(no subject)

[nursedianaklim.livejournal.com]

This is, perhaps, the stupidest question ever posted here. But it's something I've been wondering about for a while.


Okay, so, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home? Chekhov keeps saying "nuclear wessels" instead of vessels, and as I'm studying Russian now, I'm confused, because it doesn't look like there is a "w" sound in the language. (Unless I am completely stupid.) So what I'm wondering is if this is just absolutely horrid writing on their part or if there is a valid reason why a native Russian speaker would say "wessels" instead of "vessels".




I know, I know, I need a life.

Comments

[eloise-13.livejournal.com]

It's true that in the Russian language there's no "w" sound. However, Russian learners of English often confuse "w" and "v" sounds in oral speech (maybe, because Russian "в" ("v") sound is something between these two ones and it's difficult for us to distinguish). So, I believe, it's normal for a Russian-speaking person to say "wessels".

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

I think that oryx_and_crake’s explanation of the substitution is more reasonable: words using the “w” sound in English like “linguistics” and “Washington” use a “v” sound in Russian, like лингвистика (lingvistika) and Вашингтон (Vashington). After one realizes this pattern, it’s easy to see how one would hypercorrect.

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

Er, sorry, I meant brighteyed_jill’s comment.

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

I second all people saying it's a hypercorrection. I'm teaching English in Russia currently to Russian college students and I sometimes here them do this with words starting with "v"-- they say "w" instead. I think they just get confused.