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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
 Brian_N Pro Member Canada Joined 5769 days ago 200 posts - 202 votes  Studies: English*, Russian Personal Language Map | Message 145 of 248 28 April 2009 at 6:36am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Actually, believe it or not my highest level of education completed is high school. I attended one year of University but I never completed anything. I just read way too much, though thanks for the complement.
I heard similar statements but Iāve never seen it put so eloquently, I like this.
This is so very true, every country puts a spin on their history to serve their own ideological agenda. And the saddest part of this is that most people donāt understand this, they accept without question their countryās version of history. *cough...Americans...cough, cough*
Lol...my Canadian ego is so wanting to use this opportunity to bash Americans...but itās a fair question so Iāll do my best to give you a nonbiased answer, just give me a day or two to put my thoughts in order. ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------- Probably, you are more educated than many (other) Canadians or North Americans :) In (the) days of my youth, 15-20 years ago, I could have asserted that (the) majority of Russians knew (at least in outline) not only who are Stalin and Hitler, but who are Roosevelt, Churchill, Mussolini, Napoleon, Richelieu etc. But now I can't assert this: (the) level of education in Russia (is) now significantly less than (it was) 20 years ago. (Who are Hitler and Stalin we still know*1), but others... "(The) amount of intellect on the planet is constant, but (the) population is (growing)" :) History is (a) powerful ideological weapon, although for "home consumption", so all governments in all countries use it for (their) goals. But even without this it is natural () for () people (to place the most importance on the events) () (that) (are) directly related to (their) country. However such narrow-mindedness (causes) misrepresentation of (the) significance and reciprocal relationship of historical events. For example, in USSR (there) was (a significant amount of) literature about the Great Patriotic War -- the "Russian" part of World War II. But all (the) others events of WW2 (were) covered extremely (poorly). It () seemed (the USSR and Germany were the only countries fighting). (Very) little information was (given) even (about) (the) German's satellites (such) as Finland, Romania and Hungary: these countries after 1945 were under (a) Soviet "protectorate" (or we are in good (relations*2) as in case with Finland), and the Soviet government tried to inculcate "the friendship between nations" by () (concealing) (the) unpleasant events in our common history. On the other hand, when I saw the historical movies on Discovery and Explorer (in modern Russia these TV channels are quite popular -- in Russian translation, of course), I don't get away from sense that all the most important events of WW2 were on Pacific ocean, in the last resort -- in North Africa and in France, but absolutely not in the USSR :) In general, (one) need to use many different sources () to understand the real history. In Russian isn't the proper Russian direct equivalent of this word; we adopted it fromĀ English: "Š»ŠøŠ“ŠµŃ". In modern Russian "Š»ŠøŠ“ŠµŃ" is the (word thatās often used), especially in political news ("ŠŠøŠ“ŠµŃŃ Š±Š¾Š»ŃŃŠ¾Š¹ Š²Š¾ŃŃŠ¼ŃŃŠŗŠø ŃŠ¾Š±ŃŠ°Š»ŠøŃŃ..." -- The leaders of G-8 gather together...). But in the "natural", non-"political" Russian language more often we use the proper Russian word "ŠæŃŠ°Š²ŠøŃŠµŠ»Ń" which is (the) full equivalent () toĀ English "ruler". These words even came from the roots with equivalent meanings: Russian "ŠæŃŠ°Š²ŠøŠ»Š¾ -> ŠæŃŠ°Š²ŠøŃŠµŠ»Ń" (the root is "ŠæŃŠ°Š²-"),Ā English "the rule -> the ruler". Since I don't () think (in)Ā English, I must () think (in) Russian and then () translate my thoughts from Russian toĀ English. Therefore I used "ruler" as direct equivalent to "ŠæŃŠ°Š²ŠøŃŠµŠ»Ń": I (didnāt) (know) that "ruler" is normally used "in association with a medieval state or kingdom" :) I have a question (for) you. (Is) the (Canadian) way of life and mentality () () significantly (different) in comparison (to) the American one? *1 - (Who are Hitler and Stalin we still know) - rearrange this sentence to => (We still know who Hitler and Stalin are) *By beginning with "Who are" your statement is in the form of a question. =>Who are the new people? =>Who are those people? *2-Diplomatic relationships between nations are usually referred to as ārelationsā. =>We have good relations with Finland. =>Relations with the West have become strained =>Effective immediately all diplomatic relations with North Korea are terminated. Edited by Brian_N on 28 April 2009 at 6:37am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| SII Senior Member Russian FederationRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5796 days ago 184 posts - 194 votes Speaks: Russian* Studies: English | Message 146 of 248 28 April 2009 at 2:25pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Brian_N
I don't completed university and I read very many books in my youth too :)
I don't hurry and can await the answer :) It is really interesting for me. It is clear that between US white Americans and Mexicans are many differences because Americans essentially are descendants of the British Protestant colonists and Mexicans are descendants of Spanish Catholics; in addition, the living conditions in Mexico and the east-north states of the USA -- "the historical center of the country" -- are significantly different. But US white Americans and Canadians came from the single root and live in the resembling living conditions. (I don't speak about French, Dutch etc -- they are rather small in comparsion with British, except some regions such as Quebec or Louisiana).
