Thread: New Russian-English books in ParallelBook format

The first book is a brilliant romantic short story "Snow storm" by Alexander Pushkin, the genius of Russian literature.
600 fragment pairs.
See the screenshot.

That's interesting....haven't heard about this format before. Wonder if they're gonna make an iPad app for the reader?

This format is very, very new. It was created in September 2012 and the first (and so far only) program for it was finished in October 2012.
An app for iPad will indeed be created, but definitely later than a reader for Android, and very possibly not by me but by somebody else, because I don't possess Apple hardware neither for developing nor for debugging. [I may use double negation, I'm Russian ]

Originally Posted by Inego

The first book is a brilliant romantic short story "Snow storm" by Alexander Pushkin, the genius of Russian literature.

It’s a great software, I think. I have just one remark on the text in this screenshot. It’s off the point, though.

I wouldn’t advise anyone to learn Russian reading "Snow storm", unless your level is proficient. I can see so many obsolete words and expressions here, let alone the grammar forms.

Достопамятную, во всей округе, по пяти копеек, прочили, предмет, избранный ею, в отпуску, само по себе разумеется, равною страстию, склонность, нежели, всякий день, видались, сперва, весьма, романическому, предаться ему, несколько времени.

Originally Posted by Helenej

It’s a great software, I think. I have just one remark on the text in this screenshot. It’s off the point, though.

I wouldn’t advise anyone to learn Russian reading "Snow storm", unless your level is proficient. I can see so many obsolete words and expressions here, let alone the grammar forms.

Достопамятную, во всей округе, по пяти копеек, прочили, предмет, избранный ею, в отпуску, само по себе разумеется, равною страстию, склонность, нежели, всякий день, видались, сперва, весьма, романическому, предаться ему, несколько времени.

That's one of the complaints I have. I learned to read by many things, not the least of which are stories that I got off the internet. And through experience, I find that a lot of the words I use are considered wrong, or archaic. So I don't know what to think most of the time. As a general rule, I want to learn to begin with that vocabulary which is contemporary.

Originally Posted by Helenej

I wouldn’t advise anyone to learn Russian reading "Snow storm", unless your level is proficient. I can see so many obsolete words and expressions here, let alone the grammar forms.
Достопамятную, во всей округе, по пяти копеек, прочили, предмет, избранный ею, в отпуску, само по себе разумеется, равною страстию, склонность, нежели, всякий день, видались, сперва, весьма, романическому, предаться ему, несколько времени.

I have highlighted words and phrases that are perfectly normal in modern Russian.

Originally Posted by Inego

I have highlighted words and phrases that are perfectly normal in modern Russian.

I agree with you on the fact that all the highlighted words are understandable to any Russian person.

Yet I am trying to imagine who could say them without, maybe, that ironic meaning.

во всей округе - maybe some older people who live in the country only. Others would say вокруг, поблизости, по соседству, недалеко, во всем районе.

склонность - no one in this meaning. Симпатия, любовь, привязанность.

нежели - no one. Чем.

видались - Hmm. Maybe in the negation like мы давно не видались. Still my daughters would never say that. Не виделись.

сперва - maybe, though it sounds oldish. Сначала, в первую очередь, для начала.

весьма - never and no one. Очень, в значительной степени.


Though, as I said, all these words may be used to make people smile, with irony.

Mr. Crocodile has recently been quoting professor Preobrazhenskiy's words "В топку ее, немедленно." I'm not that resolute. Let Pushkin's story live, but not on this site.

Originally Posted by Helenej

I agree with you on the fact that all the highlighted words are understandable to any Russian person.

Yet I am trying to imagine who could say them without, maybe, that ironic meaning.

во всей округе - maybe some older people who live in the country only. Others would say вокруг, поблизости, по соседству, недалеко, во всем районе.

склонность - no one in this meaning. Симпатия, любовь, привязанность.

нежели - no one. Чем.

видались - Hmm. Maybe in the negation like мы давно не видались. Still my daughters would never say that. Не виделись.

сперва - maybe, though it sounds oldish. Сначала, в первую очередь, для начала.

весьма - never and noone. Очень, в значительной степени.


Though, as I said, all these words may be used to make people smile, with irony.

Mr. Crocodile has recently been quoting professor Preobrazhenskiy's words "В топку ее, немедленно." I'm not that resolute. Let Pushkin's story live, but not on this site.

While at the task of learning Russian, I would definitely rather read something in contemporary language. Unfortunately, I'd probably read completely through something like that and not even know it's not current. Then in turn I'd use the words, and people would look at me like I had two heads...lol

Originally Posted by kgcole

While at the task of learning Russian, I would definitely rather read something in contemporary language. Unfortunately, I'd probably read completely through something like that and not even know it's not current. Then in turn I'd use the words, and people would look at me like I had two heads...lol

Not at all! They will be very surprised that you use so advanced Russian, because it only shows how serious the books you read are.
When sometimes (rarely) I listen or read "literary" Russian from foreigners I can't help admiring them, for they speak (culturally) better Russian than most of our Russian population do.

Originally Posted by Inego

Not at all! They will be very surprised that you use so advanced Russian, because it only shows how serious the books you read are.
When sometimes (rarely) I listen or read "literary" Russian from foreigners I can't help admiring them, for they speak (culturally) better Russian than most of our Russian population do.

Sounds like I'll have to have a dual personality. One for speaking in general, and one for learned speech making...lol

Originally Posted by Inego

The first book is a brilliant romantic short story "Snow storm" by Alexander Pushkin, the genius of Russian literature.
...

http://prochtu.ru/uslishu.php?avtor=84&kniga=2 (Слушать. 31минута)

Сайт-источник: http://bibe.ru.

The voice of the narrating lady strangely reminds me that of speech synthesis at Google's, so lifeless and emotionless it is (I hope that was not you)
But this mp3 is very useful to know where to put stress correctly in the Russian text, thank you!

Originally Posted by Inego

The voice of the narrating lady strangely reminds me that of speech synthesis at Google's, so lifeless and emotionless it is (I hope that was not you)
But this mp3 is very useful to know where to put stress correctly in the Russian text, thank you!

Что нагуглилось, то нагуглилось. Спасибо им за это!

Haha, There is the first volunteer for aligning an English-Russian book. She is my wife We've just signed a contract, she'll align "Martin Eden". She says it'll take a year to complete, but I am sure it will take much less time.