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Thread: This is our generation's Sputnik moment -- State of the Union 2011

  1. #1
    Administrator MasterAdmin's Avatar
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    This is our generation's Sputnik moment -- State of the Union 2011

    Starting at 12:33

    Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we'd beat them to the moon.

    The science wasn't there yet. NASA didn't even exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

    This is our generation's Sputnik moment.


    Now that you know how to say "sputnik" in English, learn to say "sputnik" in Russian

    Russian vs. English
    спутник vs. sputnik
    [spoot-nik] vs. [spuht-nik]


    The full video is here

  2. #2
    Завсегдатай Throbert McGee's Avatar
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    +1 point to Obama for using the "normal" Americanized pronunciation!
    Говорит Бегемот: "Dear citizens of MR -- please correct my Russian mistakes!"

  3. #3
    Administrator MasterAdmin's Avatar
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    My fascination is more linguistic in nature. To show how the pronunciation changes even if the word originates from another language.
    I was partly expecting others to kick in with Russian names being pronounced in English manner during Australia Open

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    Завсегдатай sperk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MasterAdmin View Post
    I was partly expecting others to kick in with Russian names being pronounced in English manner during Australia Open
    American sports broadcasters now make ridiculous efforts to try and pronounce foreign names like a native would. It's an offshoot of PC and the American obsession with possibly offending someone, as if mispronouncing a foreign name would be offensive - it's really pathetic. So, they'll bend over backwards trying to pronounce some French players name properly then take a break before returning to "Pairis".
    Кому - нары, кому - Канары.

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    Почтенный гражданин Demonic_Duck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MasterAdmin View Post
    My fascination is more linguistic in nature. To show how the pronunciation changes even if the word originates from another language.
    There's a simple answer in this particular case - transliteration of «спутник» is "sputnick", which an English speaker would naturally pronounce "SPUHT-nick".

    It's less clear in cases where the word changes in ways that can't be explained away by the limitations of transliteration or the sounds available in the English language. I'm sure there are hundreds of examples of this, but I can't think of any at the moment because I'm too tired and should go to sleep instead of posting on this forum
    Демоническая Утка
    Носитель английского языка, учу русский язык.
    Пожалуйста, исправьте мои сообщения!

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    Властелин
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    When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity.

    To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300° C.

    The Russians use a pencil.

  7. #7
    Почтенный гражданин Demonic_Duck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether View Post
    When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity.

    To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300° C.

    The Russians use a pencil.
    Haha, funny story, but not true
    NASA Space Pen - Did NASA Spend Billions Designing Zero-Gravity Space Pen? - Urban Legends

    It reminds me of a sexist joke though...

    There are three blondes trapped on an island with a genie, who will grant them each one wish. The first one says "I wish I was a hundred times smarter". The genie grants her wish, she builds a boat and rows across to the mainland. The next one says "I wish I was a THOUSAND times smarter", so the genie grants her wish, she builds a plane and flies over to the mainland. The final one says "I wish I was a MILLION times smarter", so the genie turns her into a man and she uses the bridge.
    Демоническая Утка
    Носитель английского языка, учу русский язык.
    Пожалуйста, исправьте мои сообщения!

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