Topic: How do like Russian speach?

[msmirnov]

Please, could you you tell me how do you like sound of Russian speach? Do you find it soft or rough, fast or slow, melodious or monotonous, etc? Russian is my native language so I can't judge it objectively.

Here you can listen to Russian radio online: http://audio.rambler.ru/radio.html (click on "Cлушать").
Radio "Echo of Moscow": http://audio.rambler.ru/player.html?id=807
Russian service of BBC: http://audio.rambler.ru/player.html?id=16229

[stashko]

Please, could you you tell me how do you like sound of Russian speach? Do you find it soft or rough, fast or slow, melodious or monotonous, etc? Russian is my native language so I can't judge it objectively.

Here you can listen to Russian radio online: http://audio.rambler.ru/radio.html (click on "Cлушать").
Radio "Echo of Moscow": http://audio.rambler.ru/player.html?id=807
Russian service of BBC: http://audio.rambler.ru/player.html?id=16229

It gives me a headace trying to listen to russian/ukrainian/polish/chek/slovak
My opinion it has lot's of soft sound compared to serbian ,,polish has more softer sounds than russian ...ukrainian follows poland next in soft sounds,, chek and slovak seems more related to polish/ukrainian ,,,,stashko......<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F1%255F33%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_1_33/image.gif">[/url]

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Please, could you you tell me how do you like sound of Russian speach? Do you find it soft or rough, fast or slow, melodious or monotonous, etc? Russian is my native language so I can't judge it objectively.

The first line should probably read "Could you please tell me how you like the sound of the Russian language?"

In my parish, we have many Russians, Ukrainians, and Romanians, and I find Russian to be the harshest of the three. Romanian is the most melodic, and Ukrainian falls somewhere in the middle. I can claim to be objective because I know hardly a word in any of these languages yet I hear them spoken often.

[Heorhij]

I cannot be an objective judge of Russian and Ukrainian since both are my native languages (two "equally first" - my parents were Russophones and my grandfather, who spent as much time with me during my speech-formative years as my parents, a Ukrainophone).

However, I can confirm that for somebody who does not understand languages, they sound either more on the harsher side, or more on the melodious side. For example, I know neither German nor Italian, and to me, if a German person would romance a girl, his speech would still sound like military commands; and if an Italian person would explain an electric circuit, he would still sound like he were romancing a girl. 

[wynd]

Please, could you you tell me how do you like sound of Russian speach? Do you find it soft or rough, fast or slow, melodious or monotonous, etc?

Of those criteria, to me it sounds rough, fast and melodic. Foreign languages that I don't know always sound fast to me, because I don't know where the spaces between words are.

[Νεκτάριος]

For example, I know neither German nor Italian, and to me, if a German person would romance a girl, his speech would still sound like military commands

Only the standard language and some of the northern dialects of German have that sound of the typical WWII movie German.  Bavarian or Swabish or even Austrian German are very pleasant sounding. 

As for the Russian, the only thing that I find I really notice is the intonation.  It is very counter intuitive for a native English speaker. 

Я очень рад видеть тебя! (I'm so glad to see you!) is said with about the same English intonation of "oh, it's you again." 
 

[stashko]

Only the standard language and some of the northern dialects of German have that sound of the typical WWII movie German.  Bavarian or Swabish or even Austrian German are very pleasant sounding. 

As for the Russian, the only thing that I find I really notice is the intonation.  It is very counter intuitive for a native English speaker. 

Я очень рад видеть тебя! (I'm so glad to see you!) is said with about the same English intonation of "oh, it's you again." 
 

To me ,,,,
It's so odd reading russian ,,Ја очем да видим тебе.......сташко.....<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F9%255F1%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_9_1/image.gif">[/url]

[zebu]

To me, Russian sounds a bit harsh, very melodic, and also very comforting and warm.

[Heorhij]

Zebu, may I ask, - what is your experience in Russian? I am curious because I see this signature line about "mother studying in a university," and wonder, why exactly this line? 

[wynd]

Zebu, may I ask, - what is your experience in Russian? I am curious because I see this signature line about "mother studying in a university," and wonder, why exactly this line? 

