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- <title>4. Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="html.css"><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.79.1"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="The RUSSIAN Fast Course"><link rel="up" href="ch03.html" title="Chapter 3. Lesson 3"><link rel="prev" href="ch03s03.html" title="3. When to use Вы and Ты"><link rel="next" href="ch03s05.html" title="5. Examples of names and patronymics"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">4. Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch03s03.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter 3. Lesson 3</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch03s05.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="d0e9327"></a>4. Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</h2></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 lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Влади́мир</em></span>, <span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Татья́на</em></span>)</strong></span>are the most neutral forms of address between individuals who are on either <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span></strong></span> or <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ты</em></span></strong></span> terms.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">B</span></dt><dd><p>Shortened forms without suffixes <span class="bold"><strong>(</strong></span><span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дя</em></span>,<span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Та́ня</em></span>)</strong></span> indicate a certain degree of closeness. These forms are often used interchangeably with those in category A and are appropriate when the relationship is either <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span></strong></span> or <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em 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 lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дька</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Та́нька</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 lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em 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 lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ечка</em></span></strong></span>, -<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">енька</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong>-<span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">юша</em></span>,</strong></span>-<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">юшка</em></span></strong></span> (<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дечка</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́денька</em></span></strong></span>,<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Та́нечка</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Таню́ша</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 lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дь</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em 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><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch03s03.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="ch03.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch03s05.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">3. When to use <span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span> and <span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Ты</em></span> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> 5. Examples of names and patronymics</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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