Way to Russia Talk Lounge

llllll · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:31 am Post subject: What's the difference?

For the word some or few in this context?

sentance 1:

do you have SOME russian money?

Sentence 2:

I can give you SOME Russian money.

In sentance 1 the word for some is nimnoga, however in sentance 2 the world sounds like neskilka (sorry about the spelling).

why?

Confused

5_Zvehzda · Moderator Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 347 Location: Arizona

llllll · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:03 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, thanks for the reply, I thought at first the ne -skilka(?) was more specific, but the sentences above are vertually identical. Confused

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

"некоторый" can't be used in a quantatiave context; to refer to numbers, amounts etc. To use it it has to be in a similar context like "she gave it away to some/a certain person".

немного--in sentence 1's context, "do you have 'not much' money"? I suppose a negative "not much" is used to sound polite as opposed to "мало" (it's similar to the difference between "a little" and "little", one implies negativity and the other does not). Well, I suppose that's what it's getting at.

несколько--"a few, some, more than one"in sentence 2's context is a bit more concrete (?), from the word сколько (how much, as much). As you can see it's also a polite answer to the question.

I think both words are interchangeable in that situation.

Not from an expert's mouth....

llllll · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject:

Very interesting, so there's no real reason for either in these contexts.

See it's Pimlseur and they are sparch on explanations, they just start using different words without explaning. Must be their way expaning volcabulary.

They did the same with 'here' but it was easy to work that out

BOT is here to give, here's some money

здесь is 'directional' here; here is the house.

Wondering if it would be easier not to learn Russian as in English word for Russian word, but Russian words for actions discribed in English, if that makes sense?

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

I don't think your Pimsleur stuff should be used for anything aside from pronouncation and speaking as you can see--you are just getting yourself confused. I think I already advised you--just use the CDs for your "subconscious learning programme" by playing it every time you are doing other things--playing it in your car is a good idea.

Regarding your question about learning Russian with English: Use pictures and concepts. Think in Russian.

Know why young kids learn language so easily? Their little brains don't attempt to translate and they are not afraid of mistakes. That's what the Pimsleur stuff is aiming for I guess so try to do away with 'translating learining'. However learning by the 'immersion' method without living in a Russian-speaking country is difficult, and you'll only limit yourself to the audio kit.

Hit the books! Cool

Good luck!

llllll · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:11 am Post subject:

Yes, mediashark, I can see literal translation is only half the battle.

I'll order some books and Russim films and Cd's to give me a feel for how the language is spoken.