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ronin1
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| Joined: | Saturday January 21st, 2006 |
| Location: | S.F. Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 622 |
| Visits: | 7 | | Currently: | married |
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Posted: Tuesday September 5th, 2006 12:11 am |
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Peculiarities in Russian Woman Speech…
In the course of forming a more perfect union with a Russian woman, it is incumbent upon the WM to take great care in attempting to understand the words of a RW correctly, and vice-a-versa. Forging a relationship at an accelerated rate has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that the language barrier has many pitfalls both obvious and not so obvious. It is one of the less obvious peculiarities that I will mention, now.
In a relationship where the Russian Woman is significantly less than fluent in AM’s native language, certain commonly spoken Russian words can have a profound effect on the relationship. This is because that these Russian words are easily recognizable in English. When these words are used often especially in arguments, they can easily be interpreted in a rather derogatory and demeaning fashion toward the AM. And as such these words can accelerate the deterioration of a relationship through its misunderstanding.
The most frequent of these misunderstood Russian words is a case of ‘to go.’ This word in Russian is pronounced very similar to the English word ‘idiot.’ Can you imagine an AM/RW argument where the less than English proficient RW stomps off in frustration not being able to get her point across to the AM? She will automatically start spouting off in Russian. Perhaps she is muttering that the AM should go for a walk to give her some space to blow off steam. All the AM will hear is a barrage of heated Russian with the word “idiot” somewhere in the mix.
So what will the AM think? Well, in a heated argument there is less thinking and more reacting. The chances are good that the AM will take it as a sign that the RW doesn’t respect him. With a perceived loss of respect goes the sliding of trust and love. This can be one of the nails in the coffin of a less than well cemented AM/RW relationship.
The AM will rarely think clearly that the RW is less than fluent and that such English words are not within her taught vocabulary. And that why in her issuance of Russian frustration would she spew a charge of emotional Russian speech with that one lone word of English in the middle?
Perhaps one is a critical listener. Many of those that take upon the quest for a RW bride are. Perhaps, one may have recognized that it is unlikely for a Russian Woman to have the control to interject one lone English word in such a heated situation. The likelihood that one lone anomaly is indeed a Russian word is rather thin. Well, here again the differences in language conspire to keep a wedge between man and woman. The Russian word ‘idiot’ is also pronounced similar to the English word ‘idiot.’ The differences in pronunciation are indistinguishable because we (AM) are not tuned to these differences in sound that are not in our language.
This can be comedy of errors in the true Shakspearian sense. Indeed, it may appear to be a situation of damned if you do take it to heart what you perceive and damned if you don’t. It is not the fault of neither the AM or RW. It’s just a fact that differences in the spoken languages can have similar sounds and different meanings. Perhaps the best course of action is to discount this word an anything that sounds like it. If the word was meant to be a portent of disrespect, I guarantee that a RW will make it evident in many more obvious ways. Always take care not to throw out the baby with the bath water.
Ronin
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dwfunk
Member
| Joined: | Tuesday March 21st, 2006 |
| Location: | Houston, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 109 |
| Visits: | 3 | | Currently: | married |
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Posted: Monday January 1st, 2007 03:03 am |
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My last trip, I left many cards hidden all over her flat. I stuck one in the bottom of the laundry basket, stuck one under some pots, stuck one in her pillow, stuck one in a coat pocket, stuck one in the fridge, and several other places.
I left the first card on the window sill in her room, wanting it to be the first one found. In it I told her how much I loved her and I also expressed my thanks for all her she had done for me while I was there.
That's when I found out this particular phrase is a no-no: "Thank you very much for everything you have done for me."
After she returned home and found this card, she was a nervous wreck until I got back home and we could talk on the phone. Because of the professions of love, she was sure I meant something else, but she had to make sure. It seems that the phrase: "Thank you very much for everything you have done for me" is more of a "kiss-off," a good-bye, but I won't be back, kind of thing.
I re-assured her that I really did love her and that I did not mean anything negative about our time together. She assured me that she believed that I did love her and that I couldn't have meant anything negative.
Moral, is be prepared for some mis-understanding with something you or she believes is an every-day phrase or saying. Don't take things too personal when they appear to be negative. Ask and talk about it and when you both finally come to an understanding, you will have something you can look back on and have a laugh about.
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David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/ Moscow, Russia
УЛ. КОНЕНКОВА
16th World Spacemodeling Championships
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