I thought this could be useful

[injj.livejournal.com]

A guide to Russian names.

This post was inspired by years and years of watching movies, series, and fanfics royally and hilariously fuck up the use of names in the Russian language, coming to the point where, if I see another pair of best buddies call each other by full name, I will shoot something, I swear to God.
There are 3 ways people in Russia address each other, and they denote different levels of formality, and the relationship between the speakers. You should know this stuff if you wanna write anything that includes Russian people talking to each other, because if you get it wrong, it will be, alternatively, hilarious or cringe-worthy. I have seen soo much of this in fanfic it’s not funny anymore.

The rest is here:
http://silvenhorror.tumblr.com/post/42689676466/none-of-your-freaking-movies-get-it-right-a-guide-to


>1. Name + Patronymic.
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a surname based on the given name of one’s father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor.

Don't trust wiki. In russian case a patronym based on the father's name only. There's only one exception - if baby's mother for some reason doesn't want to tell the father's name, her own patronymic  will be taken for her child's birth certificate.

>Siblings and close friends and people who are meant to be friendly and close to each other don’t bloody do this in modern Russian. Unless it’s for laughs or something.

Believe me, they bloody do:)) Especially when such short full names as Oleg, Alla, Nina, Nikita, Il'ya (ta-dam:)) )etc  are involved.

>Also note: Russian is VERY creative with suffixes and diminutives, so a single name can have 3 or 4 short versions which get fluffier and fluffier

Or 6, or 10 or more. Ask your  nearest Russian, if you care about it, really:))

>Mkay, I hope that was clear enough and made some sense.

Remember, the author never mentioned the difference between "you" and "you", which could  affect all the ways of "addressing to russian" and  turn every example of  "using their names correctly" upside down:))

Comments

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

This is very interesting! Thank you!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing this,It helped clarify a few things as what naming forms are used in certain situation/people, but I made sure researching the patronymic as well as diminutive forms of names and how people address each other was high on my list. I'm pretty sure I haven't messed that up. My Russian may be off at times but not the names.

My pharmacist was Russian and I used to ask her questions all the time. :D Just like I do to you now and then...

[injj.livejournal.com]

It never occurred to me that writers could take that article personally. I'm sorry that that happened.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Oh no no! Not taking it personally, I think it was a great idea that you posted it. I was just patting myself on the back that I took the trouble to research the patronymic a long time ago, was sort of proud of that. So please no need to apologize. eeek.

[rosywonder.livejournal.com]

I have saved your excellent writing on the whole subject of Russian names. I'm absolutely sure I have sinned on this front but now there are no excuses! However, I am wondering, for authenticity whether it is still acceptable for, say ignorant westerners to get it wrong in the story. For instance, I cannot imagine a lot of people in the UK and USA know these rules now or knew them in the 1960s.

I absolutely adore the super fluffy versions of names! I will have to consult you for super fluffiness names as in my stories there are a number of little Kuryakins all with Russian names. Thanks so much again.

[injj.livejournal.com]

This post under the link i shared isn't mine, but i'm very glad you find it useful:)

[avery11.livejournal.com]

This is a great little cheat sheet, thank you!

[injj.livejournal.com]

Ooph, i'm sooo glad you find it interesting:)
I personally found it fascinating, and my favorite is the first part where the author gives the links to wiki:)

[rosywonder.livejournal.com]

Oh I see, well thank you so much for sharing it! I will have to study it carefully.

So what is your opinion about how Napoleon would address Illya (mispelt it seems!) In my stories they have are close friends and colleagues rather than lovers.

[injj.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a question:)
The problem with Illya's name it's too short and hard to make such diminutives, which wouldn't sound too gently or homey. I have two Illyas among my friends, and never heard our common male friends calling them something else but Illya or Illyukha. Illyusha, Illyushen'ka, Ilyushechka, Illyushonochek etc is usually the girls privilege:))
In my opinion, Napoleon would call Illya "Illya":)) Maybe one day Illya would ask Napoleon to put stress on the second syllable of his name to show they are really close friends:))

[injj.livejournal.com]

I'm sooo glad you like it, thank you!:)

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

This is brilliant, thank you so much for sharing it with us. I was out of internet and missed this completely the other day.