Learning A New Language: Russian

[Omelas]

H'okay. I just decided to start learning a new language, namely, Russian. Does anyone here already speak/write/know it?

 

[gruesomebrat]

Wow, I'm amazed... an American learning a foreign language, and Russian, at that... I never thought I'd see the day.

Unfortunately, I don't know any Russian, although I have a couple of friends who immigrated from Mother Russia when they were young. They still speak some Russian, but never around me...

 

[Bird]

Why do you want to learn the language?

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

He's going to use a time machine to infiltrate in Cold War Russia as a spy. He's going to change the course of the history.

By the way, if you suceed in finding good Russian learning sources, let me know.

 

[Omelas]

I am learning Russian, or, attempting to, because I think it is interesting, and I would like to know more than 5 languages before I become senile. So far, I've got 2. But, being 18, I have time. I also might be going to Moscow, then St. Petersburg in 3 years for a semester abroad.

Specifically why I think it is, "interesting": different alphabet, new sounds, different ways of doing case-structure, and just general curiosity.

As to Americans learning other languages, I know quite a few who already know 3 or 4, going on a 4th or 5th. Albeit, there are quite a few others who barely know their first. So it goes.

Online Russian language sources I have found so far:

http://www.language-learning-advisor.com/russian-language-resources.html

http://www.alphadictionary.com/rusgrammar/
Warning: the site above has a very magenta background. But also good grammar info.

And, for politics/culture/information about Russia, I found these:

http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=MainPage

http://www.und.nodak.edu/dept/lang/russian/162/culture.html

I think that knowing about the country, history, culture, and people from which a language originated is crucial to knowing that language. So that is why I include that here.

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

These are very good links, Omelas. I've added the grammar ones to my favorites.

I'm struggling with the alphabet a little. The sound of some letters are just like my mother-tongue sounds(portuguese), but many of them are out of the place I learned them, and the way they're written is just beyond novel for me.

But with those links you provided, it shall be easier.

 

[gruesomebrat]

Hmm, I must keep meeting the wrong Americans. I always seem to meet the ones who can't speak English, and have no inclination to learn anything about foreigners, much less learn a foreign language.

 

[Omelas]

Well, you're in Ontario, what do you expect?


Edit: altough, aside from the hopefully-good-natured-Ontario-jab, yea, I'd say there is certainly a whole chunk of the bad and stupid with the good and intelligent and the alright and average. If I were to characterize my nation: it's a whole bunch of different people. I'm sure Canada is similar, given the similar immigrant-nation heritage.

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

Just to post my progress. I can read in Russian. Kind like a retarded, but I can, and simple words only.

Has anyone given a thought on how we'll type in Russian?

 

[Omelas]

I've been trying to figure out how to switch my keyboard over to an international keyboard. But that might not help, so I'm going to ask my friend who's good with computers and the like. I'm not bad with computers, but I just don't know how to get cryllic to sometimes be what I'm typing in, sometimes not (I still have to do my school work in English, obvoiusly).

Good job being able to read it already. I've been at this 9...or 10...hours now (spread out over different days), and I just know the alphabet and some vague attempts at pronunciation. Oh, and how to say, "Who is this?" ... "It is I!" or "It is so-and-so!" or "It is you!"

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

I achieved this by reading this while having that by my side.

It only clicked after метеор, which was obviously meteor. Then I kind of associated that p = R. So, the word above 'террор' became clearly Terror. I just kept learning new letters after that. Currently trying to understand Вашингтон, which seems to be washington.

But it's often Mee....teee...op! No... Mete..or!

 

[Omelas]

I think, "Вашингтон" would sound like, "Vaw-sh-ee-ng-ton" So, yeah, "Washington".

 

[warryer]

Russian is something I want to learn also. I have the Rosetta stone for it on my computer somewhere. Now I just need to find the will to sit through the lessons.

 

[Magnetosphere]

Warryer, tell me how that program works for you. I was thinking about buying it, but I've heard a few different things from a few different people.

That aside, I think it's pretty cool that you're trying to learn Russian. I was originally planning on majoring in astrophysics, but I think I'm going to switch things up next year and do a double-major in International Relations and Russian. It's such a useful language, really.

... And it'd be neat to understand all of the Red Army Choir songs on my iPod.

Oh, one of the things that's helped me get the alphabet down is turning the settings on all of my electronic devices (that allow it) to have them read in Russian. Combined with just a touch of prior knowledge, it goes a long way in helping you figure out pronunciation and general rules. If nothing else, it should get you used to reading Russian in the Cyrillic alphabet.

 

[Linsejko]

I can half read the Russian alphabet without having ever tried by way of knowing the Greek alphabet. (You encounter the Russian alphabet often in Israel because of the large immigrant community here.)