I have a feeling it's from Napoleon Dynamite:

Deb: I'm trying to earn money for college.
Kip: [from the background] Your mom goes to college.

[Anastasios]

Of the Slavic languages, I prefer Slovak. Yes, it's my wife's language, but I think it is the softest sounding Slavic language. I like Russian but am not a fan of the akanie (I think it is called) and the palatization of some of the more difficult consonants.

[wynd]

Of the Slavic languages, I prefer Slovak. Yes, it's my wife's language, but I think it is the softest sounding Slavic language. I like Russian but am not a fan of the akanie (I think it is called) and the palatization of some of the more difficult consonants.

What is akanie?

The only Slovak I've ever heard is in liturgical recordings. It sounds OK, I guess—nothing special 

[Anastasios]

What is akanie?

The only Slovak I've ever heard is in liturgical recordings. It sounds OK, I guess—nothing special 

Akanie, someone correct me if I am wrong, is the process of making all unstressed vowels into schwa.

[stanley123]

Please, could you you tell me how do you like sound of Russian speach? Do you find it soft or rough, fast or slow, melodious or monotonous, etc? Russian is my native language so I can't judge it objectively.

Here you can listen to Russian radio online: http://audio.rambler.ru/radio.html (click on "Cлушать").
Radio "Echo of Moscow": http://audio.rambler.ru/player.html?id=807
Russian service of BBC: http://audio.rambler.ru/player.html?id=16229

Spasibo. Mne nravistsa.

[wynd]

Akanie, someone correct me if I am wrong, is the process of making all unstressed vowels into schwa.

Well, not all. Some become "a" or "yih" 

This actually is/was an obstacle to me learning Russian. Hearing the words doesn't necessarily mean you can spell them.

[Heorhij]

What is akanie?

Basically it's when the "o" sound that is not under stress turns into a long "a." For example, the Russian word for Moscow is "Moskva," with the stres on the second syllable; in the speech of those who do the "akanie," it turns into "MaaaaaskvA." Similarly, "korova" (cow) turns into "kaaaaarOva," "moloko" (milk) becomes "maaaaalaaaaaakO," etc.

I read somewhere that some linguists explain the phenomenon of "akanie" by either Finnish or Latvian influences on the Slavic population of the upper Volga and the Oka river basin, where Moscow was founded in the 1100-s.

[stashko]

To me, Russian sounds a bit harsh, very melodic, and also very comforting and warm.

That below in you signature  in russian/ukrainian  ....Ваша мати yчила  у уневерситете...

I translate it as your mother taught  in universitys....i think im right...stashko....<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F1%255F39%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_1_39/image.gif">[/url]

[Heorhij]

That below in you signature  in russian/ukrainian  ....Ваша мати yчила  у уневерситете...

I translate it as your mother taught  in universitys....i think im right...stashko....<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F1%255F39%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_1_39/image.gif">[/url]

No, it actually means, "Your mother studies at a university." What you translated would be, "vasha mat' prepodaet v universitete" (or "prepodavala v universitete," past tense).

[stashko]

No, it actually means, "Your mother studies at a university." What you translated would be, "vasha mat' prepodaet v universitete" (or "prepodavala v universitete," past tense).

Thank you Brother  i was close thought  if i ever got lost in russia / ukrainia  i could learn the language faster because of the serbian .....stashko...... <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F11%255F21%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_11_21/image.gif">[/url]

[msmirnov]

I read somewhere that some linguists explain the phenomenon of "akanie" by either Finnish or Latvian influences on the Slavic population of the upper Volga and the Oka river basin, where Moscow was founded in the 1100-s.

Yes, "akanie" is widespread in Moscow region. But there are much less people using "akanie" in Petersburg and Novgorod regions though they are situated closer to Finland or Latvia.

This map (http://www.gramota.ru/book/village/map12.html) shows us that "akanie" is mostly widespread in the south part of European Russia (orange colour) and "okanie" in the north part (green colour).

