Posts tagged with "happiness"

What Makes Russians Happy

Posted by yelena 16 Comments
Aug 9 2011

I’d like to thank Jarrod for the inspiring comment on our Facebook page and to Bob for sending me the infographics that started it all. Guys, you rock!

A while ago one of the blog readers, Bob, e-mailed me the infographics you see at the top of the post. Honestly, while I really liked the picture, I already had a bunch of posts lined up and decided «отложить статью в долгий ящик» [to shelf the article].

Then a few days ago I picked up a copy of Jane McGonigal’s “Reality Is Broken” «в местной библиотеке» [at a local library]. «Отличная книга, кстати!» [By the way, it’s a great read].

To make the long story short, reading about happiness reminded me of the infographics and led to my asking a question «Что вам нужно для счастья» which I translated as “What do you need to be happy”.

Jarrod brought up an excellent point by asking why I translated it this way instead of “for happiness”.

Would «дословный перевод» [word-for-word translation] be the best option here? Or should I use «литературный перевод» [idiomatic translation]? As a non-native speaker (of either Russian or English), how important is it to you to have a translation that is a close formal equivalent even when a more idiomatic form exists? These aren’t just idle questions since your feedback shapes this blog.

But here’s the kicker. Did you see the title of the infographics? It’s called “What makes Russians happy”. Now, how would you translate this sentence into Russian? Try it now, but don’t peek…

………………………..

Did you write down your answer? Ok, the way this particular research was announced in Russian media was «Чего россиянам не хватает для счастья». Wow, that’s like totally different, isn’t it?

The phrase «чего не хватает» [what’s missing] was translated as “what makes”. Why?

I think it’s because Russian language has a lot of phrases that use «не» without sounding negative (at least to the Russian ear):

  • When making plans – «Не пойти-ли нам в кино» [lit. Why don’t we go to a movie]
  • When hurrying to work – «Не пропустить бы автобус» [ lit. Wouldn’t want to miss the bus]
  • When asking for directions – «Не подскажете, как пройти к музею искусств» [lit. Wouldn’t you tell me how to get to the art museum]
  • When asking what time it is – «Не знаете, который час?» [lit. Wouldn’t you know what time it is]

This brings to mind an article I read last year in one of the glossy magazines. In it one of the researchers is quoted saying

Among Westerners, focusing on one’s negative feelings tends to impair well-being, but among Russians, that is not the case.

Speaking of well-being and «счастье», what do Russians need to be happy? Turns out, «большинству респондентов не хватает денег, любви и уверенности в будущем» [the majority of respondents need money, love and confidence in the future].

Other answers included

«Стабильность» [stability] – I was surprised to see this as a separate answer. Apparently confidence in the future does not imply stability.

«Возможность жить там, где мне бы хотелось» [Opportunity to live where I want] – my Russian friends are always surprised at how often I move. Moving to a different town or a different part of the country used to be very difficult and looks like for some people in Russia it remained so.

«Квадратные метры» [square meters] – are you puzzled? «квадратные метры» refers to the problem of «маленькая жилплощадь» [insufficient living space], a common problem since apartments tend to be small.

«Возможность заняться любимым делом» [opportunity to do what I love] – this seems to be a problem common in the US as well, at least judging by all the self-help books on the subject of “making money doing what you love”.

My favorite answer is «чего-то не хватает, но ощущению счастья это не мешает» [lit. something is missing, but it doesn’t interfere with the feeling of happiness]. First of all, it’s a wonderful realization that having everything isn’t a prerequisite to being happy. And then, there are two «не»s that add the unique Russian twist to the otherwise rather bland “something is missing, but I am happy” translation.

“Happiness in a time of Crisis” or «Крисиз как источник счастья»

