Now if you spoke fluent Russian, or at least knew enough words to tell a compliment from an insult you would not mistake the note above for a Pushkin poem: «Молодые люди с высшим образованием, имейте самоуважение - соблюдайте чистоту.» [Young people with higher education, have self-respect and keep it clean.]
This picture was supposed to go up with the last post, but there was some trouble with uploading it, and for some reason it didn’t show. Yet today everything works fine, and I can upload it as well and make a big correction on my last post - of course it should be «Зачем изучать русский язык?» [why; what for; for what reason study Russian?] and not «почему»! Thank you, Mikhail! I always make that mistake… but I will get better - we’re all here to learn, now aren’t we?
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I was just commenting on the fact that the term itself is a problematic one, in the context of what I said about Jews reading the Christian Bible. Sorry if I was unclear."
10 Comments
Привет!
Да, как мой преподаватель всегда говорит мне, “Это процесс”. Каждый раз, что я даю курсовую работу, я верю, что эта без ошибок. А всегда, почти в каждом предложение есть ошибки.
Learning a new language is a humbling experience. No matter how smart you are or how hard you work - it’s a long road - especially the older you are. I’m 53, so just think how hard it is for me!
But as you demonstrated in you last post in very humorous examples, there are so many great reasons to learn Russian. I started learning Russian to read old ancestral records written in Russian. My grandfather was born in Latvia, when it was part of the Russian Empire. And then I got to practice it when I was in Latvia, after having studied it about 6 months. And a few months later, I found long-lost cousins in Latvia, with whom I now email often in Russian. (Everyone always asks me, “Why not learn Latvian then?” But they do not speak Latvian, only Russian.) And while I make lots of mistakes, they say that can understand everything I’m trying to say. And isn’t that the reason for learning a language — communication? When you are in class, it’s all about trying not to make any mistakes. But in the real world — it’s all about communication, not perfection. So keep your chin up, all you language learners. Every day in every way, your Russian is getting better and better.
Зачем? Почему? Как насчёт слова отчего?
I have a very difficult time knowing which form to use in a given situation. То this poor American, purpose and reason often seem the same. Perhaps a blog on the correct use of these three words would be good. Then there also is: с чего!
I enjoy this page very much. I am trying to learn more. Every little helps. Articles are excellent and interesting. Russian persons wanting communicate in English can write me. I can supply address.
Please, a blog on зачем and почему would be brilliant; I have not come across a clear explanation.
Your blog continues to be one of the most interesting parts of my emails. Thank you!
I asked my Russian professor (who is from Belarus) for an explanation. This is what she said:
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These adverbs are more or less interchangeable. However, sometimes one is more preferred than the other. For one thing, “почему” (why?) is considered an adverb of cause and stands for the reason that caused you to do something: Почему ты не позвонил мне вчера? / Почему ты начаал изучать русский язык? It is something that precedes “therefore”.
The adverb “зачем” is an adverb of purpose: something for the sake of what you do something (for what?). It can be substituted with “для чего / ради чего”: “Зачем ты сюда пришел? / Зачем тебе это надо? (In the last example, I would never use “почему”).
I hope that makes sense. In English, it is harder to explain. The difference is too subtle and maybe for the non-Russian speaker is not important.
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To be honest — it’s still not clear to me. I’m going to talk to her more about it today. If I achieve enlightenment, I’ll let you all know.
Bruce
It seems that the question of today is почему или зачем?..
May I ask then, what is the right way to say: не нужно или не надо?.. Туфля или туфель?.. Врач или врачиха, пловец или пловчиха?..
What a mystery, this language!..
My mother tongue is German and there is (or can be) the same difference in German, so I never really wondered about those two, but used them as I would in German. Now however I am little unsure, if the use/the difference indeed is the exact same one…
Okay, next post will be dedicated to the difference (hopefully a clear and distinct one) between such expressions of “why?” in Russian as “почему?”, “зачем?”, “для чего?”, “с чего?” and so on and so forth! I’m really looking forward to it, but can’t do it until I’m finished with my last exam for my BA in Russian language & literature
which I’m about to get… tomorrow!!
(”Почему изучать русский язык?”) - не такая уж и ошибка. Когда иностранцы говорят по-русски, это звучит интересно. Какая-то изюминка есть, которой нет у нас.
I like then foreigners speaks Russian. It sounds well.
Кака така изюминка? “Изюминка непонимания” о чёмъ говоришь? Вернее смысла, который получится на этомъ языке. Если бъ я говорилъ на иностранномъ языке, я бъ тоже грешилъ этой изюминкой.