13.3. Rendering Russian verbal adverb phrases in English

Verbal adverb phrases are defined by Russian scholars as an attributive form of the verb which combines the features of two parts of speech, namely those of a verb (denoting an action) and an adverb (denoting circumstantial qualification of an action) [Русская грамматика 1982: 672]. In the practice of translation from Russian into English such phrases refer to cases of grammatical lacoonae and thus they have to be compensated for by means available for this purpose in the target language.

In order to render verbal adverb phrases adequately a translator has to take into account a number of their features:

• the subject of the phrase and of the action denoted by a verb predicate is the same. This feature makes them different from English absolute nominative phrases, but similar to English Participle I.

• There are two forms of verbal adverb phrases expressing different aspect meanings: perfective and imperfective. They are characterized by specific meanings which affect the choice of compensatory means in English.

• There are two voice forms of verbal adverb phrases: active (причесывая ребенка…) and reflexive (причесываясь).

• Verbal adverb can be a single-verb form (обернувшись) and a whole phrase in which a verb is followed either by an object which may be direct, indirect and prepositional (оттолкнув меня, мучаясь от боли), and an adverb (радостно подпрыгивая).

• Verbal adverbs and verbal adverb phrases can have stylistically marked forms characteristic of illiterate speech, folklore, etc which must be properly rendered in translation (берегя, пекя; играючи, сожалеючи).

A translator is recommended to resort to the following compensatory means in Russian when dealing with imperfective aspect forms of verbal adverbs and verbal adverb phrases:

1) Participle I indefinite or participial phrases with it, either in affirmative or negative sentences, often preceded by the conjunctions while, when, not, e.g. Из леса на дорогу выехал, стоя в санях на коленках, Цыган. – Gypsy came driving out of the forest onto the road, kneeling in his sleigh.

2) gerundial complexes combined with the prepositions by, in, on, without, e.g. Путешествуя, человек расширяет свой кругозор. – A man broadens his mind by travelling.

3) subordinate clauses introduced by the conjunctions as, while, when, since, e.g. Выходя вечером на широкий проспект, мы слышали звуки песен. – As we came on to the broad avenue that evening, we could hear the sounds of singing.

4) absolute nominative constructions when a direct object in a verbal adverb phrase turns into the subject of a nominative construction, e.g. Скрипя лаптями, из воротни вышел Аверьян, сторож. – His bast shoes creaking, Averyan, the watchman, emerged from the lodge.

5) simple sentences which calls for restructuring the original sentence, e.g. Иван, не дожидаясь, когда смажут по уху, полез на полати. – Ivan didn’t wait to be given a thump on the ear; he climbed onto the bunk.

There is a variety of compensatory means in Russian to handle verbal adverbs and verbal adverbial phrases used in perfective aspect forms. It should be pointed out that such phrases can be of two types in Russian:

• expressing priority to the action denoted by a predicate verb,

• expressing the manner of an action which does not suggest the idea of priority.

To deal with the uses of the first type a translator can resort to the following means of compensation in English:

1. Participle I indefinite stressing a prior action, e.g. Отмахнул черные рукава и, широко осенив его крестом, начал читать отходную – He thrust back his black sleeves and, making the sign of the cross over the dying man with sweeping movements of the hand, began to recite the prayer for the departed.

2. a finite form of the predicate verb, eg. Фома, выждав, когда кончат браниться, проговорил опять…- Foma waited till they had stopped cursing and said once more ...

3. Participle II or participial phrase, e,g, В тот вечер в харчевне, разгорячась от водки с чесноком, Михайла заложил у целовальника и саблю и пояс. – That evening, in the eating house, warmed by vodka and garlic, Mikhail pawned the sabre and belt with the innkeeper.

4. A gerundial phrase, e.g. Он вскочил, волосы зашевелились, крикнул дико, замахнулся на девку и, не ударив, выскочил на улицу. – He jumped to his feet, his hair stood on end, he yelled frantically and raised his hand against the wench but then, without actually striking her, rushed out into the street.

5. Participle II perfect, e.g. Обогнав её, он приотворил высокую дверь и скрылся за нею. – Having overtaken her, he opened a big door and vanished behind it.

The analysis of translation decisions shows that verbal adverbs and verbal adverb phrases tend to be translated by simpler structures in English. Even such phrases that express priority of an action to that denoted by a predicate verb are often compensated for by indefinite participial complexes.

6) a simple sentence, e.g. Михайла промерз в седле, не евши весь день… - Mikhail was frozen stiff in the saddle; he hadn’t eaten all day.

When verval adverbs and deverbal adverb phrases in the perfective aspect do not express the idea of priority they can be translated in the following ways:

1) absolute nominative constructions of various types, e.g. Мимо проехал шагом Василий Волков, хмуро опустив голову. – Vassily Volkov rode past at a walking pace, his head bowed glumly.

2) an adverb or adverbial phrase, e.g. Люди, разинув рты, глядели на его парчевую шубу. – The people stared goggle-eyed at his brocaded fur coat.

3) a gerundial complex introduced by the preposition by, e.g. Пошли нам электронную почту, сообщив дату прибытия. – Please, send us an e-mail by indicating the day of your arrival.