Comments on: Phraseology In The News: Колено [The Knee]

By: Stas

Stas — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:15:08 +0000

Hi there again. It looks like I am going to spend the whole day reading your blog. It's such a pleasent reading. As for your PS, работа мечты caught my eye. It's grammaticaly correct but native Russian speakers will never say it without притяжательного местоимения [sorry, I forget English term and even if I manage to remember I will mess up the spelling.] It should be работа их мечты. As in woman of my dream (женщина моей мечты) or man of her dream (мужчина её мечты). I don't know why it is this way but it is.

By: Anyse Joslin

Anyse Joslin — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:39:43 +0000

Your blog is a breath of fresh air every time I read it! I feel that you have an “innate” sense or feeling for the Russian people as well as for their social and political difficulties or triumphs. Should I ever see something really “out of whack” in your translation, I will definitely let you know. By the way, can you let me and others know how you learned Russian and what textbooks you used? Also, would you give your “humble” opinion as to the “most useful” book on Russian that you have ever had and keep with you even now in Russia?

Thank you so much. I would love to have you as a guest here in America. I would set up the fireplace, make tea or lattes, and we could just sit around and “chat” for as long as we please. I feel that comfortable with you!

Anyse
A Woman in California

By: peggy

peggy — Sat, 24 May 2008 15:32:45 +0000

I think your English is excellent – but am not sure whether you have coined the word ‘improval’; I think it is a ‘portmanteau ‘ word, combining approval with improvement. Humpty Dumpty,aka Lewis Carroll would be pleased with it, but to be strictly correct you probably want improvement!

By: John Baker

John Baker — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:49:48 +0000

J,
Here in America I do not read Time, Newsweek or any of the other Left-biased Media Mags. But I find it interesting that the Russian version of Newsweek reports that this younger generation of Russians continues to look more and more Western, even American in their appearance and ideas.
While the Russian Road to Economic Liberty through Economic Solutions to Economic Problems has been very rocky, I see that the in-bred corruption of the last 1000 years will eventually disappear or become the exception rather than the Rule.
Again, keep up the good work.

By: John Baker

John Baker — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:38:38 +0000

J,
I continue to enjoy your blog, as I garner a view point from another non-Russian with an intense interest in Russia and Russians. For me, it is because my Fiancee is “Russkaya ot Volgograda.”
In the spirit of your PS, I must tell you that “improval” is not an English word. The word you want to use is “improvement.” If, however, the form “impoval” comes into standard useage, you should get the credit for coining this word.
Do not hold your breath until this happens, since it would require general “AP-proval.” Until then keep up the good work!