Besides providing a useful reminder for which of the verbal pairing corresponds to the uni-directional version of 'to fly' (...don't ask!) todays subject is probably more familiar to native English speakers as 'Time flies".
The reason for acknowledging this is a comment made my teacher today that turned out to be an unexpected compliment on the progress I've made since first coming to St Petersburg last April. Being as it was last April, the fact that she thought it must have been two, maybe three years since I was first here is either a reflection on how slow time travels when she's teaching me or, as it turned out, a realisation that my Russian has progressed quicker than she'd anticipated.
A victory then! And one I was determined to prove as not just a fluke aided by my talking to a teacher trained to communicate with any foreigner who happens to have a rudimentary grasp of the langauge...
Undecided about where exactly to go for my 'practical lesson' I wandered over to my old haunt, the 'Museum of Political History of Russia'. (Note to self: Must take a photo of this place for the blog!) The sun was shining after an overcast start to the day - we seem to be on a good run again this week after a few early wet days - but I was happy to spend a couple of hours inside. The front entrance is still being renovated so follow the arrows to the side door.
What started as a quick question posed to the cashier - pre-prepared and repeated in a rather strange inner monologue during the journey - about whether the museum had any material on the Soviet-Finnish War became a full blown conversation with various members of staff about what resources I might find in the city! And I understand most of it! And they understood me!
Needless to say there was nothing available at the musuem and no dedicated exhibitions they could think of, but regardless, I did what I came to do and got my fix of 'conversation'. Not only that but to be able to talk about my work, my research interests and what I hope to achieve in Russia over the next few months was a real bonus and will hopefully set me up for my travels in Moscow.
Anyway, plenty more work to be done and I think tomorrow I need to pick another likely candidate and go speak to the curators there. Maybe the Secret Police branch of the State History Museum again or the artillery museum which I'm still yet to visit. Watch this space...
Showing posts with label Political History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political History. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Monday, 14 September 2009
Passing for a native...
So it does look like if I just keep my mouth shut I can pass for a Russian. I barely had time to nod in agreement to the cashier - returning to the 'The State Museum of Political History of Russia' for todays practice lesson - as she asked my tutor and I if we were students, by which of course she meant Russian students, when she offered up the tickets for entry. I wasn't going to correct her and lose the free admission.
I've described my experience of this museum in a previous installment so I won't expand much further on its earlier glowing review. This trip was both an excuse to practice my Russian on the subject of the country's history and politics and a chance to finish my tour of the museums exhibitions. I'd yet to see the extensive range of artifacts on the Civil War (unfortunately lacking in the generally commendable provision of English translations found here) or Lenin's study and temporary housing of the party in the interim between the February revolution and 'July Days' of 1917 when Lenin and his fellow Bolsheviks could enjoy temporary respite from persecution. Both on the second floor they were also joined by what appeared to be a temporary exhibition on the opening month of the Second World War and the division (and destruction) of Poland by German and Soviet forces.
Returning to the theme proposed by the title of todays post, I was also introduced to an important insight into the culture of the Russian language during the mornings class. The prevalance of the 'passive construction' in every day speech - terminology that was unfortunately lost on me initially in English never mind the Russian equivalent...damn state schooling! - derives from a Russian mentality that seeks to avoid "responsibility" at every opportunity.
On a practical level this has allowed me to understand the significance of constructions such as 'можно' ("It is possible") that dominate my early experiences of the language. This extends much further though and offers the opportunity to essentially remove the subject (you or I) from the action, i.e. 'who' is responsible for 'what'. Suddenly "I want" becomes something closer to "It is desirable to me". The significance isn't immediately visible until you begin (one begins to?) to think about making demands of another Russian. "Can you close the door?" becomes "Could the door be closed, by you?" reminiscant of the convaluted ways of speech possible in the interest of English politeness.
Anyway I Googled the phenomenom after class and came up with this telling article on the logical conclusion it can reach. Revealing stuff! Unfortunately it does mean I face the prospect of an infinitely larger workload if I'm to speak like a Russian and not just look like one!
I've described my experience of this museum in a previous installment so I won't expand much further on its earlier glowing review. This trip was both an excuse to practice my Russian on the subject of the country's history and politics and a chance to finish my tour of the museums exhibitions. I'd yet to see the extensive range of artifacts on the Civil War (unfortunately lacking in the generally commendable provision of English translations found here) or Lenin's study and temporary housing of the party in the interim between the February revolution and 'July Days' of 1917 when Lenin and his fellow Bolsheviks could enjoy temporary respite from persecution. Both on the second floor they were also joined by what appeared to be a temporary exhibition on the opening month of the Second World War and the division (and destruction) of Poland by German and Soviet forces.
Returning to the theme proposed by the title of todays post, I was also introduced to an important insight into the culture of the Russian language during the mornings class. The prevalance of the 'passive construction' in every day speech - terminology that was unfortunately lost on me initially in English never mind the Russian equivalent...damn state schooling! - derives from a Russian mentality that seeks to avoid "responsibility" at every opportunity.
On a practical level this has allowed me to understand the significance of constructions such as 'можно' ("It is possible") that dominate my early experiences of the language. This extends much further though and offers the opportunity to essentially remove the subject (you or I) from the action, i.e. 'who' is responsible for 'what'. Suddenly "I want" becomes something closer to "It is desirable to me". The significance isn't immediately visible until you begin (one begins to?) to think about making demands of another Russian. "Can you close the door?" becomes "Could the door be closed, by you?" reminiscant of the convaluted ways of speech possible in the interest of English politeness.
Anyway I Googled the phenomenom after class and came up with this telling article on the logical conclusion it can reach. Revealing stuff! Unfortunately it does mean I face the prospect of an infinitely larger workload if I'm to speak like a Russian and not just look like one!
