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Does Sotskova overcome evil Medvedeva in that one?
skater nicknames and what fans call skaters
- Thread starter CaroLiza_fan
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Yeah, I found that too when I translated the long comment about foreign skaters under the girls video (see this post over in Alina's Fan Fest).
And, as I also said in that post, why on Earth are Boikova and Sotskova being compared to ugly Star Wars characters?! (Although, given how quirky Jar Jar is, I suppose Maria could take it as a bit of a compliment).
I have to admit, after reading through the translations, I was starting to regret taking on this project. But, it is interesting to see how Russian fans think of their skaters, even if some of them aren't nice.
As russianfan said above, you can really tell who is respected more.
CaroLiza_fan
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Ever since I started following figure skating more intensely, I knew that Zhenya is used for Evgeni and it's female equivalent Evgenia, thanks to people referring to Mr. Plushenko by it. But I could never quite work out how you got "Zhenya" from "Evgeni". That was until I heard Medvedeva say her name during the interview after winning 2017 Worlds.
Medvedeva pronounced her name a bit like the Irish name Eugenia (but with a harder "g" than normal). And it reminded me of how British Eurosport's former commentator for World Superbikes, Jack Burnicle, used to really struggle pronouncing the male equivalent when one of my local riders, Eugene Laverty, moved from the British Championship to the World Championship. Jack was pronouncing it with a sort of a French accent to get "Yoo-zhen" rather than the "Yoo-jeen" it is supposed to be. (Those attempts at writing pronounciations look more like Chinese names!
)After hearing Medvedeva say her name, it suddenly hit me. The "Zhenya" is derived from the way Jack was pronouncing "Eugene" ("Yoo-zhen").
Incidentally, for the past year or so, I have been slipping into the habit of thinking of all Eugenes as "Zhenya". And I know that some time I am going to accidentally say it out loud, and it will thoroughly confuse somebody.
See what being a figure skating fan does to you...
CaroLiza_fan
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It's a fun thread! I wouldn't have been aware of the derogatory nicknames if the poster whose comment I quoted hadn't pointed them out in an attempt to emphasize their own view of the two skaters they mentioned.
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again, its not like all russian fans calling them like that, in most cases its more like the people who don't like a certain skater and try to make fun of her/him, etc
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well, i think because of visual similarity (at least when we are talking about Sotskova, i'm sure that's the reason)
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- Nov 8, 2016
I just want to say that the YouTube user whose videos you have used always makes questionable and provocative videos and shouldn't be trusted.
The most liked comment under the first video says "nonsense".
I feel like half of those nicknames were made up by the person who made the video.
The most liked comment under the first video says "nonsense".
I feel like half of those nicknames were made up by the person who made the video.
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Medvedeva pronounced her name a bit like the Irish name Eugenia (but with a harder "g" than normal). And it reminded me of how British Eurosport's former commentator for World Superbikes, Jack Burnicle, used to really struggle pronouncing the male equivalent when one of my local riders, Eugene Laverty, moved from the British Championship to the World Championship. Jack was pronouncing it with a sort of a French accent to get "Yoo-zhen" rather than the "Yoo-jeen" it is supposed to be. (Those attempts at writing pronounciations look more like Chinese names!
CaroLiza_fan
So it's not only in figure skating that the Eurosport commentators like to mangle the name pronunciations?!
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Personally, and please don't take this the wrong way, CaroLiza_fan, I think the posting of this list is completely and utterly inappropriate.
These aren't nicknames. Nicknames are given in affection, in love, in endearment, in good humour. These are - the best word I can think of for many of them is slurs, insults, demeaning labels. And many of them are about minor children.
These aren't nicknames. Nicknames are given in affection, in love, in endearment, in good humour. These are - the best word I can think of for many of them is slurs, insults, demeaning labels. And many of them are about minor children.
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To be honest, I actually agree with you. A lot of the things in the list are insulting. But, since I'm an English speaker, I didn't know that when the offer to translate what was in the videos came through.
When I got the lists, I started re-formatting them straight away. So I didn't actually read the contents until I had finished. And, like you, I didn't like a lot of them. But, I decided to post the lists anyway to let non-Russian speakers know how some Russians were referring to their skaters. And how different it is to how we do it.
All I can say is that thank goodness we are kinder when creating short-hand ways to refer to skaters.
As I said in my first post after getting up this morning, I am actually regretting starting the thread. And I was seriously thinking of asking for the thread to be removed. But, then some members said that they find it very interesting to see what some Russian fans think of their skaters. So, that is why I changed my mind.
