Russian Phrase-A-Day!

Every day this week I've posted a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. This next week (so, starting tomorrow), Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. So far it's broadened my horizons and taught me to think like a Soviet. Or rather I've learned how the Soviets saw us in 1960. Or something.


And so, as the last travel question the soviet authorities expect, you might ask:

"Have you a Russian-English phrase-book, please?"

"eeme'ytsa lee oo vas ah'ngla-roo'skee razgavo'rneek?"

Hope you enjoyed these dispatches from the other side of the iron curtain!

Russian Phrase-A-Day!

Every day this week I've been posting a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. Next week, Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. Did the Soviets really think we were like this? Were we like this? These questions will come up. Or something. 


Should you visit, you should know this common method of greeting:

"We are visiting the Soviet Union by invitation of Soviet societies of friendship and cultural relations with foreign countries"

"my pree'bylee f safe'tskee sayoo's pa preeglashe'neeyoo sayoo'za savétskeekh o'pshsheestf droo'zhby ee kooltoo'rnai svya'zee z zaroobe'zhnyee strah'namee"

Russian Phrase-A-Day!

Every day this week I've been posting a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. Next week, Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. I predict it will reveal deep inner truths about the nature of the Soviet/Yankee threat. Or something like that.



Suppose you... 

"wanted to "subscribe to some technical magazines through "Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga", How do I do that?"
Well you would say:

Ya khate'l(-a) by vy'peesat tekhnee'cheskeeye zhoornah'ly che'rez mezhdoonaro'dnooyoo knee'goo. kak e'ta zde'lat?

Russian Phrase-A-Day!

Every day this week I've been posting a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. Next week, Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. This is both enlightening and amusing in its look at the dangers of nostalgia. Or something like that.

How many registers has this accordion?

sko'lka regee'straf eeme'yet e'tat akardeeo'n?

Russian Phrase-A-Day!

Every day this week I'm posting a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. Next week, Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. This will I'm sure reveal fundamental truths about Soviet-American culture from the early 60s. Or something.

How is atomic energy used for peaceful ends?

kak eespo'lzooyetsa ah'tamnaya ene'rgeeya v mee'rnykh tse'lyakh?

Russian Phrase-A-Day!

Every day this week I'm posting a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. Next week, Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. Same idea, yet different politics. This in-depth look at the dynamics of cold war diplomacy will surely make you think. Or something.

How many collective farms are taking part in the exhibition?

Sko'lka kalkho'zaf oocha'stvooyet v vy'stafke?

Russian Phrase-A-Day!

So every day for the next week I'm going to post a Russian phrase from a 1960 phrasebook (English-Russian Phrase-Book (A Pocket Interpreter), 5th ed., compiled by S.V. Neverov) by a Soviet publishing house. Next week, Matt will post a Russian phrase-a-day from a 1963 American phrasebook. This will I'm sure result in the best look at cold war diplomacy. Or something. So here we go:

With what apparatus were the artificial satellites equipped?

kakee'mee preebo'ramee by'lee asnashsheny' spoo'tneekee?

Stay tuned for tomorrow!