Natalia Gogolitsyna

Untranslatable Russian Words Natalia Gogolitsyna First edition

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. A key to understanding another language, another culture, is figuring out what cannot be known, but only felt. This new book looks at nearly 100 difficult-to-grasp Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context. Added bonus: Includes an extensive chart of Old Russian Measurements you may meet in literature from the common arshin, to the less known charka with modern conversions. An invaluable reference tool.