ProZ.com global directory of translation services
The translation workplace
Ideas
KudoZ home » Russian to English » Other

Именно

English translation: It is X that / X are what


Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Russian term or phrase:Именно
English translation:It is X that / X are what
Entered by: translato
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

10:45 Dec 18, 2011
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Other
Russian term or phrase: Именно
Как лучше переводить: конструкцией "it is exactly smth... that ...." или просто "exactly" ?

Например:

Документальная сторона есть только видимая часть айсберга. Но каркас истории соткан из человеческих слабостей. Именно маленькие личные трагедии вдохновляли людей на великие свершения. Именно банальные любовные интриги, фобии, комплексы, сомнения, разочарования, прощения и надежда стояли во главе государственных переворотов, начал воин, свержений с престолов и коронаций, а не стратегические разногласия сторон.
translato
Local time: 06:49
It is X that / X are what
Explanation:
You can often get a more powerful and pleasing English sentence if you avoid using an adverb for "именно".
Selected response from:

Rachel Douglas
United States
Local time: 23:49
Grading comment
Thank you, Rachel!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +9It is X that / X are what
Rachel Douglas
4indeed
Svetlana Potton
3 +1use cleft sentences (start sentence with "it is")
Roman M
3 +1Preciselynevaeva
4Specifically
Olga Dyussengaliyeva


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Precisely


Explanation:
It is precisely those small personal tragedies that

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2011-12-18 11:06:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or exactly <-> precisely

nevaeva
Local time: 13:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks! That's what i thought )


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Knowles: or "just"
49 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Specifically


Explanation:
Specifically little personal tragedies....


Olga Dyussengaliyeva
Local time: 08:49
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  David Knowles: "Specifically" doesn't work here. именно is often used at the beginning of a sentence where the natural English is "it is just x that y"
7 mins
  -> My first variant was even simpler "It is little personal tragedies, that...".. But after second thought - looks like the author wanted to emphasize that "specifically personal tragedies"
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
It is X that / X are what


Explanation:
You can often get a more powerful and pleasing English sentence if you avoid using an adverb for "именно".

Rachel Douglas
United States
Local time: 23:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 104
Grading comment
Thank you, Rachel!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Judith Hehir: I prefer your first suggestion. Aha, Rachel. I didn't read the fine print :)
31 mins
  -> Thanks, Judi. Me too, but I was peeking ahead to the second of the two "Именно" sentences in the example, and in that one, where X = about a half a dozen things, the other ordering, and "are", might be necessary.
agree  Roman M: I did not see your comment and posted almost the exact same thing!
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Roman.
agree  Michael Korovkin: It is an adverb "именно" that renders the content of this particular text into even more hopeless drivel that it already is!!! :))))
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Michael. Heh heh.
agree  Translator174
2 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Oleksiy Markunin
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Oleksiy.
agree  Anna Rubtsova
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Anna.
agree  MariyaN
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Mariya.
agree  Roman Bardachev
13 hrs
  -> Thanks, Roman.
agree  cyhul
1 day15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
use cleft sentences (start sentence with "it is")


Explanation:
In this context, "именно" has less emphasis than words like "precisely" and "exactly." I think it's better to use cleft sentences.

Example: "Human weaknesses form the skeleton of the story. It is the small personal tragedies that inspire people to great deeds. It is the simple things like love, phobias, complexes, doubts, disappointments, forgiveness and hope that cause coup d'etat, wars, dethronement and coronations—not policy differences between conflicting parties.


Roman M
United States
Local time: 23:49
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Olga Dyussengaliyeva
19 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
indeed


Explanation:
Именно маленькие личные трагедии вдохновляли людей на великие свершения. = Indeed, small personal tragedies inspired people for great deeds.

Indeed | Define Indeed at Dictionary.com - Similar
in fact; in reality; in truth; truly (used for emphasis, to confirm and amplify a previous statement, to indicate a concession or admission, or, interrogatively, to obtain ...



    Reference: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indeed
Svetlana Potton
United States
Local time: 20:49
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Return to KudoZ list


KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.



See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations

Terminology | Jobs and directories | Member activities | Education | Tools
About ProZ.com | ProZ.com basics | Advertising | Support | FAQ | Terms of use
ProZ.com social network linksFacebookLinkedInTwitterDiggStumbleUpondel.icio.us
Print page
Copyright © 1999-2012 ProZ.com - All rights reserved. Privacy