This week was low-key in terms of writing practice, so the cover picture is a repeat. Now that I straightened that out, something interesting happened, you guys! 🙂
For those who may not know, I attempted haiku once before and spectacularly failed at getting the syllables right! This week, therefore, I gave it another shot.
The first line of my haiku went like this – Dew drop on the grass. Next couple of minutes passed and I had it going as – роса о траву, which is (I guess, as Google Translate agreed later) its Russian translation. I knew the words for ‘dew’ and ‘grass’ from my writing practice and I wrote my poem’s first sentence in Russian before I realised it. It doesn’t count much since the poem in question is a haiku and the sentence in question is barely four word long, but it made me happy. I figured that this actually counts as my Russian update, so there!
During my first week learning Russian, I decided to sign my emails for a Russian friend as ‘Love, Neha‘, so I put love in Google Translate. It returned люблю and I had a back-and-forth of four to five emails signed using this, before I figured out (by myself!) that this term is used for romantic interests. Oh, the embarrassment when she said she just found it funny and sweet, so she didn’t correct me!
It reminds me of this one time years back when my best friend had just started learning Hindi and I asked her for the whereabouts of a mutual friend. She wanted to say ‘Her boyfriend picked her up this morning. Will drop her in the evening.‘ but she was into the mode of strictly-speaking-hindi to quicken her learning and she said – ‘उसका आशिक उसको सुबह उठा कर ले गया. शाम को फेंक जाएगा‘! For those who don’t read hindi, this translation refers to the term ‘pick’ and ‘drop’ as an actual picking and dropping, making our mutual friend’s innocent date sound more like a kidnap. God! the fun little quirks of language 😀
P.S. Stay tuned for the aforementioned haiku this Tuesday. пока-пока for now!
The Hindi translation had me in splits 😀
I am beginning my journey into learning Russian this week! Wish me luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so awesome, Parikhit. I can’t wait to read all about your experience 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am looking forward to the Haiku. And, yes, a little Google translation can be a ‘dangerous’ thing: https://youtu.be/957K58gMbPA 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha. This video had me in splits! This incident has made me wiser 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is really funny. Google Translation is very useful but, as you already know, it can lead one astray.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. I use it all the time but I never rely on it completely 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to like Russian language at school. Unfortunately I forgot ‘azbuka’ at all. But I still understand little bit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure it’s in one corner of your memory, waiting to be stirred back to life. Thanks for reading my post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The literal translation of languages can be so weird and crazy sometimes. I always end of thinking, “Gosh, why does it have to be so hard?” 😀 This was a fun, cute read though. I admire your tenacity and approach to learning new languages. I look forward to more of your stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha thanks a lot! So glad you like reading my stories 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That Hindi translation is too funny. Danger of not learning a language well 😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. I am telling that story for the past 8 years 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol. It was hilarious
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank God I wasn’t drinking water while reading the Hindi translation. 🤣🤣 Google can sometimes make us look really dumb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha I agree! Before this incident, I never noticed how English uses ‘pick’ and ‘drop’ for both objects and people alike, while it gets absurd in Hindi. As I said, the funny quirks of language 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun stories! This was such a joy to read 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Abhinav! I am so glad you liked it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the wonders of Google translate. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, right! Almost made me want to ring the cops for our mutual friend, trust me 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That hindi translation!!! 😂😂😂😂
Well translation is a very deceptive work and needs to be done with care else can turn out like that hindi one!! 😄😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. I second that, Sifar! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Все будет хорошо. Еverything will be okay.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yay! I understood that 😀 спасибо Васил 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Language translation of English versions can be very amusing and utterly change what you mean.
By the way, I have been trying to learn Russian language too but I cannot seem to get a firm grasp of the alphabets so I work with knowing each words instead – in their English version that is.
It is quite difficult having to self practice especially when the words is in Russian alphabets…yikes. Poka Neha, Spasiba.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey. I totally get what you mean. I spent the first couple of weeks getting the hang of alphabets and it was tiring at first. I used a LOT of sources because I was self-learning but it got better. You can try RussianPod101’s youtube videos for the beginning and then you will get on to the wagon. Writing practice also helps a lot since it’s a new script for us. Do let me know if you need the links 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes please, I will love to have the links. It will be so much helpful. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure. Here are the videos I used during my first week learning the alphabets. I found it as a helpful starting point:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yayyyy…
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool. I just started learning Russian few months ago. It’s very beautiful language, i just fall in love with the pronunciation and constantly flipping back and forth my tongue to get it right. It’s kinda fun. After i met a friend from Челябинск, somehow it motivating me more aggressively.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally understand what you mean. Russian words are so beautiful to pronounce and having a Russian friend has motivated me so much as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person