Posted by josefina No Comments
Oct 21 2008

It is my favorite word in any language, but especially I love the sound of it in Russian – «счастье» [1. happiness, 2. (good) luck, (good) fortune]. I love how the two first letters «сч» together are pronounced like a «щ» making it «щастье»; an all together soft and pleasing, lovable little part of speech. Not to mention the meaning of it! That’s why, in our so called «смутное время» [‘time of troubles'], I was especially happy – that is, я была особо счастлива - when I found the editorial in my favorite weekly magazine with the following title: «Кризис как источник счастья» [The crisis as a source of happiness]. Yes, Russia has been feeling the economic crisis these past couple of weeks just as bad as any other country in the world, even though it has yet to hit home with the average Ivan Kuznetsov on the prospect. But it is slowly starting to show – for most Russians, in their wallets. Some banks are out of money, many bandks aren’t giving any loans any more at all for the time being; today I had to try five different ATMs before I could find one that would give me more than 5000 roubles (which is the limit of money you can take out per day set by a large number of banks). Yet Russians aren’t as untrained as the rest of us in matters like these – most just raise their eyebrows and ask with a slight ironic tone in their voice, straight away giving away their tranquil attitude: «А помните ли вы дефолта в 98-ом? После этого уже никакие кризисы нам не страшны!» [But do you remember the default in 98? After we're not afraid of any kind of crisis!] Of course, it won’t be as bad as ten years ago, but the effects are already visible in society – people are losing their jobs, it’s harder for people to find a new job, and some even claim that it’s all a big conspiracy by the world’s most powerful countries to nationalize all their resources and make people stop buying so much superfluous trash all the time. And I think wehave to get used to the idea of having less cash at hand to spend, but is that really such a bad thing? Think of all the things one can do for free! Or for very little money! There’s a gigantic world of possibilies out there even for those without a copeck in their pocket. Trust me. And it you don’t trust me – then let’s check some of the points made in the editorial by Григорий Тарасевич [Grigory Tarasevich].

For get all about busting out the credit card to pay for fancy French restaurants as a way of impressing a girl on the «первое свидание» [first date]. Not only is it kind of a cliché, and also an expensice one, but why not show her that you’re really a nature lover at heart, someone who loves long walks in parks, hiking and biking and what now? Or perhaps that’s just the Swedish part of me talking; the part that truly thinks nothing in the world can beat Mother Nature?

Кто-то из западных социологов отметил, что наибольший уровень счастья достигается за счёт самых дешёвых форм досуга. [Someone of the western sociologists noted that the very highest level of happiness is reached by the cheapest forms of recreation.]

Здесь кризис нам просто необходим, ибо по уровню счастья Россия прочно занимает одно из самых последних мест в мире, уступая большинству беднейших стран Африки и Латинской Америки. [And here is where we need the crisis most of all, since Russia's level of happiness has always been among the lowest in the world, far behind most of the poorest countries in Africa and Latin America.]

На чём в первую очередь экономит человек? На всяких потребительских радостях: покупке нового телевизора, походе в ресторан, поездке на курорт. [On what do people first of all save money? On all kinds of consumer delights: buying a new TV, going out to dinner, going away for the holiday.]

Благодаря проблемам с фьючерсами и прочими деривативами мы сумеем научиться получать удовольствие от того, что обходится бесплатно или стоит очень-очень дёшево. Кино заменят книги, ресторан - прогулка по парку, пятизвёздочный отель – волонтёрский лагерь. [Thanks to the problems with 'fuchers' and other 'derivates' we will learn to get pleasure from that which is free or costs very-very little. Movies will be replaced by books, restaurants - by a walk in the part, a five star hotel - by a volunteer camp.]

Если в докризисную эпоху парочки ходили по клубам и барам, то теперь у них останутся лишь чистое общение и чистый секс. Много секса. И много общения. [If couples in the era before the crisis would go out to clubs and bars, then now they will only have pure contact and pure sex. Lots of sex. And lots of contact.]

Кризис вообще способствует интимным отношениям, ведь искренний секс всегда бесплатный. [The crisis will generally promote intimate relations, as honest sex always is free of charge.]

Тот, кто постарше и успел обзавестись семьёй, тоже может оказаться в психологическом выигрыше. Опять-таки появляется секс - как альтернатива шопингу. [Those who are a little bit older and had time to start a family, may also get a slize of the psychological prize. Once again sex appears - as an alternative to shopping.]

Жёны возвращаются на кухню - домашний борщ дешевле бизнес-ланча, да к тому же вкуснее, полезнее и душевнее. [The wives will return to the kitchen - homemade borshtj is cheaper than a business lunch, and it's also much tastier, healthier and 'better for the soul'.]

Муж принимается чинить и мастерить. В общем, идиллия. [The husband will fix things and make order in the house. In general, it's an idyll.]

I know probably not everyone will agree with this (even I am uncertain as to whether I’m all that happy about my return to the kitchen to cook borshtj), but reading this editorial really made my Saturday morning! Let’s face it – for the past couple of weeks there’s been nothing but bad news, and everything is getting more expensive while there’s less and less money in the wallet. And isn’t it nice when someone turns it around and make you see the bright side of life? Yes, instead of going to the movies, I think I’ll have some Dostoevsky. Or why not take a walk in the park instead of having a beer after work on Friday? And, though this might seem awfully secure and brave of me, but I don’t think my boyfriend will be too disappointed if I tell I’d rather stay in tonight than going out for dinner… Who knows, maybe this crisis will change us a little for the better?

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