Obshchestvennaia Zhizn'

[Anna Plisetskaya]

Hello, Nora.

Translating one English text, I came across the "outward activity". In my
humble opinion, it is very close to Obshchestvennaia Deyatel'nost'. However,
this term can include charity, membership in clubs, etc. and in some
contexts can  stand for Obshchestvennaia Zhizn'.

Best,
Anna

> Dear Wise Ones in Matters Slavic,
> I am working on a translation that has forced me to confront head on a
term
> that has bothered me for years.  What, exactly, is общественная жизнь (see
> subject line if you haven't conquered computer cyrillic yet)?  Obviously
> it's not "social life" as we understand it in English.  Also obviously, it
> encompasses much of what happens in a society.  Does it include...
> functioning of government services?
> changes in religious practices?
> functioning of the economy (shelves full in stores, jobs available,
> paychecks issued on time)?
> health care?
> crime or the relative lack thereof?
> forums for community interaction?
> education at all levels?
> or does it have more to do with the interaction of individuals throughout
> society--closer to what we would call "social institutions"?  In this case
I
> include marriage in the subset, but not the economy.
>
> The specific context in which I've encountered this word is a sentence
> describing the breakdown and restructuring in many областей общественной
> жизни after the October Revolution.
>
> As it stand now in my translation, I've rendered the term merely as
> "society"--("breakdown, rebuilding and restructuring that was taking place
> in many areas of society").   Does that work?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Nora
> __________________________________
> Nora Seligman Favorov
> 8364 Amber Oak Drive
> Orlando, FL  32817
> Tel   407-679-8151
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