How do you say "geek" or "nerd" with an affectionate feel in Russian?

[Susan Scotto]

Dear Seelangers - My kids hold nerds in very high and fond regard, so when we
were in Russia last fall, we asked our Russian friends about ways to
say "nerd".  The two most common words we were given were "очкарик"
anD "ботаник".  It seemed to me that those could be used affectionately or
not, depending on your intonation.  I'd be interested in hearing from natives
about their sense of those words.

Susan Scotto

Quoting Alex <a_strat at KHARKOV.COM>:

> > Dear List members,
> >
> > Please excuse this not very serious query in the midst of recent events.
> >
> > One of my students has asked me the following question:
> >
> > How do you say "geek" or "nerd" with an affectionate feel in Russian?  He
> > says that at MIT, "nerd" is a badge of honor for students, not an insult.
> > For example, how would you translate these statements:  "My husband is a
> > real computer geek.  He's always dreaming up some new program."  OR  "My
> > son is a real space nerd.  He reads up on every rocket launch that is
> done
> > anywhere in the world."  Any approximations are appreciated.
> >
> > Thank you in advance.
>
> ÆÁÎÁÔÉË? ÏÄÅÒÖÉÍÙÊ? õ ÍÅÎÑ ×ÓÔÒÅÞÎÙÊ ×ÏÐÒÏÓ - ËÁË ÐÅÒÅÄÁÔØ
> ÁÍÅÒÉËÁÎÃÕ ÉÌÉ ÁÎÇÌÉÞÁÎÉÎÕ ÚÎÁÞÅÎÉÅ ×ÙÒÁÖÅÎÉÑ "ÐÏÄÒÙ×ÎÁÑ ÒÁÄÉÏÓÔÁÎÃÉÑ"?
>
> ÚÁÒÁÎÅÅ ÓÐÁÓÉÂÏ
>
> äÑÄÑ óÁÛÁ   (Á ËÏÓÍÉÞÅÓËÉÍÉ ÐÏÌÅÔÁÍÉ ÍÙ Ó ÂÒÁÔÏÍ Õ×ÌÅËÁÅÍÓÑ Ó ÄÅÔÓÔ×Á :)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                     http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>




-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------