Here is the article in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel_reduction_in_Russian

[msmirnov]

This actually is/was an obstacle to me learning Russian. Hearing the words doesn't necessarily mean you can spell them.

English is much more difficult from this point of view.   

[msmirnov]

Spasibo. Mne nravistsa.

Вы говорите по-русски?

[ialmisry]

Well, not all. Some become "a" or "yih" 

This actually is/was an obstacle to me learning Russian. Hearing the words doesn't necessarily mean you can spell them.

As opposed to English?

[Heorhij]

Yes, "akanie" is widespread in Moscow region. But there are much less people using "akanie" in Petersburg and Novgorod regions though they are situated closer to Finland or Latvia.

This map (http://www.gramota.ru/book/village/map12.html) shows us that "akanie" is mostly widespread in the south part of European Russia (orange colour) and "okanie" in the north part (green colour).

Here is the article in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel_reduction_in_Russian

Thank you, Mikhail, very valuable resources!

Yes, "okanie" rather than "akanie" is characteristic of the northern part of European Russia, and the border is, actually, not all that far north of Moscow. My major professor at graduate school was from Ivanovo, and his speech was absolutely different from the speech of "korennye moskvichi" - for example, he pronounced the name of his home town with two very strong, "round" "o"-s - "IvanOvO," even though the stress in this word is on the first syllable. He also pronounced the un-stressed "e" and "ya" very differently: "v sEntYAbre pOedu k mOej tyotushke v IvanOvO" (a "moskvich" would say something like, "v sintibre paaaaaedu k maaaaaej tyutshki v Ivanava").

I while ago, I was blessed to listen to a CD, made in Russia and called, "Forgotten Voices" ("Zabytye Golosa"). It had recordings of voices of a number of famous Russian writers and poets, beginning from Leo Tolstoy. Mayakovskiy and Pasternak ("maaaaaaskvichi") did very strong "akanie," while Blok (a "peterburzhets") did not.

[Heorhij]

English is much more difficult from this point of view.   

Sorry if this is a bit sidetracking, but in this regard... My wife and I recently saw a movie called "Red Road," a very "artsy," complicated psychological drama directed by a British woman-director Andrea Arnold (2006, based on a story by a Danish writer Anders Thomas Jensen). The action in this movie takes place in Glasgow, Scotland, and the main characters are played by Scottish actors Kate Dickie and Tony Curran. All characters speak exactly the way English is spoken by the Scottish people in Glasgow. What can I say.... I have lived in the US for 17.5 years; I heard - and learned to understand - the standard American English, and at least two distinct Southern dialects (Dixie and Hillbilly), and the speech of Texans, and the speech of people from the upper Midwest, and of the Bostonians; plus, I had plenty of conversations with people from England, and Ireland, and Australia, and New Zealand, and I learned to understand them well, too... but when Lesya and I watched "Red Road," we were happy that the CD had SUBTITRES!!!!!!

[wynd]

English is much more difficult from this point of view.   

As opposed to English?

I know English is worse, but it's my native language so I've been hearing it since I was born, and I don't even think about it. Russian is not my native language, so it's another obstacle for me to overcome on the path of learning it.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

I know English is worse,

Blame the nobility. They were the ones whose fascination with French led to some bizarre spellings, as well as possibly the Great Vowel Shift*.



*For you non-English-major-types, the Great Vowel Shift is the reason English vowels sound different from Latin vowels. In Latin, vowels are pronounced as follows: a, /ah/; e, /ay/; i, /ee/; o, /oh/; u /oo/. This used to be how English vowels were pronounced, but during the Great Vowel Shift, these sounds were modified to become the vowels we know and love. This phenomenon is one of the major reasons why English words are not always spelled as expected.

[zebu]

Heorhij-
Yes, my signature is based on Napoleon Dynamite. I'm just that lame. 

My experience with Russian...hmm...Most of the Russian-speaking people I know are really loving and amazing, which is probably why I think it sounds warm despite its harshness.  As for me speaking Russian, I don't know a lot. I learned to read and write Cyrillic in 3rd grade, and then I have just picked up some Russian from being part of a parish with a number of Russians.