L

P.S.--by way of actually making this post useful... go visit how to learn any language.com. Fantastic language learning community, and great info. Rosetta Stone mostly sucks, by the way, according to most people who know what they're talking about.

 

[lagduck]

I'm native Russian speaker/writer/reader and I actually know this language quite well. So you can ask me your questions (if you have any).

 

[lagduck]

Re: Изучение нового языка: русский

You must be kidding me. I don't believe that no one here is actually interested in some Russian practice (considering that my skill in it is quite good (I think of it as "double-native" because I have intrinsic "feel" of language and perfect grammar without bothering all that annoying rules and numerous exceptions)). I love this beautiful language; I really have enjoyed reading classic and modern literature such as Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov (who is probably INTP), Nabokov; in school I loved writing essays, reviews (got highest score for my essay in final school exam - that means it was not only flawless but actually pretty interesting and literary), compositions and even poems (some of which I still consider beautiful despite its immaturity). So, I would love to share my skill with you, guys. Russian is complicated, but free and beautiful - isn't that what attracts you?
I would love to answer any your questions, translate or explain anything about Russian language.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

In Soviet Russia, language speaks you!

 

[Agapooka]

lagduck, I am planning on starting to learn Russian perhaps next semester.

I it would essentially be my 5th/6th language, depending on how you look at it, so I believe I'll learn quickly.

Right now, I'm focusing on improving my German and Spanish, but I almost feel ready to start.

I hadn't seen this thread, but I'd like to express my interest in benefiting from your skill and experience.

My own mothertongue is French. Should we have a part of the forum dedicated to those among us who wish to help each other out with languages?

Agapooka

 

[socialexpat]

Interesting language, i love the accents and how it sounds.
Too bad people often familiarize it with spying etc .. As if a single individual is going to change international relationship based upon the imperfect knowledge they have about the language; if it is imperfect.

 

[LucasM]

www.masterrussian.com is a useful site also.
Has a list of common words/popular verbs (with pronounciations mp3)
links to other sites, etc..

 

[Particle]

I wonder if lagduck is still around. I'd love to take him up on that offer.

 

[lagduck]

So I am here, waiting for questions.

Meanwhile I tried to translate in English some russian joke which consists of raw wordplay. Here's what I've got:
— As a matter of fact, there's no matter of facts. Facts matter, and vice versa. Vice versa is versa vice, suchwise is such wise, not to mention the nature of mention. The nature is not — do you understand me, Watson?
— Сertainly I do, Holmes; now pass that pipe!

I wonder if it's grammatically correct and still funny. Here's original version:
— На самом деле самого дела нет. В самой деятельности заключена самость дела - и наоборот. Наоборот получим оборот на, и таким образом перевернем образ. Я уже не говорю о природе говора в роде при уже. Ужи и узы - вы меня понимаете, мистер Ватсон?
— Конечно, Холмс! Передавайте уже трубку!

 

[Particle]

Something I've found myself having trouble with is (thing I suddenly realize I have no way to describe as I don't know what it's called). They're little support words like "не".

Hmm.

Is it your intention to act solely as a corrective source, or do you do any primary instruction?

 

[lagduck]

By some strange irony these support words are called particles. What kind of trouble do you have with them?
I have no idea what kind of primary instruction I can do, so I'll try to be a corrective/explanatory source.

 

[17pounder]

Hmm, I must keep meeting the wrong Americans. I always seem to meet the ones who can't speak English, and have no inclination to learn anything about foreigners, much less learn a foreign language.

Dammit, tell me about it. Im surrounded by retards.

But about Russian, I have recently started learning, but I find it hilariously difficult. The Spanish word for sugar is the B-word in Russian, and "how are you" is pronounced cockzilla.

 

[Yet]

there are a few funny ones in Dutch:
slagroom (= whipped cream)
shag (=tobacco)

I only noticed cause my partner was in stitches (he's from London, Irish) about these words.

ps what's sugar in spanish?

 

[nexion]

Azucar, I believe.

 

[17pounder]

there are a few funny ones in Dutch:
slagroom (= whipped cream)
shag (=tobacco)

I only noticed cause my partner was in stitches (he's from London, Irish) about these words.

ps what's sugar in spanish?

Noy sure how to spell it, but they are both pronounced "sooka"

 

[Particle]

Not exactly. It's like nil posted, and it's pronounced: ah-SUE-kar "Ah" as in "Open and say ahh", sue as in "Nice to meet you, Sue", and kar as in "Let's go to the store in my car." with the inflection being on the middle syllable.

 

[17pounder]

Not sure where you learned that, but the way Spanish speakers say it IRL is "sooka", and I hear it all the time since I live in Miami. I am the only non-spanish speaker at my work. I also grew up with Russians and other ex-soviet people. I do have a general idea of what is correct. I hear "sooka" on a daily basis when they order coffee, as in "see-na sooka"