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Sights, sounds and surprises...
Its not often you get the chance of a perfect day. Indeed the acknowledgment of the fact in the midst of one often seems to elevate the chance of it falling apart. So forgive my late review of yesterday's proceedings. I was just making sure...
I must admit this city is starting to win me over. It might be cold, grubby and rough around the edges, still, its beginning to get under my skin. The day was spent absorbing a whole range of Russian political and cultural history, some planned, some providing a very welcome and enlightening surprise.
Travelling with a colleague and fellow culture junkie, we set out with a plan to share our appreciation of Soviet history, for my part, and Russian literature on hers. Aiming for a morning in the 'Dostoyevsky Memorial Museum', towards the south east of the city, we made good time through the metro and entered the museum as a light drizzle arrived to clear the air.
An intimate affair, consisting of one small display hall of artifacts - our polite refusal of the opportunity for an English audioguide was probably the wrong decision in retrospect - followed by a recreation of the writers living quarters lovingly restored with the aid of artifacts and ancestral guidance. The latter section did have plenty of English information guides on offer to accompany the rooms on display, while my trusty travel guide book filled in my gaps in knowledge about the writer and his works. An English translation of 'Crime and Punishment' may have to join my collection till I'm confident enough to tackle it in the original. (A good few years from now...)
After a light lunch we crossed the river at Trotsky Bridge, admiring the view of the thawing ice sailing down the river beneath us, before reaching the 'Museum of Political History of Russia'. I really cannot recommend this museum enough. Not only is it well laid out with an incredible array of artifacts and ephemera, but its support for English speaking visitors is faultless and the welcoming nature of its staff a pleasant change.
The fact that two hours were lost in the first exhibition alone - chronicalling the birth and development of Soviet Russia under the Bolsheviks - is testament to its engrossing presentation of Russian history. Granted my own interest and background in the subject was always going to help hold my attention, still my fellow traveller was equally at ease to let time pass us by and admire the museums treasures.
For anyone with a sense of historiography I think it also worth acknowledging that the museum's presentation and explanation of the material along with its overall view of the country's Soviet past is by and large refreshingly objective. The material itself, whether it be archival documents, letters, photos or artifacts, are allowed to speak for themselves. The supporting commentary meanwhile acknowledges both positive and negative aspects of the regime presenting, for example, the brutal and arbitrary nature of the Gulag penal system and the utopian ideals and reform efforts that encouraged rapid development of literacy in the country post-1917.
In the end the afternoon we gave ourselves to explore was not enough to complete a view of every exhibition room. However, some of that can be put down to the sound of opera resonating through the halls of the musuem that stopped us in our tracks and held us enraptured with the power of those singing. It appeared to be - unbeknown to us on entering the museum - a scheduled performance of selected works, sung live with a commentary on the material provided in Russian between each performance. What we failed to grasp from the language of its words, we translated from the emotive power of the music and its performers.
As proceedings came to a conclusion, we resolved to make sure this wasn't our only experience of opera while in the city.
I must admit this city is starting to win me over. It might be cold, grubby and rough around the edges, still, its beginning to get under my skin. The day was spent absorbing a whole range of Russian political and cultural history, some planned, some providing a very welcome and enlightening surprise.
Travelling with a colleague and fellow culture junkie, we set out with a plan to share our appreciation of Soviet history, for my part, and Russian literature on hers. Aiming for a morning in the 'Dostoyevsky Memorial Museum', towards the south east of the city, we made good time through the metro and entered the museum as a light drizzle arrived to clear the air.
An intimate affair, consisting of one small display hall of artifacts - our polite refusal of the opportunity for an English audioguide was probably the wrong decision in retrospect - followed by a recreation of the writers living quarters lovingly restored with the aid of artifacts and ancestral guidance. The latter section did have plenty of English information guides on offer to accompany the rooms on display, while my trusty travel guide book filled in my gaps in knowledge about the writer and his works. An English translation of 'Crime and Punishment' may have to join my collection till I'm confident enough to tackle it in the original. (A good few years from now...)
After a light lunch we crossed the river at Trotsky Bridge, admiring the view of the thawing ice sailing down the river beneath us, before reaching the 'Museum of Political History of Russia'. I really cannot recommend this museum enough. Not only is it well laid out with an incredible array of artifacts and ephemera, but its support for English speaking visitors is faultless and the welcoming nature of its staff a pleasant change.
The fact that two hours were lost in the first exhibition alone - chronicalling the birth and development of Soviet Russia under the Bolsheviks - is testament to its engrossing presentation of Russian history. Granted my own interest and background in the subject was always going to help hold my attention, still my fellow traveller was equally at ease to let time pass us by and admire the museums treasures.
For anyone with a sense of historiography I think it also worth acknowledging that the museum's presentation and explanation of the material along with its overall view of the country's Soviet past is by and large refreshingly objective. The material itself, whether it be archival documents, letters, photos or artifacts, are allowed to speak for themselves. The supporting commentary meanwhile acknowledges both positive and negative aspects of the regime presenting, for example, the brutal and arbitrary nature of the Gulag penal system and the utopian ideals and reform efforts that encouraged rapid development of literacy in the country post-1917.
In the end the afternoon we gave ourselves to explore was not enough to complete a view of every exhibition room. However, some of that can be put down to the sound of opera resonating through the halls of the musuem that stopped us in our tracks and held us enraptured with the power of those singing. It appeared to be - unbeknown to us on entering the museum - a scheduled performance of selected works, sung live with a commentary on the material provided in Russian between each performance. What we failed to grasp from the language of its words, we translated from the emotive power of the music and its performers.
As proceedings came to a conclusion, we resolved to make sure this wasn't our only experience of opera while in the city.
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