Thread: Getting rid of the pseudo-Russian slang here

Hi everybody,

I am a native Russian speaker and I thought I should make a point about what is currently popping up in this forum. Just so you know Russian is not only a language of gopniks and mafia. It is a language of the people. It is very sad that so many questions are about ugly expressions, produced by compromised micro-minds who do not deserve to speak a language with more than 100 words. Of course there can be discussions about slang and expressions borrowed from or heavily influenced by other languages or lingos, but why not place them in a dedicated section, like "Questions about Russian slang and criminal vocabulary"? Please express your opinion about it, anything that adds to the discussion is welcome.

Note to the moderator: I encourage you to transfer this topic into any place you believe is appropriate, but please make it visible to other forum members. Thank you!

Would you be so kind as to provide us with a concrete example?

Originally Posted by Inego

Would you be so kind as to provide us with a concrete example?

Sure, here are a few:

http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D0%B7%...D%D0%B8-21139/
http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D0%B1%...B%D0%B5-21188/
http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D0%BB%...B%D0%BE-21204/
http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D0%BF%...6%D0%B0-21229/
http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D0%B2-...B%D0%BE-21258/
http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D1%84%...0%D1%85-21259/

The native Russian speakers are not the ones whom my concern is primarily addressed to. Everyone familiar with life in Russia (and other post-Soviet countries) can distinguish the wheat from the chaf with respect to language use and style, but foreigners can mistakenly assume that this is how Russian is supposed to sound in ordinary life, which it is not. I believe they need some help in this regard, so that the front entrance to the language is a normal language of more or less educated people who are not involved in criminal business and take no interest in it. I suppose such people are still the majority despite some trends. All in all, the language will outlast any temporary phenomena, but this is another topic. My post was about one specific thing, i.e. moving all substandard and criminal-inspired language to a different section. It is not the best thing to have questions about the language of classical writers (which is often outdated, but this is more tolerable) and pseudo-Russian (totally ungrammatical or semantically deviant) slang in one section.

I voted Yes, but at the same time I think that it will be difficult to learners of Russian to decide what is slang and what is not.

Firstly, slang is inevitable and crucial part of any language. Or you can claim that you have never ever used slang in your speech?

Secondly, what questions do you expect to come up here? There is no suprise that there are a lot of questions about slang being asked here. Think about it, if a word is used in its literal or usual and normal figurative sense, you can easily understand the word or effortlessly look it up in a dictionary. But this is the whole new story if you ran across a slang word or a slang expression. You can't understand it, even though you might be already familiar with the word or words. You probably can't look them up in a dictionary because they usually don't contain slang words or slang meanings of usual words. So what are you going to do? Of course, you're going to check up with native speakers on these matters.

Third of all, how is a non-native Russian speaker supposed to know whether they came across a slang word or expression? Of course, there might be some clues to determine a word or expression to be slang, but there mightn't be. That leads us to the fourth statement.

Fourth of all, this has to be a moderator who organizes all slang related questions into a slang section of the forum. But would our moderator not mind this extra (and maybe absolutely inapt) work?

Originally Posted by iCake

Firstly, slang is inevitable and crucial part of any language.

Idiots are also inevitable part of any culture, but they can at least disguise as eccentric ones at times. Slang cannot disguise itself.

Originally Posted by iCake

how is a non-native Russian speaker supposed to know whether they came across a slang word or expression?

If you are reading a book about criminal events of the 90s you are supposed to know what you are dealing with. That's surely not the type of language you are expected to use when you address a person in the street or converse with your host when you stay in Russia or Ukraine.

Originally Posted by iCake

this has to be a moderator who organizes all slang related questions into a slang section of the forum.

You assume that in most cases people cannot relate to what they are asking about and, hence, cannot put it into the section the context suggests. But what if I say that 80-90% of the people asking questions about slang know it is about slang, because:
a) they know it from the abstract of the book they are reading
b) they can't look up these words or phrases in the dictionary
c) the machine translation tools they may use do not understand such language
Even if some of the questions make their way into the wrong section, it won't do much damage to that section. But having questions about aristocratic language of the past centuries and questions about criminal jargon following one another is beyond ridiculous.

Originally Posted by NextOfKeen

If you are reading a book about criminal events of the 90s you are supposed to know what you are dealing with.

Couldn't agree more. Now I remember SPERK was reading such kind of book. I hope SPERK is reading this thread))) I explained to SPERK that the word "борзой" is very much like criminal slang... It seems noone told SPERK this language is very criminal.. But SPERK is probably totally OK with it and knows this is non-standard language... Anyway, it would be nice to hear all the parties involved.

