Questions for my German friends
#1
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Questions for my German friends
I foolishly agreed to translate a German piece into English, without realizing that the piece would be 13 pages long, with a many unfamiliar geo-political terms, as well as many Russian names. The piece is a history of Volgadeutsch settlement. in a place called "Jagodnaja Poljana."
There are many descendants of the Volgadeutsch in the U.S., and the man who asked me to do this translation is one of them. I've run into a couple of terms for which I can find no meaning in my dictionaries. One of them is "Werst," which seems to be a term of measurement--"Sie war 52 Werst in nordóstlicher Richtung von Saratow entfernt."
Any idea what "Werst" means?
Also, there's an abbreviation whose meaning I should know but have forgotten. "bzw."
Can anyone fill me in on these?
I undoubtedly will have more questions as I proceed. I thank you in advance for your help.
There are many descendants of the Volgadeutsch in the U.S., and the man who asked me to do this translation is one of them. I've run into a couple of terms for which I can find no meaning in my dictionaries. One of them is "Werst," which seems to be a term of measurement--"Sie war 52 Werst in nordóstlicher Richtung von Saratow entfernt."
Any idea what "Werst" means?
Also, there's an abbreviation whose meaning I should know but have forgotten. "bzw."
Can anyone fill me in on these?
I undoubtedly will have more questions as I proceed. I thank you in advance for your help.
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Thanks for your answers thus far.
1. I have another."Neugeworbenen." In the context, it seems to mean something like "recruits."
"Der Anführer verlangte dass die Kolonisten die Aufständischen mit Proviant versorgten and ihre Reihen mit Neugeworbenen verstärkten."
Then it says that three Jagondnopoljaner (the name of the colony) decided to join Pugatschow's army.
2. A second question deals with Kirgischen "Kajsaken." It looks a bit like "Cossacks."
1. I have another."Neugeworbenen." In the context, it seems to mean something like "recruits."
"Der Anführer verlangte dass die Kolonisten die Aufständischen mit Proviant versorgten and ihre Reihen mit Neugeworbenen verstärkten."
Then it says that three Jagondnopoljaner (the name of the colony) decided to join Pugatschow's army.
2. A second question deals with Kirgischen "Kajsaken." It looks a bit like "Cossacks."
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1. "Recruits", "newly recruited soldiers", should fit. The colonists had to supply new soldiers to join the troops of these revolters - I wonder if they were recruited out of their own will or forced to become soldiers.
2. I cannot find the word "Kajsaken" anywhere. They probably mean Kosaken, I'd guess. This might be a word in their dialect. But then I'm no expert on central Asian military...
2. I cannot find the word "Kajsaken" anywhere. They probably mean Kosaken, I'd guess. This might be a word in their dialect. But then I'm no expert on central Asian military...
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Here's a reference to "the Kirghiz Kaysaks, or the Kazakhs nowadays"--apparently not the same as the Cossacks, who were fighting against them:
http://voiceofrussia.com/2007/05/23/136588/
http://voiceofrussia.com/2007/05/23/136588/
#9
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I should have recognized "Kazakhs," as in Kazakhstan. Dumb.
Anyway, another question. The term is "Desjatinen,"and it seems to be a measure of land, possibly of forested land.
Anyone know anything about this term?
I've been busy, so I hadn't been working on my translation lately, but I'm busy on it today. It's easier now that it's not discussing geopolitcal terms.
Anyway, another question. The term is "Desjatinen,"and it seems to be a measure of land, possibly of forested land.
Anyone know anything about this term?
I've been busy, so I hadn't been working on my translation lately, but I'm busy on it today. It's easier now that it's not discussing geopolitcal terms.
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I think the rule of thumb for these Russian terms is that they're easier to find if you change the transliteration from German spelling to English:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dessiatin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dessiatin
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This might be of help: Dear old Wikipedia lists and explains all those old Russian measurements in the German version here: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alte_Ma...chte_(Russland)
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Good Gawd! I wish I'd never said I'd do this translation. I have to look up about every third word so that I can get it right, since I'm doing it for someone else. Then there are those darned separable prefixes that end the sentence. Quelle horreur! (Sorry, I don't speak French. Maybe not German either.)
Left to my own devices, I think I could figure out most of it, but doing it for someone else is a PITA.
I guess I'll go change my bedsheets, just for a fun relaxing break.
Left to my own devices, I think I could figure out most of it, but doing it for someone else is a PITA.
I guess I'll go change my bedsheets, just for a fun relaxing break.
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Thanks, Lincasanova.
I just have a simple question. Ölmühle. Oil mill (among the Volgadeutsch.) It looks like it has to mean "oil press," right? Since this is not in an olive-growing area.
I just have a simple question. Ölmühle. Oil mill (among the Volgadeutsch.) It looks like it has to mean "oil press," right? Since this is not in an olive-growing area.