New to the community

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

Hi, as the subject says, I am new here.
I live in Vancouver, WA, where we have quiet a few Russian immigrants, and since I am in customer service, I'd like to learn a little Russian (if not the whole language) for a few reasons.
1) Because I think it'd be rewarding to know another language
2) Because I am nosy and want to know what's being said in Russian around me
3) Because I have a _very_ cute Russian man that gets coffee from me

Now, that said, I was wondering if anyone else lives around here and can shed some light on WHY there's such a prejudice against Russians? SO many people seem to have the "oh, the damn Russians" mindset, and it bugs me quite a bit.

Anyhoo, I borrowed a "learn to speak Russian" book & cassette series from the library, and WOW it looks hard! Any pointers other than "just dig in"?
~Lisa

Comments

[kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com]

"Just dig in" really is the best advice there is. If you want to learn to speak Russian, you'll have to devote a lot of time to studying, especially since you'll be learning on your own. The best thing you can do is to schedule a time for yourself every day - thirty minutes is enough - so you study consistently.

Learning a language is hard, and becoming fluent takes years. But you can do it, if you try.

If you've never learned a language, experiment with studying techniques until you find what works best for you. I learn best by reading and writing material, but other people learn better by talking out loud. That type of thing.

You'll also need someone to help you with your pronunciation if you want to be intelligible. Russian has a lot of features that English speakers have a hard time even hearing - by this I'm referring primarily to the palatalization of consonants. Getting this right is very important, and you'll probably need help to do it. It's good that your textbook has a tape, but it probably won't be enough.

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

You'll also need someone to help you with your pronunciation if you want to be intelligible.

*nods* There is a Russian family in my apartment complex thats really nice, I was thinking I could get some of the stuff down and try out words on them if they didn't mind me garbling the words so bad.

My major failing is feeling stupid when trying something new, so who knows how long it will be before I work up the nerve to try and speak the words in front of anyone other than myself?

Thank you for taking the time to comment, I appreciate that, and your advice! =)

Sorry if this is offtopic

[ystrek.livejournal.com]

"WHY there's such a prejudice against Russians?"

It's because of history, I guess. Cold War, you know. But the roots lie deeper, probably the story dates back to 1054, the year of the great split in the Christian church. Later, in the 15th century, Russia remained the only independent Christian country that still adhered to Eastern (Orthodox) Christianity. You surely know how fierce reliogious wars were at that time, so there's no wonder that the "oh, the damn heretics!" attitude became dominant.

Re: Sorry if this is offtopic

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

Interesting thoughts, about it being a religious difference. I don't think thats the case here, as I work for Starbucks, and its so often my coworkers muttering about "damn Russians" (I hate that) because they tend to come in often throughtout the day and buy the same drinks over and over (which is a GOOD thing, in my opinion! Repeat business, and you know their drink preference! GOOOD, not BAAAD!) and hang out outside. Sunflower seeds...they chow down on sunflower seeds and spit the shells out on the pavement...the shells are a pain to sweep up, but...again...thats our job, just like picking up cigarette butts...

*scratching head* I just don't get it.

Anyhow, that was a VERY interesting bit about history!

Re: Sorry if this is offtopic

[noser.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I think only rural (may I say "redneck"?) Russians have a habit of munching on sunflower seeds. How did they end up in Canada? They could be Ukrainians. I hear there's a large Ukrainian community in Canada.

Anyway, I agree all this animosity is going back to Cold War. A lot of people still think that Russians are all communists. I find it all over the media, even in such places as National Geographic. This really gets me offended. But then I think: those are old people, it's not easy for them to change their mind. It's like a faith. One can not deny there's a lot of anti-Americanism in Russia as well, and it is mostly traditional in its roots, though fed by the new developments.

Re: Sorry if this is offtopic

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I think only rural (may I say "redneck"?) Russians have a habit of munching on sunflower seeds. How did they end up in Canada? They could be Ukrainians. I hear there's a large Ukrainian community in Canada.

Oh, I'm not in Canada, I'm in the OTHER Vancouver....in Washington. Right by Portland, Oregon. =)
Redneck doesn't bug me, can't speak for others, but not me.

[missa-gorightry.livejournal.com]

You've already gotten some good suggestions about language learning...

Might I suggest you ask the very cute Russian guy for help? =D Great way to get to know him a little better, and seriously, most people are very willing to help you learn their native tongue. I've had some Russian customers give me their home address and tell me to come over for lessons, even though they know I'm taking it at university. Russians are usually very hospitable, which makes the anti-Russian sentiment even more unfair.

I'm sure your russkie customers will love it if you learn even just a few things to say to them.

