English translation: youth programs/youth exchange program
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14:50 Oct 24, 2009
Russian to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
Russian term or phrase:молодежное движение
I am actually translate the text into Finnish, but there are more folks to ask in this Eng-Rus forum.
The paper is a yearly collaboration plan for Finnish-Russian twin-towns. One section of the plan is headlined as "Сотрудничество в области молодежного движения"
Then there are three activities: schoolchildren spending holiday in the other twin-town, a visit of young rock musicians, a visit of young constructors.
I wonder why the term "молодежное движение" is used here, why not "молодежная активность", "молодежная деятельность", "молодежное дело" or sth similar.
The plan will be signed by both parties and thus the translation should be quite exact.
Explanation: I don't think you should focus on identifying some "deep meaning" or logical reasoning behind the use of the term (молодежное движение) in this specific text. Obviously, the type of activities described in the section on "youth movement" collaboration seem at odds with the meaning of the term "youth movement" in the Western context, where the term implies youth voluntary self-organization and activities by the youth voluntary organizations. I would say that the way the term "youth movement" is used here is a legacy of the Soviet experience of "youth organizations" and "youth activities", that for the most part were organized and monitored by the state since major youth organizations - "pioneers" and "komsomol" were state-sponsored and state-monitored. At the same time, all activities carried out/organized by these pseudo-voluntary youth organizations fell into the category of the "youth movement". I would say, the use of the term "youth movement" in this text is the legacy of the Soviet bureaucratic jargon/new speak. To stay true to the letter of original text, translate it as"youth movement." To stay true to the meaning, use "youth program"/"youth exchange program."
Thank you to everybody for the info you have provided. It happens in every country and in every language that a somehow out-dated term is kept in the use. I just happen to remember Fed, (Federal Reserve, the federal bank of USA). It has been broke already for decades, but is still called "reserve". 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
In another paper, a twin-town agreement, there's an article that goes like that:
"Осуществлять сотрудничество и содействовать регулярному обмену информацией и опытом по вопросам в области охраны окружающей среды и экологии, городского строительства и проектирования, экономики, туризма, коммунального хозяйства, культуры, образования, здравоохранения, физической культуры и спорта, **молодежного движения** и в других областях."
So it seems that 'молодежноe движениe' is a sort of specific field of municipal activities. I already know how to translate it into Finnish (sth like "activities concerning the youth"), but I still wonder why it is "молодежное движение" in Russian.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2