Subject
Re: Box, and/or how to say sobaka in English
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On Sun, Jun 17, 2012 at 1:09 PM, Carolyn Kunin <chaiselongue@att.net> wrote:
>
> But back to your female dogs. The proper English translation of *sobaka*is
> *bitch*. It is a touchy word, I know, but hasn't quite achieved the
> forbidden status of the so-called N-word (nigger, for those who aren't
> aware).
>
This is incorrect. *Sobaka*, although grammatically feminine, is the
sex-neutral term for 'dog.' To specify 'bitch' in Russian (as in
dog-breeding and insults) one uses *suka*.
> Personally I am hoping to revive the nigger in its correct usages, which I
> believe has had a legitimate use in the past and should not be under the
> taboo that currently keeps it in exile.
>
I would wish you good luck, but in a world where one must choose one's
battles this is one battle I can't imagine choosing, and I wouldn't want to
encourage you.
Cheers,
David
David Powelstock
Brandeis University
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>
> But back to your female dogs. The proper English translation of *sobaka*is
> *bitch*. It is a touchy word, I know, but hasn't quite achieved the
> forbidden status of the so-called N-word (nigger, for those who aren't
> aware).
>
This is incorrect. *Sobaka*, although grammatically feminine, is the
sex-neutral term for 'dog.' To specify 'bitch' in Russian (as in
dog-breeding and insults) one uses *suka*.
> Personally I am hoping to revive the nigger in its correct usages, which I
> believe has had a legitimate use in the past and should not be under the
> taboo that currently keeps it in exile.
>
I would wish you good luck, but in a world where one must choose one's
battles this is one battle I can't imagine choosing, and I wouldn't want to
encourage you.
Cheers,
David
David Powelstock
Brandeis University
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/