Не могу сказать, что в последнее время много читаю посты, но я не помню ничего крайне грубого или некачественного (возможно, из-за моего отсутствия интереса к тому, что я уже знаю) ... В целом меня все устраивает кроме русскоязычных дискуссий на мате (которые можно легко сделать в приватных чатах или в общем чате - а некоторые люди используют мат в общем чате, и, похоже, нет никаких возражений), потому что не говорящий по-русски понятия не имею, что означает это / то слово, и что, если они захотят опубликовать вопрос на форуме? (не в чатах), т.е. не говорящий по-русски не может априори знать, что это сленг, жаргон или что-то еще, и они начинают тему в разделе Грамматика и Словарь, которая кажется логичной ... Я не могу сказать, что я слишком эмоционально, когда дело касается такого языка (откровенно говоря, Я бы, наверное, просто не стал читать эту ветку, если это какое-то дурацкое русское слово из «шансона» или что-то в этом роде), и я считаю, что представление нерусского говорящего о сленговом слове, которого они не знают, несколько размыто; Итак, говоря лингвистически, я бы отпустил это, потому что любое слово является частью языка, как приложение - это часть тела, но бесполезная и обреченная часть. В то же время мне кажется, что наша заветная обязанность - объяснить тем, кто не говорит по-русски, идеи и нюансы, лежащие в основе таких слов, и, наконец, дать им понять, что таких слов, как правило, следует избегать. Аппендикс следует удалить, но нельзя отводить взгляд от обреченного органа. s представление о сленговом слове, которого они не знают, несколько расплывчато; Итак, говоря лингвистически, я бы отпустил это, потому что любое слово является частью языка, как приложение - это часть тела, но бесполезная и обреченная часть.

@alexsms: I am not talking about 'mat' here. It is a completely different topic. And it is a topic that very soon gets too boring to deserve a special section, IMO.

BTW if a truъ humanitarian tells you that you speak your native language as "standard language," then you are supposed to be abused. It means that you speak disgusting emasculate officialese, your vocabulary is poor, your style is primitive, ugly and mechanistic and overall you are unable to express your ideas effectively in most real situations.

Slang : A type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and...

One of our (already existed) categories; Translate This!: "Get help with translations of Russian words, phrases, songs and poems into English."
Another category is Grammar and Vocabulary: "Find answers to common grammar and vocabulary questions."
Which if you noticed, include a Sticky: http://masterrussian.net/f15/%D1%81%...C%D1%8B-14853/
That, kind of, include this.
Also this is not a new site/forum, it has been created since 2002, if it was such a big problem, we've already had a section/category for it.
I think you overrate this issue. The most important thing is that users learn and get the answer of their question. If we keep overrate such kind of issues, it will bring up a lot more categories.

Originally Posted by MISSFOXYSWEETCHERRY

Also this is not a new site/forum, it has been created since 2002, if it was such a big problem, we've already had a section/category for it. I think you overrate this issue.

I think you overrate my involvement with this issue. I was passing by and made a statement accompanied with a suggestion. Yes, I created a poll, but that is for the community and not for my personal self-assertion. I have absolutely no intention to 'convert' people to anything, or even to make myself understood completely in cases such as this. BTW if you are a foreigner with as much respect for my language as for a pair of old boots, I have no objection, but if you are a native Russian speaker taking the role of an expert, you could have provided a more sophisticated opinion.

Originally Posted by MISSFOXYSWEETCHERRY

The most important thing is that users learn and get the answer of their question. If we keep overrate such kind of issues, it will bring up a lot more categories.

For a site that boasts to be around since 2002 and dealing with such a complex topic as a foreign language you have darn few categories, my friend. Fewer than in a junior school textbook.

Originally Posted by NextOfKeen

BTW if you are a foreigner with as much respect for my language as for a pair of old boots, I have no objection, but if you are a native Russian speaker taking the role of an expert, you could have provided a more sophisticated opinion.

Oh really?? I'm half Russian and Russian isn't my native language and i don't live in Russia and guess what? I don't really care you consider me foreigner or what, because i love Russia and Russian language, and am not here to see how you're gonna criticize me and my opinions(whether you call it sophisticated opinion or worse)
I think i forgot your contribution for this site!! Otherwise i can't find any way to see "YOU" respect Russian language, and me and your so called "Foreigners" respect Russian language as a pair of old boots!!
Where have you been since 2009? Cause you just started your activity by complaining!! As it is written under your name, you're a "Новичок". You as a native Russian speaker could/can "contribute".
FYI you better know foreigners are here for "learning" Russian, but you??! Not only you don't contribute but generalize foreigners like this (in your only one and very first thread): "if you are a foreigner with as much respect for my language as for a pair of old boots" . And oh if you're going to deny it i better say your whole sentence means this: Native Russian speakers respect Russian language, Foreigners respect it as they respect pair of old boots.

Originally Posted by NextOfKeen

For a site that boasts to be around since 2002 and dealing with such a complex topic as a foreign language you have darn few categories, my friend. Fewer than in a junior school textbook.

Oh yeah? Maybe you can make your own forum? Bring it up! No one sent you an invitation to register here if it's so bad.

