/code]