Perusing in Russian: Some Tips to Help You Read Correctly
At the point when we are learning any unknown dialect, we will undoubtedly contrast it and our native language (we should expect that yours is English).
Learning Russian has just brought you wonderful amazements – for instance, recall the second when you discovered that spelling in Russian is a lot more straightforward than in English? It implies that it is simpler for a learner to begin perusing. You don’t concur and feel that perusing Russian is troublesome? At that point envision a local Russian-speaker learning English and attempting to make sense of how to peruse twofold o in words like “book”, “floor”, or “blood”. On the off chance that he hasn’t yet heard these words and the educator is far away right now, learning how to peruse requires colossal exertion. Contrasted with him, YOU are fortunate.
Be that as it may, no different – perusing in Russian can now and again be dubious for an apprentice, whose local language is English. Hard and delicate consonants are typically the most troublesome thing for a memorable understudy.
In English it doesn’t make a difference whether the consonant you articulate is hard or delicate, however in Russian it can make another word. Your instructor most likely has disclosed to you this, however there is a truly significant distance between knowing a standard and applying it naturally. That is the reason tenderfoots frequently read words like “Сел” and “Съел” the equivalent. Tuning in, remembering, impersonating local speakers will help – in time. What to do at this very moment, particularly if there is no guide to address?
Indeed, you can control your understanding yourself so you won’t confound “Он сел” (He plunked down/have plunked down) Он съел… (He has eaten…).
To sift through this play with the consonants, how about we investigate Russian VOWELS. Indeed, vowels, since that is the thing that raises the ruckus. There are 4 vowels that relax the first consonant – Я, Ё, Е, Ю, И…
Be that as it may, likely we would do well to start from the earliest starting point.
We should separate Russian vowels into two gatherings:
Gathering 1: А О Э У Ы
Gathering 2: Я Ё Е Ю И
Have you seen something? Not yet? All things considered, we should place them two by two: А – Я, О – Ё, Э – Е, У – Ю, Ы – И
Presently you see…я sounds Йа, Ё is Йо, Ю is Йу and Е is Йэ.
Presently the sets resemble: А – Йа, О – Йо, Э – Йэ, У – Йу
In 4 out of 5 sets the sound from the second gathering = Й + the sound from the principal gathering.
Recollect that, it will help you in perusing.
Presently some uplifting news: You will never have any issue perusing vowels from the Group 1. Letters А,о,э,у,ы are perused consistently the equivalent.
Presently about Group 2.
Russian letters Я,ё,е,ю can raise some ruckus in perusing. Furthermore, they are answerable for the vast majority of your outside emphasize when you’re communicating in Russian. To dodge both, recall these straightforward principles:
In the event that letters Я,е,ё,ю,и pursue a consonant, they:
mellow this consonant
What’s more,
Я,е,ё,ю lose Й and transform into А,э,о,у
Model: the word Няня (a caretaker, a sitter)
The most widely recognized mix-up is perusing it as н’йа-н’йа (a punctuation after the letter implies the sound is delicate).
The correct elocution is н’а-н’а
more models: Весна = в’эсна (spring)
The letter И after a consonant basically mollifies (it has no Й to lose).
Синий = с’и-н’ий (naval force blue)
Мир = м’ир (world/harmony)
You read these four letters AS THEY ARE IN THE ALPHABET (Я=йа, and so on.) ONLY WHEN THESE LETTERS DON’T FOLLOW A CONSONANT.
It happens when:
The word starts with such a letter:
Яблоко = read it as Йаблоко (apple) Ёжик = Йожык (hedgehog) Ехать = Йехать (to go, typically by certain methods for transport) Юпитер = Йуп’ит’эр (Jupiter)
At the point when such a letter follows a vowel:
маяк = майак (beacon) моё =мойо (mine, or my – with a fix thing, similar to my jacket = моё пальто) приехать =прийэхать (to drop by certain methods for transport)
At the point when these vowels follow Ъ and Ь.These two letters demonstrate that after them those 4 vowels will sound as йа, йэ, йо, йу. That is the thing that Ъ and Ь and are for.
Въезд=вйезд (entrance for transport)
Свинья= свин’йа (pig)
Be that as it may, how to utilize this to improve perusing? For instance, you can do like this:
Print a page with the Russian content you are going to peruse
Underline the Group 2 vowels in this content (Я,е,ё,ю,и)
Begin perusing, focusing on where these letters are in the word – toward the start of a word; after ъ, ь, or a vowel; or after a consonant.
Very soon you won’t have to underline these vowels any longer.
Only several additional tips to remember:
At the point when you see Ци, read it as Цы:
Цирк = цырк (bazaar)
The equivalent with Жи and Ши – they sound Жы and Шы:
Живой = жывой (alive)
Шить=шыть (to sew)
Recollect what your educator enlightened you concerning perusing unstressed vowels. They sound more loose than focused on ones. Essentially equivalent to in English – analyze two Os in “specialist”
The comparative thing happens to consonants toward the finish of Russian words. Some of them (called sonants) start to sound increasingly like different sounds, called breath consonants: Б seems like П, В – Ф, Б – П, and such (see course readings). Simply articulate consonants toward the finish of words with less strain, and you will say them right – consequently.
Continue preparing and soon your perusing and talking aptitudes will be eminent. Good karma!
Etymologist by calling, Alexandra Gamanenko as of now partakes in a plan studio venture. It offers confinement and interpretation of sites into Russian and Ukrainian, just as bunches of other valuable administrations.