Russian Language Immersion

Here I will be posting various Russian speaking culture or language related topics. The goal is to gain familiarity with the language, just plain interesting things, and to see and hear the language used in pop culture and gain comfort with it. In this section I will try to share resources to help make the language not so 'foreign'.

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Russian Language Music: Chi-Li

This is simply a lovely song. I think the emotions are well conveyed with, or without a fluent understanding of the lyrics. Puzzling them out is worth the effort though. The album took me forever to find, it can be purchased by clicking on the link to the left. Enjoy!

Tip: 'Hop, Narainai' I dont think that means anything, just chorus... Perhaps you won't spend the hours searching for its nonexistent translation as I did!

Cinema: Night Watch

If you like films, this is a good, modern way to start. Dubbed the 'Russian Matrix' it is an action packed thrill ride fillied with magic, vampires, and witches that romp through the streets of moscow attempting to gain leverage in the eternal battle of dark vs light. The audio is in Russian, with english subtitles. I still find it difficult to keep up with the audio, but this is a movie I don't mind watching more than once. Its a good chance let your ears familiarize yourself with the dialogue while still enjoying an exciting movie. I enjoyed the beaurocratization of the forces of good and evil. For intermediate learners, it is interesting to note the difficulties of an accurate translation. Either way, this is a piece of innovative filmmaking that will leave you in awe of its creativity.

If you really enjoy this, it is based on a trilogy of books, a good opportunity to further your immersion for the ambitious would be to read the originals in russian. Great set of movies, but as usual the book are always better. The book trilogy can be started here: Night Watch

Condensed Milk in a Can

Condensed milk in a can, i'm told its yummy. Can you recognize the words? Warning, don't get confused, it contains both Ukrainian and Russian language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literature: Master & Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov

Mikhail Bulgakov's devastating satire of Soviet life was written during the darkest period of Stalin's regime. Combining two distinct yet interwoven parts-one set in ancient Jerusalem, one in contemporary Moscow-the novel veers from moods of wild theatricality with violent storms, vampire attacks, and a Satanic ball; to such somber scenes as the meeting of Pilate and Yeshua, and the murder of Judas in the moonlit garden of Gethsemane; to the substanceless, circus-like reality of Moscow. Its central characters, Woland (Satan) and his retinue-including the vodka-drinking, black cat, Behemoth; the poet, Ivan Homeless; Pontius Pilate; and a writer known only as The Master, and his passionate companion, Margarita-exist in a world that blends fantasy and chilling realism, an artful collage of grostesqueries, dark comedy, and timeless ethical questions. Click the links above for both a russian language copy or english copy.

History: Ukrainian Highlanders, Meet the Hotsuls

A friend sent me this picture of his ancestors. Wikipedia has them described as Ukrainian Highlanders.

Fun Russian Language Documents