Thread: pander is ...

How do you say it in Russian?

Definition:

The employment, arts, or practices of a pander.

Не встречала это слово.

pander- русский перевод - bab.la словарь

pander {имя существительное} (также: procurer, pimp, cadet, go-between)

сводник [сво́дник] {м.р.}


pander {имя существительное}

пособник [посо́бник] {м.р.}

Для точного перевода нужен контекст.

I've honestly never heard the word "panderism"; nor have I heard "pander" used as a noun -- I'm only aware of the verb "to pander" and the noun "panderer."

Formerly, both the verb and the noun were associated with the activities of a "pimp". I didn't know the Russian word сводник that Lampada suggested, but apparently it means "человек, занимающийся организацией проституции и получающий от этого доход" -- "a person who profits from organized prostitution" -- in short, a "pimp." And in the written legal codes of various provinces and states, the words "pandering" and "panderer" are still used to define various crimes connected with prostitution.

But in colloquial spoken English, "pandering" and "panderer" are nowadays rarely used to talk about pimps and whores in a LITERAL sense -- far more often, these words are used negatively to describe politicians, advertisers, Hollywood directors, and others who appeal to the worst instincts, or the ignorance, or the "lowest common denominator" tastes, of voters/consumers/audiences.

For example, if you say "This politician panders to the LGBT Community", it suggests that the politician perhaps uses a combination of empty flattery ("Gay people are so intelligent and kind-hearted!"), and impossible promises ("Vote for me and I will end the AIDS crisis in five years!"), and frightening lies ("My opponent wants to criminalize homosexuality!") in order to persuade LGBT people (or, at least, the dumber members of the LGBT community) to vote for him.

So, the question is, what sense of "pandering" does Valda have in mind?

Panderism is a frequent word in politics. Basically it's the act of pandering. Funny you should ask for the context ,
the exact quote is from Stephen Colbert when he interviewed Pussy Riot: "I don't know the Russian word for panderism, but well done!"
He says it after the Pussy Riot members thanked the audience for their support and received an ovation.

Pussy Riot - Pussy Riot Pt. 2 - The Colbert Report - Video Clip | Comedy Central

I provided the link of the second part of the interview where he mentions it somewhere in the beginning. The translator is shown to translate everything (especially in the first part) but she wasn't shown translating this comment and some others (maybe to save on time).

Originally Posted by Valda

the exact quote is from Stephen Colbert when he interviewed Pussy Riot: "I don't know the Russian word for panderism, but well done!"

.

I think he started to say, "I don't know the Russian word for pander." but changed it to "I don't know (what) the Russian word for pander is, but well done!"

Originally Posted by mudrets

I think he started to say, "I don't know the Russian word for pander." but changed it to "I don't know (what) the Russian word for pander is, but well done!"

Yes, that's exactly what he said -- and he was clearly using "pander" in the verb sense. I think льстить ("to be a toady; to flatter") would more or less work in this context, but maybe Lampada or another native speaker could suggest a more precise translation.

Моя версия. После того, как девочки вовлекли зрителей в разговор (сыграли на публику) и те стали им аплодировать, я думаю, Солберт сказал, что у девочек хорошо получилось сделать из зрителей сообщников.

Pander - пособник, соучастник, сообщник и т.п.

Having not watched the video yet (cant watch it atm), my suggestion is "льстить" (verb). So the translation of his remark would be something like Я не знаю, как по-русски будет "льстить", но у вас хорошо получается.

While it should be clear now that the modern meaning of 'pander' is meant in the video context, I might also add suggestions for the archaic? meaning as a noun discussed earlier. Apart from the direct meaning (which is of course "сутенёр", strange noone mentioned it) the following words may be used for the description: делец (разговорное, но литературное) or деляга (просторечное), or use the adjective "использующий" in different variations (e.g. использующий других людей, использующий всех в своих корыстных интересах, and the like).

Thanks for all the replies!

To my defense panderism is an atual word

panderism - definition of panderism by The Free Dictionary

Having watched the pertaining part of the video, I am finally sure he meant "льстить" (she said it is the people like those who were present that are to be thanked for their release from jail). So it definitetly looked like flattery from the start, and the host quickly responded saying - I don't know what the Russian word for pander is.

Originally Posted by alexsms

I might also add suggestions for the archaic? meaning as a noun discussed earlier. Apart from the direct meaning (which is of course "сутенёр"

Здесь "Сутенёр Года" исполняет драматичное чтение своего очень трогательного стихотворения "My Bitch Betta Have My Money":



(Из к/ф 1988 г. "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka" -- пародия так называемого жанра "blaxploitation" семидесятых годов. Довольно смешно американцам некоторого возраста -- а, пожалуй, юмор плохо переведётся для зрителей незнакомые с шаблонами, свойственными жанру "блэксплуатация".)

Also, by the way, Google Translate suggested "потворствовать" as another translation for the verb "to pander to." Based on the usage examples at Викисловарь, I would agree that this translation works in some contexts, but not (for example) in Stephen Colbert's interview with Pussy Riot. Instead, потворствовать apparently means "to indulge" in the sense of "to coddle, to appease (someone undeserving)" -- for which "pander to" can also be a synonym.

Example:
In a free society, lawmakers should not pander to [or: appease; indulge] those who demand a ban on "blasphemy" or "hate speech."

I'm pretty sure that this could be translated:
В свободном обществе, законодатели не должны потворствовать тем, кто требуют запретить "богохульство" или "риторика ненависти."

Originally Posted by Throbert McGee

(Из к/ф 1988 г. "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka" -- пародия так называемого жанра "blaxploitation" семидесятых годов. Довольно смешно для американцев определённого возраста -- и, пожалуй, юмор плохо воспримется зрителями незнакомыми с шаблонами, свойственными жанру "блэксплуатация".)

по стилю лучше так

To Mr McGee,

потворствовать is a formal or bookish word for 'let happen something viewed as immoral, or being too liberal, show indulgence towards something viewed as undesirable or immoral by one the parties involved'.

it is very and very close to the meaning of 'turn a blind eye to' or to cause further spread of something bad by inaction and lack of response...

Example: Не заявляя о пропавших вещах, вы тем самым потворствуете распространению воровства в этом районе (awkward example, but the idea must be clearer now I guess). Can be transl. as - By not informing the police that something has been stolen from you, you cause further spread of theft related crimes in this disctrict.