It is my stupid mistake. And it is illustration that in Russian the word's order isn't affect on the main sense of a sentence. Edited by SII on 28 April 2009 at 2:28pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Brian_N Pro Member Canada Joined 5769 days ago 200 posts - 202 votes Studies: English*, Russian Personal Language Map | Message 147 of 248 30 April 2009 at 9:12am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
The Canadian way of life is pretty much identical to the American way of life. I imagine there are some differences between the average Canadian and American mindsets. However Iād wager a guess that there is just as much differences between the mindsets in Americaās southern states and Americans northern States. In so many ways we are the same people, we are theĀ English speaking North Americans. We have the same language, the same culture, the same values...and yet we exist as two separate nations. To put Canada into context, there are two main events that you need to understand. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ --- With the successful revolt of the British 13 colonies the United States of America was born, and though it would take abit longer, what was to become Canada was also born. During the revolution not everyone supported the ideals it was based on, about 30-35% percent were neutrals and about 20% remained loyal to the British Crown. After the revolution ended the lives of many of those who had remained loyal to Britain were made 'difficult'. However despite their oppression most chose to remain, not all of them though. Over 60,000 left, some returned to Britain, some went to the Bahamas, but most of them headed northward to rebuild their lives. And less than 30 years later, American armies also started to head northward... -- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ --- America is the country built by the American colonists who rebelled and the loyalists who stayed. Canada is the country built by the American colonists who left and the French Canadians who were already here. In today`s world Canada and America share, a common heritage, numerous bilateral agreements and unmatched trade relations. However you can still find anti-American attitudes in Canada. This is a throwback from Canada`s (Patriotic) War of 1812. Those attitudes are ingrained in Canadian culture and like culture have been passed from generation to generation. In the past half century though Canadian attitudes to America have been steadily improving. To what extent, I`m not too sure...time will tell. As for taking your question beyond `history`, I`m not too sure if I can. I haven`t met enough Americans to decipher any common patterns of note...yet. Edited by Brian_N on 30 April 2009 at 9:15am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| SII Senior Member Russian FederationRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5796 days ago 184 posts - 194 votes Speaks: Russian* Studies: English | Message 148 of 248 30 April 2009 at 3:29pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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Brian_N
I know about history of America's independence, but I never heard about war between USA and Canada. Although such thing is rather expected: just only somebody get freedom, this somebody begin try enslave somebody other... 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Brian_N Pro Member Canada Joined 5769 days ago 200 posts - 202 votes Studies: English*, Russian Personal Language Map | Message 149 of 248 01 May 2009 at 4:56am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
If you did hear of that war Iād be very surprised, especially since youāre not North American. Iād definitely be wondering which department of the SVR you work for. If you want to argue technicalities, the war was actually between the Brits and the (Yanks*1). But since it was all the colonies that would eventually be merged into Canada that were being attacked, in our minds it was our war. It was a small war though it was significant because had the American invasions not been...crushed, or ironically if the war never happened in the first place, Americaās borders would have extended from Mexico all the way up to the North Pole. The United States would have ended up being even bigger than Russia...but nope, they screwed up. Lol. And now in todayās world, these (āfew acres of snowā*2) just so happen to contain the second largest oil reserves on the planet. Once the economy picks back up, just the thought of screwing Americans with "overpriced"*4 Canadian oil, and having enough reserves to keep it up for over a hundred years, just puts a smile on my Canadian face. Way to go (Alberta.*3) I suspect Russians have similar feelings when they look west and see the Europeans. Go Gazprom. *1 ā (Yanks = Yankee)Ā English speaking slang for a person of U.S. origin. *2 ā A quote from Voltaire regarding his personal opinion of Canada/New France(Quebec) *3- Alberta => Canadian province/A whiteĀ English speaking Saudi Arabia with trees and snow instead of sand and scorpions. *4 - Overpriced (personal opinion) => Oil that you can sell for a many, many times the cost of ripping it out of the ground, think Saudi Arabia pumping oil out of the ground for about 3 dollars a barrel and selling it on the open market for over a $100. (referring to the pre-screwed economies period) ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ I (didn't) completed university (either) and I (also) read very many books in my youth too :) (Take your time, I can wait.) :) It is really interesting for me. It is clear that between US white Americans and Mexicans (there) are many differences because Americans essentially are descendants of the British Protestant colonists and Mexicans are descendants of Spanish Catholics; in addition, the living conditions in Mexico and the east-north states of the USA -- "the historical center of the country" -- are significantly different. But US white Americans and Canadians came from (a) single root and live in () similar ()conditions. ((Iām) (not) (speaking) about (the) French, Dutch etc ā(since/because) they are rather small in comparison with (the) British, except in some regions such as Quebec or Louisiana). It is my stupid mistake. And it is (a) illustration that in Russian the (word's order*1) (doesnāt) affect () the (meaning) of a sentence. I know about (the)history of America's independence, but I never heard about war between (the) USA and Canada. Although such (a) thing is rather expected: ()() somebody get freedom, (and) this somebody begin try enslave somebody other... *1 (inĀ English we would just use (word order), I can understand why you are putting a (ā), but as I read it, it doesnāt sound right to me. Edited by Brian_N on 01 May 2009 at 6:00am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| SII Senior Member Russian FederationRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5796 days ago 184 posts - 194 votes Speaks: Russian* Studies: English | Message 150 of 248 01 May 2009 at 7:38am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Brian_N
What is the department of SVR? I don't understand... 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Brian_N Pro Member Canada Joined 5769 days ago 200 posts - 202 votes Studies: English*, Russian Personal Language Map | Message 151 of 248 01 May 2009 at 1:41pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Brian_N Pro Member Canada Joined 5769 days ago 200 posts - 202 votes Studies: English*, Russian Personal Language Map | Message 152 of 248 04 May 2009 at 5:25am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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To Hell with Me...
