Saturday, April 8, 2023

On Translation: the Russian Word for "ASK"

 

On Translation

In Russian you say “you ask” this way: спрашиваете (SPRASH-ee-vah-ee-teh). In other words you take five syllables in Russian to equal the one syllable (ask) in English. This demonstrates the impossibility of exact equivalent translation, for how can you render the splash of the SPRASH and the gentle ripples of the ee-vah-ee-teh with the abrupt jawbone blow of an ask?

[excerpted from the book by U.R. Bowie, Here We Be. Where Be We?]




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