Subject
Re: Russian greeting styles in 1921? (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR's NOTE. Below are two replies bearing on different aspects of the
question. NABOKV-L thanks "Maria E. Malikova" <masha@assisi.spb.su> and
NABOKV-L co-editor Galya Diment <galya@u.washington.edu>.
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ORIGINAL QUERY:
> From: Marianne Cotugno <mxc52@psu.edu>
>
> I met with Todd Hartman, director of the Penn. St. production of
Nabokov's play "The Man from the U.S.S.R." this evening, and he wants
to know how Russians > would greet each other at that time period and in
their particular > situations in life. > Thanks.
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REPLY 1.
Galya Diment <galya@u.washington.edu>
Since the play happens in emigration, I assume the director is interested
in common greetings there as opposed to the Soviet Union in 1921. Their
English equivalents would not differ much from what is commonly used in
this country -- hello ("zdravstvuite"), good afternoon ("dobryi den'"),
good morning ("dobroe utro"), good evening ("dobryi vecher") etc
There are some greetings in the play itself -- mostly "zdravsvui(te)." In
terms of what accompanies the greetings, if people knew each other well,
women might kiss another woman on a cheek; some men would probably kiss a
woman's hand, shake another man's hand or pat him on the back. If a man
was wearing a hat, he would probably lift it while greeting or
acknowledging someone. Gloves would also be removed for a handshake.
I hope it's helpful.
-------------------------------------------------
In 1921 the "Soviets" would probably address each other as "tovarishch"
(friend, comrade), while the "Old" or "White" Russians would stick to
the pre-Rev. names like "sudar'", "gospodin", "lubeznyu"(when addressing,
say, a waiter); "kollega" (to a colleage).
Yours, Maria Malikova
St. Petersburg, Russia
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question. NABOKV-L thanks "Maria E. Malikova" <masha@assisi.spb.su> and
NABOKV-L co-editor Galya Diment <galya@u.washington.edu>.
-----------------------------------------
ORIGINAL QUERY:
> From: Marianne Cotugno <mxc52@psu.edu>
>
> I met with Todd Hartman, director of the Penn. St. production of
Nabokov's play "The Man from the U.S.S.R." this evening, and he wants
to know how Russians > would greet each other at that time period and in
their particular > situations in life. > Thanks.
-----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
REPLY 1.
Galya Diment <galya@u.washington.edu>
Since the play happens in emigration, I assume the director is interested
in common greetings there as opposed to the Soviet Union in 1921. Their
English equivalents would not differ much from what is commonly used in
this country -- hello ("zdravstvuite"), good afternoon ("dobryi den'"),
good morning ("dobroe utro"), good evening ("dobryi vecher") etc
There are some greetings in the play itself -- mostly "zdravsvui(te)." In
terms of what accompanies the greetings, if people knew each other well,
women might kiss another woman on a cheek; some men would probably kiss a
woman's hand, shake another man's hand or pat him on the back. If a man
was wearing a hat, he would probably lift it while greeting or
acknowledging someone. Gloves would also be removed for a handshake.
I hope it's helpful.
-------------------------------------------------
In 1921 the "Soviets" would probably address each other as "tovarishch"
(friend, comrade), while the "Old" or "White" Russians would stick to
the pre-Rev. names like "sudar'", "gospodin", "lubeznyu"(when addressing,
say, a waiter); "kollega" (to a colleage).
Yours, Maria Malikova
St. Petersburg, Russia
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