Originally Posted by MISSFOXYSWEETCHERRY

I don't really care you consider me foreigner or what, because i love Russia and Russian language

Good to you if you love Russia and Russian language. I hope you could love me as well, on a spiritual level, but I am happy with what I got. As for accusing me of complaining and being a 'noob' (or 'novice' if you prefer) I lost my login and password and had to re-register, because I had not been to this forum for quite some time. I used to answer some people's question, but back then there were not so many questions about substandard/criminal language, and what I saw today in the topic list gave me a stir. I am not the type of person who will just stick his tongue in his (three letter word) to make someone feel comfortable. This is not the way things are done. You will never get anywhere if you are shy to speak your mind. I did what I had to, I created this topic to drive attention to this situation, but the content of this thread belongs to the community, not me, you or moderator. Also, I am not in a position to enforce my opinion, but I am in a position to defend it.

When I read "pseudo-Russian" I thought this was about learners making fools of themselves using slang words they don't master...

Slang is always an addition to any language. It is not poorer. It's not as if speakers of slang are unable to understand the standard language, even if they don't comfortably use it. But actually they do use it if the need arises.

I think if a native speaker explains or uses slang terms, then he or she should simply clarify that they might be fit only for certain purposes. I am in practically daily correspondence with several native speakers of Russian, and most of them, if slang or colloquial terms arise, say "don't say that in front of your boss" or "you wouldn't say that in the presence of minors or women". And clearly the opinions about individual words differ. For example, one lady correspondent happily used "покеда" to say bye bye, while another said "that's a bad slang word from a criminal context, don't use it". Both, by the way, being language teachers.

I have picked up colloquial terms from Russian and even Ukrainian, and from (classical) literature as a learner you may easily pick up outdated terms, too. As a learner you may be unable to assess the value of an expression (little use in using дякую instead of спасибо if the correspondent isn't Ukrainian), but it is still necessary to acknowledge the fact that different levels of speech exist in any language and to come to terms with them.

Subcultures will always have their specific terms and expressions, and learners won't always come into contact only with mainstream culture. Heck, maybe they even want to come into contact with specific subcultures! And it even extends to pronunciation. I mean, which textbook prepares you for що instead of что? There really is no use in concentrating only on standard literary language. It is the common denominator on which to base one's studies, but sooner or later one has to progress to non-standard variants. It is up to native speakers helping us learners to mark specific variants as such, and that should be all. Separate sections do not help because the learner doesn't know what goes where in the first place.

Originally Posted by bitpicker

I mean, which textbook prepares you for що instead of что? There really is no use in concentrating only on standard literary language. It is the common denominator on which to base one's studies, but sooner or later one has to progress to non-standard variants. It is up to native speakers helping us learners to mark specific variants as such, and that should be all.

"Що" is specifically Ukrainian (literary!!!) variant, Russians would use "чё?" or "шо?" instead (and this would be humorous, informal variant). It is also usefyl to know "ща" (сейчас --> щас --> ща). I cannot imagine a textbook teaching foreign learners different layers of the language. Probably, you should consider it OK to use any generic informal expression in conversation, and avoid all of them in formal writing. I guess, having graduated from a faculty of physics, I have little difficulty writing a formal, scientific-looking text. Yet some people, and I mean native speakers, cannot do it reliably and sound hilarious when they try. Formal language is a sort of a slang itself: there are certain expressions and structures that you are expected to follow. Mess them up - and you sound bad.

Originally Posted by Shady_arc

"Що" is specifically Ukrainian (literary!!!) variant, Russians would use "чё?" or "шо?" instead (and this would be humorous, informal variant).

Yes, but don't expect me to hear any difference between "що" and "шо"... I am hard-pressed to actually discern that difference just about anywhere in real life. Sure, if a Russian expressly wanted to show me the difference and spoke extremely clearly, then yes, its ok, but in real life it's all the same to me...

The trouble with formal writing is that it is needed so very rarely. And yes, there actually are textbooks on slang and whatnot, but apparently only in English. On my native German market there is little in that regard. I have two English books on Russian grammar which deal exclusively with particles like же and with elision respectively.

Your thread is called "pseudo-Russian slang"; what is the truъ Russian slang then?

Originally Posted by Inego

Your thread is called "pseudo-Russian slang"; what is the truъ Russian slang then?

What I meant was (Pseudo-Russian) slang, not pseudo-(Russian slang), i.e. the type of verbal expression that can hardly be associated with the Russian language because it is very distant in many ways from its grammatical and semantic tradition. It is closer to the pidgin of a caveman who accidentally picked up several words while being on display at a Russian zoo.

Language is language. I don't see a point in a separate section for slang. I don't see what you mean by psuedo and not associated with Russian. The slang I see is all based almost entirely on Russian, not on loan words from other languages. It seems you are more concerned with people getting the wrong impression about the Russian language because of slang and perhaps confusing the language of Pushkin with that of a street thug. If someone is studying Russian and they can't tell the difference between those sources they need to study harder. Furthermore, a beginner may not know where to post, as he wouldn't know if a word was slang. And there are gradations of slang, slangy for example, may not be fully slang. Besides, there are очень много Russian slang sites and dictionaries on the web.