the way Russians speak English

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February 19th, 2006, 03:47 PM
Leof

the way Russians speak English

I apologize if anyone told this joke before somewhere in the forum. I honestly searched through it in case it really was once told. But I do not see it, so the following is more than joke - because I know lots of Russians who speak dirrectly that way :

so two Russians talk in English :

First: Which time is now?
Second: Without five six.
F: Such much??
S: Whom-how...
F: End MGU??
S: Ask!!

and this is how it sounds in Russian :

F: Который теперь час?
S: Без пяти шесть.
F: Так много??
S: Кому-как...
F: Закончил МГУ?
S: Спрашиваешь!
February 19th, 2006, 09:18 PM
net surfer

It was a year ago in the thread "Double-meaning, strange-sounding and other fun words/phrases" but it mysteriously disappered.
February 20th, 2006, 03:41 AM
basurero

Now how bout a correct English translation.
February 20th, 2006, 07:38 AM
Leof

:lol: I can't believe you really need it!

What time is it?
It's five to six.
So late??
You better know...
Graduated from MGU? (Московский Государственный Университет)
Never ask! Sure!

something ike this
February 20th, 2006, 08:04 AM
JJ

I know this version:
-Which watch?
-Six watch.
-Such much?
-Whom how.
-MGIMO* finished?
-Ask!

*- Московский Государственный Институт Международных Отношений
February 20th, 2006, 08:58 AM
basurero

I don't get кому-как

Why does спрашиваешь mean "dont ask?"
February 20th, 2006, 09:51 AM
wanja

A riddle:
What is "too-tee-too-too-too"?
Answer: Two russian tourists in a hotel a trying to order tea to the room 22.
February 20th, 2006, 02:40 PM
Rtyom

Quote:

Originally Posted by basurero

I don't get кому-как

Why does спрашиваешь mean "dont ask?"

Actually, "кому как" means "it can be so if you're think it is, but I think differently".

"Спрашиваешь" here is the exclamation meaning that the second interlocutor could have never say the thing he has said already because it's a plain fact.
February 20th, 2006, 02:41 PM
Rtyom

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanja

A riddle:
What is "too-tee-too-too-too"?
Answer: Two russian tourists in a hotel a trying to order tea to the room 22.

:yes: A nice riddle!
February 20th, 2006, 03:58 PM
TATY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

:lol: I can't believe you really need it!

What time is it?
It's five to six.
So late??
You better know...
Graduated from MGU? (Московский Государственный Университет)
Never ask! Sure!

something ike this

That's not proper English.
February 20th, 2006, 04:35 PM
Leof

I'm sure it's not! I am not so strong in it :D
However I thought I reflected the sense in general.
Ok. Help me translate it in proper English!
February 20th, 2006, 08:11 PM
pranki

I think it should be "What's the time?". Am I right?
February 20th, 2006, 10:52 PM
TATY

Quote:

Originally Posted by pranki

I think it should be "What's the time?". Am I right?

No that was the only part that was OK. :P

What's the time / What time is it = same same
February 21st, 2006, 12:37 AM
kalinka_vinnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

I'm sure it's not! I am not so strong in it :D
However I thought I reflected the sense in general.
Ok. Help me translate it in proper English!

You ask, you shall receive:

What time is it?
It's five to six.
It's so late??
not to me it isn't!
Have you graduated from MGU? (Московский Государственный Университет)
Why ask?
February 21st, 2006, 06:40 AM
Leof

Thank you! :D

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??
:(
February 21st, 2006, 06:56 AM
basurero

Quote:

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

It's correct.[/quote]
February 21st, 2006, 08:13 AM
kwatts59

Quote:

Originally Posted by basurero

Quote:

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

It's correct.

Is it that late?
February 21st, 2006, 09:06 AM
basurero

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Quote:

Originally Posted by basurero

Quote:

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

It's correct.

Is it that late?

Also correct, and more natural I think.
February 21st, 2006, 09:08 AM
net surfer

What about just 2 words: So late?
February 21st, 2006, 09:54 AM
Leof

:D That was my first translations - "So late??"
But it seems it's not a proper English. :?
I thought nobody talks properly in such alike situations...
February 21st, 2006, 10:14 AM
Volk

You could even say:

What time is it?
It's five to six.
That late?
Not to me it isn't!

I think in most cases you would be understood saying 'So late?' but 'Is it/it's that late?' sounds much more natural.
February 21st, 2006, 10:28 AM
Leof

cool! :D
February 21st, 2006, 06:04 PM
tdk2fe

Is this a joke or something? I still dont get it...
February 22nd, 2006, 05:02 AM
basurero

"so late" is fine.
February 22nd, 2006, 05:54 AM
net surfer

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdk2fe

Is this a joke or something? I still dont get it...

Seems you finished MGIMO as well :)
February 22nd, 2006, 07:27 AM
Leof

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdk2fe

Is this a joke or something? I still dont get it...

Ok..I must explain then and I shall try..look..mmmm
ok let's pretend there were two English and they met in Russian street. Nobody knows they both are Sons of Britain (both know Russian very good and the fact they are English doesn't seem evident for them)
That what they both had to say in English :

What time is it?
It's five to six.
It's so late??
Not to me it isn't!
Have you graduated from Oxford?
Why ask?
I myself have graduated from there!
O Bloddy Hell! I'd never thought you are English - you speak Russian perfectly!!

But that what they said in Russian -

Что время есть это?
Это есть пять к шести!
Это есть так поздно?
Нет ко мне это есть не поздно!
Имеете вы заканчивали от Оксфорд?
Почему спрвшивать?
Я сам имею заканчивал из там!
О окроваленная преисподняя! Я б никогда подумал вы английский - вы говорить русский отлично!

The way the Russians spoke English where the same - they did not speak English - they simply spoke Russian in English words.

:D I hope it helped...
February 22nd, 2006, 08:10 AM
kwatts59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

Что время есть это?
Это есть пять к шести!
Это есть так поздно?
Нет ко мне это есть не поздно!
Имеете вы заканчивали от Оксфорд?
Почему спрвшивать?
Я сам имею заканчивал из там!
О окроваленная преисподняя! Я б никогда подумал вы английский - вы говорить русский отлично!

Это мне кажется совершенно естественным. :lol:
February 22nd, 2006, 03:36 PM
Leof

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Это мне кажется совершенно естественным. :lol:

О окровавленная преисподняя!!Я б никогда подумал вы английский - вы говорить русский отлично!
:lol:
February 22nd, 2006, 04:49 PM
Rtyom

Это есть гуд!
March 1st, 2006, 10:10 AM
wanja

http://www.lingvofanclub.info/pearls.htm
May 20th, 2006, 10:31 PM
Dusik

у меня такая "проблема" есть: я не могу переводить русские анекдоты своим англо-язычным соотечественникам. может где-то было уже обсуждение этого вопроса? пошлите меня туда, пожалуста