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FSI-Russian


			
				
					
						
						
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							<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"><head xmlns:h="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" profile=""><title>Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.79.2"/></head><body><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title"><a id="d0e9801" shape="rect"/>Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</h1></div></div></div><p>The first name is the most common form of address between persons who enjoy a close
      relationship. The use of the various forms of the first name (similar to our American
      nicknames) is influenced by the degree of intimacy in the relationship. The greater the
      intimacy, the more variety in these forms. For example:</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">A</span></dt><dd><p>Full forms of the first name <span class="bold"><strong>(</strong></span><span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Владимир</em></span>, <span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Татьяна</em></span>)</strong></span>are the mostneutral forms of address between
            individuals who are on either Вы or тыterms.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">B</span></dt><dd><p>hortened forms without suffixes <span class="bold"><strong>(</strong></span><span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Володя</em></span>,<span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Таня</em></span>)</strong></span> indicate a certaindegree of
            closeness. These forms are often used interchangeably withthose in category A and are
            appropriate when the relationship is either <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span></strong></span> or <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ты</em></span></strong></span>.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">C</span></dt><dd><p>Nicknames with the suffix -ка (<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Володька</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Танька</em></span></strong></span>) imply intimacy which may be without
            affection. The younger generation prefers these very informal forms and depending on the
            situation, they could also be interpreted as condescending.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">D</span></dt><dd><p>Only if the individuals are on <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ты</em></span></strong></span> terms should the "diminutive" or"affectionate" forms
            of the name be used. Nicknames with these suffixes, -<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ечка</em></span></strong></span>, -<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">енька</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong>-<span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">юша</em></span>,</strong></span>-<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">юшка</em></span></strong></span> (<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Володечка</em></span></strong></span>,
              <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Володенька</em></span></strong></span>,<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Танечка</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Танюша</em></span></strong></span>) have a very
            specific coloring and non-native speakers of Russian will want to take care in using
            them. Russian women seem to favor the use of diminutive forms more than men and as you
            might suspect, men will use diminutive forms when addressing women, but not when
            addressing other men.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">E</span></dt><dd><p>Nicknames with a "zero" ending (<span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Володь</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Тань</em></span></strong></span>) belong almost exclusively to the
            younger generation and non-native speakers should avoid them. They are used as a type of
              <span class="italic">vocative </span>case, that is, when trying to get
            someone's attention.</p></dd></dl></div></div></body></html>