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

Might I suggest you ask the very cute Russian guy for help? =D Great way to get to know him a little better,

*drools* (He reminds me a smidgen of David Bowie)
I would SO totally do that, but for the fact that erm, I have a boyfriend, LOL, and I like to drool over the Russian guy at work and if I struck up toooo much conversation, I wouldn't get any work done...
Also, I'd be much more tempted than I already am to think inappropriate thoughts....
So, to keep myself in line, I keep it short with him when I get him at my register...though my pulse certainly goes up a smidge.
*happy sigh*

I would love to be able to just say simple things, but I also wanna snoop (BAD Lisa, BAD BAD BAD) on their conversations w/o them knowing *I* know what they're talking about. heh...just in case they're saying "She is so cute..." hahahahaha. On the other hand, if they were saying the opposite, I don't wanna know!
Either way, I'd love to learn another language, especially one that would be SO useful around here!! Then I could weasel some recipes from the lovely Russian lady in my complex. She's all smiles, I like her. =)

I say, repay their hospitality and helpfulness!

[farraige.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and quite a few *russkies* would probably take offense at your derision. I don't suppose you'd chose to call black people wogs or coons, would you? Well, calling a Russian person a russkie is no better.

Re: I say, repay their hospitality and helpfulness!

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

I don't think that person meant any offense by using the term "russkie".
Thats good to know its offensive, though...glad I don't use the term, myself.

It's an adjective

[missa-gorightry.livejournal.com]

First of all, it would be pretty stupid to deride Russian people in a community dedicated to learning Russian, wouldn't it? I'm a member, not a troll. :) Anyway, it would also be pretty stupid to be paying $40K for university degrees in Slavic literatures and languages and Russian and East European studies if I hated Russians.

I meant no disrespect, and I'm sorry to any who might be offended, but I was just using the word russkii the way the Russians do--as an adjective. "I am a Russian (male)"="Я русский"

Above I spelled it russkie in an attempt at verisimilitude. Russkii customer, russkie customers. I would have put русские покупатели but that would have been a bit much for bowiechaser, who is just starting out.

Re: It's an adjective

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

I would have put русские покупатели but that would have been a bit much for bowiechaser, who is just starting out.


LOL you are so very right, because I have NO clue what that says so far!

[farraige.livejournal.com]

Transliteration does the Russian language no favours, for it makes things too open to interpretation (what with the idiosyncrasies of the English spelling and that). You should be aware of that, as this innocuous attempt at code-switching has demonstrated.

=-=-=-=-

As for the incompatibility of prejudice and higher education in the field of the phobia, alas, it's a well-documented combination. You'd be surprised to hear some of the Slavic students speak of their 'subjects'. Acquiring a degree in a subject frequently seems to reinforce their racial hatred rather than eliminate it.

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

You'd be surprised to hear some of the Slavic students speak of their 'subjects'. Acquiring a degree in a subject frequently seems to reinforce their racial hatred rather than eliminate it.

Why so....jumpy, for lack of a better word? You seem ready to leap at the slightest touch of an imagined insult.
I wonder why a degree in another culture would increase racial hatred, that just doesn't make sense to me. What're your thoughts on it?

[snowwhitetan.livejournal.com]

"WHY there's such a prejudice against Russians?"

I live in Portland and work in Hillsboro. There is a huge Hispanic population in Hillsboro and it is the exact same thing. "Oh those Hispanics". That always happens when there is a large concentration of a certain group of immigrants in one area. I do not think that response you mentioned is specific to Russians. There just happen to be a huge number of Russian-speaking people in Vancouver (and Gresham).

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

Intertesting point. I grew up in San Jose, CA, so there was QUITE the mix of ethnicities there....I'm just not used to people saying "I hate ____" whatever ethnic group. Its just not OK with me, yanno?
Cool beans that you live so close! =D

[snowwhitetan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's definitely NOT cool regardless of what group the person claims to hate. But, yes it is cool that I love so close;-)

I see you like Bowie (from your username). My username is also Bowie-related. Bowie rocks!

[thevoiceofnick.livejournal.com]

I think the best way to learn Russian is the same way to learn any other language... you can learn words and phrases, but if you don't know what they really mean and why they're formed the way they are, you'll never really get it. Like I learned how to say "good morning", "good afternoon", and "good night", and always wondered why the "good" was spelled in two different ways... I later learned that it was because of the ending of the second word... I also learned that this rule could be applied to all adjectives... and when that happened, a whole new world opened up to me! I could all of a sudden recognize more words than ever, and I had a deeper understanding of the language. So what i'm trying to say, is learn the words and phrases, but also understand the reason behind why they are the way they are!

As for the prejudice against Russians, I agree it's unfounded... but many people mention Russia and most people instantly think "nuclear bomb", "communism", "cold war", etc... I'm sure in future generations this won't be such an issue, but for now, it's all still very fresh in the minds of many adults.

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

I'm sure in future generations this won't be such an issue, but for now, it's all still very fresh in the minds of many adults.

*nods* Yes, but the people I work with are all under 25. No reason for THEM to be thinking of it like that. I haven't had issue with anyone other than my former boss (who is 47 or so) of an older age group saying anything about them.

[thevoiceofnick.livejournal.com]

Well, i'm 26 and I still remember the communist regime... I remember waking up to misinformation about the Soviet Union, as well as video games and movies that depicted Russians as devils. In fact, if my girlfriend wasn't Russian, and I hadn't learned so much about Russians while i've been with her, i'd still feel the same way! People just have to be educated.