Well not quite, purgatory actually. Iāve been summoned, mommy needs my help with a little project. Of course I wonāt be told what it is until I get there, typical. I actually had the coming week slated for a whole lotta Russian, but it doesnāt look like thatāll be happening. I sooo donāt want to go, Iād rather stay and study Russian. Sheās not one of my friends though, sheās blood and that means I canāt blow her off for an āintellectualā pursuit. Itāll be an interesting trip...when I was chatting with her she was telling me āitās not that bad hereā, like 4 hrs later some guy is beaten to death a block from her house. Yeah, ookay. So I got out the clippers and shaved the head, dug out the old black leather jacket and the good old steel toes and tada...one 6ft Russian Nazi look alike good to go. Once I get there I should be okay, I donāt plan on walking around all that much. Itās the train ride where Iāll have to stay sharp. I remember last time I went on the bullet, people smoking up in the center car, kids behind me killing a 40 of vodka, graffiti , ripped up seats, the odd person here and there passed out in the aisle. I was like āI know this movie, this is when that guy goes to Kazakhstan to buy drugs and gets shotā. For better or worse though, I should be recognized...I beat up enough people when I was working there at the general store. Iāll never forget that one guy. Sitting at the counter eating a sub and this random guy comes up to me and wants me to give him my food. I more or less told him to F-off, thereās a restaurant in the back if heās hungry. Then the guy starts getting in my face, āHey, hey...you donāt want to screw with me man, yeah you really donāt wanna screw with me...around here, they call me the ārockā. ā I was like āYeah, well your gonna be out like a f**ken rock if you donāt get outta my face.ā I never got to beat up that one though...the manager dragged him out by neck before I could...though I did give him a smile and a nice wave of the middle finger as he left..... Yeah, Iām so getting knifed lol. Anyways though, enough of this tangent. My attempt to learn Russian continues unabated. Iām making progress. About 20-30% of the time I can look at a simple sentence in Russian and get the jist of what is written. Listening is getting better as well, Iām starting to develop a crude understanding as I listen to spoken Russian. Itās not great by any standards, but itās a start. Vocabulary is starting to push 1200 words. Looking forward Iād like to take the TORFL 1 in a little over a year from now. Itāll give me an excuse to go to Russia. I could go right now but why? I canāt speak Russian yet and I canāt justify blowing 4 grand just to take some pretty pictures that I can get online for free. On the University front, Iāll probably be starting my courses within 5 months. I shouldāve already finished my degree but I guess thatās what happens when you offer a poor university student 200 a day to come work, the degree doesnāt get done. Pity I blew all that money on stupid shit...it wouldāve been handy right about now. Iāll be taking a bachelor of commerce via distance ed, that way Iāll be able to move through my courses at a rapid pace. Itāll cost me about 30,000. Getting that kinda of money shouldnāt be a problem though, I have 3 aces in the hole I can pull and for me, the financial crisis really doesnāt exist. Itās simply something I read about on Yahoo. For the biz degree, Iāll need to do my reading and figure out exactly what would be the best way to go. My instincts tell me to go the accounting stream and go for a CMA...but there are a few other options I have to look at, marketing being one of them. Anyways though I need to go throw a suitcase together, purgatory awaits. So yeah, Iāll either be back in a week, or Iāll be in the ICU in Winnipeg. Lol, I love this life. Edited by Brian_N on 04 May 2009 at 5:29am 1 person has voted this message useful |
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