I don't like Russian grammar · 6:04pm Oct 9th, 2021
As you all know, I write in English. It comes easy to me, and the rules make sense. Or, at least, the rules I use make sense. I still don't like that there's no standard whatsoever to how things are pronounced in English, but I can live with that. Anyway, I've not looked at proper English grammar in a long time, but nearly all fanfics I read use the way I do it. Recently, however, I decided to try my hand at writing a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. story... in Russian. I've not written anything serious or long in Russian in around three years, I think. So, I decided to look up proper Russian dialogue writing.
And it's stupid. There are a few rules but they're too many and, to me, they don't make sense. For example, this is what's used in Russian:
"Blah blah, - he said. - Blah blah."
Why can't the quotation marks be used both at the beginning and the end of the speech? Why does it need to be more complex than it should, in my opinion, be? Next example:
-Blah blah,- he said. - Blah blah.
Now it makes a bit more sense since it's the same punctuation all around. The beginning is clearly shown, the end of the speech is clear too. However, the issue is, both of the methods are valid. Then there are yet more things. I looked it up in here and in some other websites, and it seems like no one even agrees what proper dialogue writing is!
I remember, long time ago, I published something in Russian and I was asked "Why do you use quotation marks? Are the character telepaths?"
Honestly... Russian is too damn weird when it comes to dialogue. Sure, it's a small thing, but it annoys me. I decided that I'll use the same dialogue writing rules that I use when writing in English. It's simpler, easier to understand, and I like it better. Quotation marks within which there is speech. That's it. If I ever publish anything in book form, I'll stick to my own rules. I believe that, as long as I'm consistent, it'll be fine.
Yep, my Яussian comrade, the grammar of our language is a bitch with a giant horse dildo, that just doesn't lay dormant.. After all - we're rightfully holding our place amidst most complex languages there is.
Иии да, варианты:
"Blah blah, - he said. - Blah blah."
-Blah blah,- he said. - Blah blah.
Не взаимозаменяемы, ибо прямая речь (ака диалог) стартует лишь с "-", фраза же, облаченная в кавычки, являет собой исключительно "мысленную речь" (т.е. да, тупо мысли одного, или же - диалог телепатов) персонажей. Таки верь филологу - это верные правила без всяких разночтений, несогласных смело шли обратно в школу.
5593573
Как я читал по сайтам, что так что этак можно, но хрен с ним.. Я вообще предпочитаю мысли выделять курсивом целиком и ставить в полукавычки (' вместо "). Как по мне, так проще. Ставить тире (или как она в этом случае называется) непривычно.
I didn't know the grammar was weird.... well I suppose every language has weird grammar. But have you seen Russian cursive? How do you read that? I thought American cursive was annoying but geezer guys... that looks like a headache and a half...
5593596
Pft, cursive? Good luck cracking this shit.
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...And yes - it's not just squiggles, it's a real medical prescription in Russian. :)
5593596
I can tell cursive unless the one who wrote it is a doctor. Generally, cursive skills are on the decline since we can type faster than we can write cursive, and a lot of stuff becomes digital. I've not written manually except to fill and sign documents for a couple years already.
5593611
...did you get your prescription? or did the pharmacist just look at you funny?
5593612
I remember them telling us things like "you need to learn this, everything will be in cursive when you grow up" I am an adult now.... no one writes in cursive. I haven't even sees cursive used seriously sense elementary. they also told me that i wouldn't have a calculator in my pocket. or that I needed to study the text book because that was the only place to get this information.
Honestly, I don't like English grammar rules.
5593652
How wrong they were, huh? It's especially funny about pocket calculators. Calculation is the least of what any mobile phone can do now.