I speak Russian I learn it from a book !!!
Anyone English will know this is a parody from “Fawlty Towers” or as the hotel sign suggested sometimes “Watery Fowls or Fatty Owls”. It is part of the English heritage of sit-com. There only being 12 episodes it is quite remarkable given the amount of detail people can remember.
A memory jogger is at the end of this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6EaoPMANQM&feature=channel
Anyway I am learning Russian and whilst having lessons twice a week I always carry around a small book of useful phrases. My teacher looks about 16 which is slightly unnerving and she has a level of focus which is concerning as my ability to keep up with my homework schedule does not match hers.
My phrase book is a “Lonely Planet” publication so you can verify what I write.
In general it contains many useful phrases and helps a lot when trying to purchase specific items or decode a restaurant menu. It was particularly useful when I was purchasing train tickets even though I ended up on the wrong train it did go to the right place. The book did not mention what to talk about with the other people we shared the sleeping berths with but I think that might be more detail than a mere phrase book can cover.
There is an extensive list of useful phrases to use in a bar which are below (I will leave out the Cyrillic script) which are helpful as you can imagine.
“Is anyone serving?”
“What would you like?”
“How much is that?”
So you can imagine the value, now it does continue and the rest become more and more concerning as they progress. In fact the ability to actually recall or memorize them would seem to be increasingly more difficult. One has to wonder at the target audience for this book if there is the need to include the following clips as well.
“This is hitting the spot”
“I feel fantastic”
“Do you respect me?”
“I think I’ve had one too many”
“I’m feeling drunk”
“I’m pissed”
“I’m going to throw up”
“Where’s the toilet”
Now of course all of these are valid comments however “ya mirt-vyet-ski pys-nih(m) –na-ya(f)” needs to be delivered with a slurred accent as it notes you are drunk.
“min-ya bu-dit mu-tit” might be one of those phrases which you may not need to remember as the fact that your face will have already turned green and you are heaving is possibly a more visual clue as to your next intention (I’m going to throw up)
There are lots of sections and the one dealing with relationships is something you need to see. Go check out your local Waterstones or Barnes and Noble and have a good laugh (p144-145)