Learning Russian is a Bear! Part 2, with 10 more Yalki–palki !

 

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Chert in English... a  rock.  In Russian... the devil.

Language Dejection!

How do you view your life... winning or losing? ... in your career, your marriage, your health?   

When it has to do with learning Russian, recently I  felt a loser.  It’s an up-river swim, and I looked around and found myself swept to sea. 

One late Friday morning Larissa and I went to the Almozov Clinic for a MNO (warfarin level) test.  Nina Nicolievna, who does the blood draw, is skilled and friendly.  She asked if my wife was with me.  I tried to explain in Russian that she was in another office in the building making an appointment for a cardio-stimulator  checkup. 

Nina couldn’t understand what I said.  She berated me for not learning Russian better. This sudden criticism made me upset, and on reflection, angry!  Put on the defensive, I tried to explain why I didn’t know Russian better. 

It’s true, a nasty word or criticism has power.  No one is good at receiving criticism.  He may pretend to be, but I don’t believe it. 

I skipped my study of Russian for days..

Maybe both the negative criticism - and the praise - were valid!

Irena, the wife of an American fellow expat blogger, praised my Russian recently.  Genady, a marine programmer, also thought my Russian was good. 

Nina isn’t used to conversing with foreigners, while Irena and Genady are.   Also, I am usualy at my worse in the mornings, an owl by nature, what Russians call a сова... pronounced so-va.  A morning person is called a жаворонок... ja-vor-o-nok.

I am at my best in the early evening, and with tasty food and drink, it’s my most alert time of day.

This incident got me thinking about being understood in Russian.

Russian is a front articulation, mouth-mostly-closed language.  However, it is back-mouth-resonated just before the throat.

Russian is usually formed in the mouth front , with the jaws relaxed, the lips mostly closed.  Look on Russian TV and you’ll see a lot of lower teeth.

English is one of many middle resonance languages, spoken as if you have a hot potato in your mouth.  American speakers are relatively toothy.

So it isn’t enough to have good enunciation.  To be understood well, you need to hold you mouth the right way for the language you are attempting, and remember where to resonate it!

Maybe I was sleepy when I saw the nurse, forgetting to speak like a Russian.  Speaking with a hot potato in my mouth may have gotten us in hot water!

Yalki Palki ... the list continues!

Using Russian can be fun, especially when you say an unexpected word that isn’t in standard Russian textbooks.  For the first Yalki Palki list,  just click here.

Cyrllic Russian............................... Pronounced... Means...

милый мой !.................................. Мeely moy............ My little one.

мамула.......................................... Ma-mu-la............... Mom.

ух ты!............................................. Uuk Tee!................ Surprised. 

ау! ау!............................................  A-oo!  A-oo!...........Calling  from afar.

перепутал.....................................  Pe-ri-pu-tal..... ..... Mixed up. 

потихоньку.................................... Po- tee-hun-ky.......Taking it carefully.

нахал.............................................. Na-haal..................Takes more than expected.

приступнык.................................... Pree-stoop-nick....Criminal suspect.

чёрт................................................ Chort  .....................The devil!  Damn!

вот так........................................... Vut tak...................That’s life.

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Comments very welcome!

What are your thoughts on praise and criticism, languages sounding, and our Yalki-Palki List ?  Just click comments on the next to last line.

Clickable Articles...

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