5. Conjunctions & connectives

And & But

In a list of items or tasks, the last two words or phrases must always be joined by and, which is frequently not used in Russian. Otherwise, the construction will be unclear to the English reader, who will get "lost", especially if the list is long. I cannot stress this enough: you have no idea how much difference it will make to the clarity of your translations!

• Статьи 3, 4, 5, 6: Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6

• обсуждение с Гульнарой, Самирой, Эндрю: discussion with Gulnara, Samira and Andrew

• [Russian??]: The Company shall operate on the basis of the principles of self-financing and self-management, shall be a legal entity, and shall have an independent balance sheet and clearing and other accounts.

• [Russian??]: approval of long-term and annual plans and programmes

А также is commonly translated "as well as", but this is clumsy and much more emphatic than а также. A simple and (or and also) is better.

♦ [EXAMPLE??]

It is particularly important to note that as well as cannot be used with verb phrases:

♦ Он поблагодарил за теплый прием и гостеприимство Нурсултана Назарбаева, а также выразил свою благодарность всем тем, кто занимался подготовкой и организацией визита.: Не thanked Nursultan Nazarbayev for his warm reception and hospitality, and (also) expressed his gratitude to all who were involved in preparing for and organizing the visit. ("As well as expressed..." is impossible here.)

If the last item in the list does not seem to belong with the others, it can be separated from the others like this:

♦ Мучное сырье, вода и другие компоненты, а также температурный режим строго контролируются.: Flour, water and other ingredients are strictly controlled, as are temperature conditions.

So when do we use as well as? It can be a good translation of кроме and помимо.

♦ Помимо сосисок, фирма производит пельмени, манты, ... [??]: As well as sausages, the firm manufactures pelmeni, manty, ...

As well as is also useful in constructions with не только... но и...:

♦ Точность вежливость не только королей, но и Президентов.: Punctuality is а virtue of presidents as well as kings.

If a sentence is negative, and becomes or.

- ♦ Передача шахт не привела пока к изменениям и улучшению.: The transfer of the mines has not yet resulted in any changes or improvement.

♦ [Russian??]: We do not have the statistical card or the inventory file.

Strictly speaking, the word however begins a new sentence, while but cannot begin a new sentence - it joins two phrases together.

• We requested the information, but did not receive it.

• We requested the information. However, we did not receive it, and... This rule can be ignored when translating journalism...

There is also the neglected conjunction yet, which to my mind is more emphatic than but and however.

♦ Повседневный труд лидеров экономики, сельского хозяйства, экологической сферы, сферы услуг нередко остается в тени. Однако именно от этих предприятий, лидеров и новаторов в своих областях и от конкретных людей зависит наш завтрашний день.: We hear little about the day-to-day work of leading figures in the economy, agriculture, the environment and services. Yet it is on these enterprises, leaders and innovators in their fields, and on specific people, that all our tomorrows depend.

В случае

When в случае is followed by a simple construction (e.g. just one noun), it may be translated in the event of (not "in case of):

• в случае несвоевременной оплаты: in the event of late payment

• в случае равенства голосов: in the event of a tie

If в случае is followed by a fairly long construction in Russian, it should be turned into a verb clause beginning If..., In the event that... or Should... (not "in case"):

• [Russian??]: If a house is inherited or acquired...

• В случае возникновения разногласий...: Should any differences/disagreements arise...

• В случае невыполнения покупателем своих обязательств...: Should the purchaser fail to fulfill its obligations...

В случае, если... should be translated the same way.

The incorrect use of "in case (of)" is one of the most common errors I encounter, one made even by experienced translators. "In case of is used for emergencies, indicating that the possibility is unlikely (e.g. "in case of fire"). When we do something "in case", we mean на всякий случай. ("I'll take an umbrella in case it rains" means I think it's very unlikely to rain.)

To confuse things further, there is "in the case of, which means "with regard to":

♦ [Russian??]: In the case of the patent, it would not have been issued unless the fees had been paid. In the case of the applications, however,...

Note also:

• в случае необходимости: if necessary ("in case of need" refers to a fairly remote possibility)

• в случае отсутствия кого-либо: in the absence of...

• в случаях, указанных законом: in cases specified by the law

• в случаях, когда: in cases where (not "when")

And here are other points to watch for with когда:

• Складывается такая ситуация, когда...: We have a situation where...

• Именно тогда, когда...: It was then that...

Как

A very common mistake is to say "how" instead of what when translating как in constructions like:

• Как это называется?: What is it (this, that) called?

• Я не знаю, как будет "совок" по-английский: I don't know what "совок" is (or would be) in English. (Also note the word order of the indirect question.)

Verbs such as name, entitle, etc., which in Russian should be followed by как, are not followed by the word "as" in English:

♦ EXAMPLE: to rename the Article "Bank Loan Agreement"

Like or as? The rule is: как + noun = like; как + verb = as.

• как любой партбосс: like any party boss

• [example with verb!!]

Apart from, Except & Besides [Explain the difference!!]

♦ Есть ли у вас увлечения помимо гольфа?: Do you have any hobbies besides (or apart from) golf?

Connectives

These are the in-between words that make sentences flow. Substantially different ones are used in Russian and English.

Reason:

Так: can often be left out; sometimes means for example, for instance. "Thus" is fairly rare in modern English. Таким образом: So, And so,

так как, потому что: I like since and because, which are very frequently used in English; as is also fine, but can be ambiguous because it has so many other meanings. Ведь: usually After all, ...

поэтому: and so; that's why (informal), therefore (rather formal), for this reason

в связи с: due to, in view of, in connection with

В связи с этим...: therefore, because of this, in view of this

принимая во внимание (, что): given (that) is the simplest solution.

учитывая: given; in view of

Purpose:

чтобы, для, с целью: in order to is usually the best choice; it is strong yet neutral.

♦ С целью создания современной армии... In order to establish a modern army...

Other possibilities are "for the purpose of, "with a view to" (note that both are followed by a Gerund, not Infinitive), "so as to".

Contrast:

несмотря на то, что...: although is much shorter and neater than "in spite of/despite the fact that..."

тем более: let alone, to say nothing of ("not "saying nothing about")

тем более, что...: especially as/since...

с точки зрения: from the point of view of

что касается: with regard to; with respect to (avoid "as for"; it can sound dismissive)

Речь идет о...: The question is... I am thinking here of... What I am talking about is... What I mean here is...

До сих пор речь шла о...: So far we have been talking about...

Говоря o...: While on the subject of... Talking of... (not "Speaking about...")

Известно, что...: As is well-known, ...; It is common knowledge that... It is a well-known fact that...

Очевидно, что... Clearly, ... (see the note in Some Problem Adverbs)

He случайно... It is no accident that...

He секрет, что... It is no secret that...

He будет преувеличение сказать, что... It is no exaggeration to say that... Думается, что...: It would appear that seems likely/set to...

Напомним, что...: You will recall that... Let us recall that... (in a newspaper article:

Readers will recall that...)

Отметим, что...: We would like to note that...

Следует отметить, что...: It should be noted that... It is worth noting that...

Следует особо отметить, что...: Of particular note is (the fact that)...

Следует упомянуть, что...: Mention should be made of (the fact that)...

В связи с этим нужно отметить: Here we should note...

Надо сказать, что...: It must be said that... It should be mentioned that...

Достаточно сказать, что...: Suffice it to say that...