As I said at the end of the OP, I would like this thread to become a discussion of skaters' real nicknames. And, so far, that seems to be what is happening.
But, if that changes, I will ask for it's removal.
CaroLiza_fan
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So it's not only in figure skating that the Eurosport commentators like to mangle the name pronunciations?!
Yep!
It was so funny. Somebody from Geordieland trying to say an Irishman's name with a French accent. And it wasn't just once or twice - he was pronouncing it this way for a good few years. I'm just amazed that nobody corrected him for so long.
Jack is now commentating on the British Championships rather than the World Championships. So, you can imagine what he said the first time he came across Caolan Irwin's name. Yep, "Cow-lan" rather than "Kee-lin". Then, the second time Jack came across Caolan, he didn't even attempt to say it and just asked "could sombody please get in touch and let me know how to say that name?"
You can have some sympathy for commentators from England struggling with names from far away places. But, you would think they would at least be familiar with Irish names, and be able to cope with them better.
CaroLiza_fan
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- Nov 8, 2016
Not related to the topic, but I made a video on how to pronounce Russian skaters names. I don't make any explanations, just pronounce their names. Seeing a discussion about Evgenia's name in this thread made me finally finish this video that I've been meaning to make since the end of last season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G48sk-Vq5jo&feature=youtu.be Hope this video will be helpful to someone. And I hope my voice doesn't sound annoying 
I only included single skaters that are going to be in the spotlight next season.
I only included single skaters that are going to be in the spotlight next season.
Not related to the topic, but I made a video on how to pronounce Russian skaters names. I don't make any explanations, just pronounce their names. Seeing a discussion about Evgenia's name in this thread made me finally finish this video that I've been meaning to make since the end of last season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G48sk-Vq5jo&feature=youtu.be Hope this video will be helpful to someone. And I hope my voice doesn't sound annoying
I only included single skaters that are going to be in the spotlight next season.
omg, thank you! I love how the name Elena is pronounced
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- Apr 24, 2017
WhyNot related to the topic, but I made a video on how to pronounce Russian skaters names. I don't make any explanations, just pronounce their names. Seeing a discussion about Evgenia's name in this thread made me finally finish this video that I've been meaning to make since the end of last season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G48sk-Vq5jo&feature=youtu.be Hope this video will be helpful to someone. And I hope my voice doesn't sound annoying
Med-VE-de-va,
Po-go-RI-la-ya,
Ra-DIO-no-va,
Lip-NITS-ka-ya,
Za-GI-to-va,
TSUR-ska-ya,
Le-O-no-va,
Kons-tan-TI-no-va,
Gu-BA-no-va,
SOT-sko-va,
have all accent on third syllable from the end, but
Tuk-TA-my-she-va,
SOT-ni-ko-va and
FE-dich-ki-na,
have accent on fourth syllable from the end? :think:
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- Nov 8, 2016
It's all depends on the words from which those last names originate. Fedichkina comes from the name Fedya in which the emphasis is on E. Sotnikova comes from the word sotnik which comes from the word sotnya with emphasis on O. Same with Sotskova.
LeOn, RadiOn, KonstantIn are all names with emphasis on these specific letters. I think It's just a coincidence that a lot of Russian female last names have emphasis on the third syllable from the end.
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- Apr 24, 2017
Thanks! So it means Russian accent is individual for each word?
PS.
What about "Lip-NITS-ka-ya"?
It originates from word "Lipnik", which accentuates LIP-nik, so why not LIP-nits-ka-ya?
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- Jul 9, 2014
Not related to the topic, but I made a video on how to pronounce Russian skaters names. I don't make any explanations, just pronounce their names. Seeing a discussion about Evgenia's name in this thread made me finally finish this video that I've been meaning to make since the end of last season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G48sk-Vq5jo&feature=youtu.be Hope this video will be helpful to someone. And I hope my voice doesn't sound annoying
I only included single skaters that are going to be in the spotlight next season.
Holy Cow....AWESOME!!!!!!! Your voice is perfect and I love hearing the Russian pronunciation of the skaters names. I bet it gives them a laugh when they hear the US commentators say their names. Thank you!!
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- Mar 15, 2014
It's so interesting you ask this question. Because on YouTube, after Fish in the Sea's video, this one comes up:
https://youtu.be/2vyRqg4j0Ok
Now you can hear at the beginning, the male announcer says Lipnitskaya with the accent on NIts, but immediately following that, the female announcer says it with the accent on LIp. Is it acceptable either way?
