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Quite Literally!

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By Culbert Report

Recently, Dan and I have been thinking though literal translations of conversations we have with people we know here in Moscow. We thought we'd provide you with just that – a literal conversation. Of course, the Russian comes across much better, but a word for word translation can be quite entertaining:

Rachel: Hello!

Dan: Hi!

Rachel: How business of yours?

Dan: Everything normally, saved God. And of yours?

Rachel: Also normally. Today went you to study of Russian language?

Dan: Went.

Rachel: Interestingly?

Dan: No very. Today we with Tamara Leonidovna busied ourselves with verbs of movement. On example: To go. To go. To go. To go. To go. To go. And to go.

Rachel: Nothing to myself! Pitily to me that me no was!

Dan: Also to me. Difficult to me to busy myself with Russian language one. But, on own business, to me need was to study, everything equal.

Rachel: You I understand. Next one, come!

Dan: Let's! Ok, I go store. To us needed something?

Rachel: No. We will see each other.

Dan: Until meeting.

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Comments

lmac2186 said…
This is SO funny!!!!!!!!
May 10, 2010
Ryan said…
Ahh, the best part is those verbs of motion. Gotta love it.

I always thought "to occupy" was the best literal translation of zanimat' because it works in all the cases I know about:

- Today I occupied myself with verbs of movement
- Sorry, this seat is occupied
- The phone line is occupied (ok, not as good for that one..)

At least I think those are all uses of that verb. The ol' Russian is getting a bit rusty... must be time for a visit (if only).
May 10, 2010
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