shlyukha, kurva, shalava

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Deborah Hoffman wrote:

> Does kurva really not have sexual connotations (to me bitch does
> not)? I've heard it in Russian as "whore," though the speakers could
> have been influenced by Yiddish in which it is definitely "whore," as
> in zwei-groschen-.

In reply to your question about "bitch," for me it depends on which 
sense is intended:

"to bitch" v.i. = "to complain" -- no sexual meaning, unrestricted as to 
gender of speaker or target, mild taboo

"to bitch out" v.tr. = "to criticize" -- no sexual meaning, usage 
slightly favors female speakers and male targets, moderate taboo

"bitch" n. = "difficult/unfortunate situation; pity/shame" -- no sexual 
meaning, unrestricted as to gender of speaker (target inanimate), 
moderate taboo

"bitch" n. = "uncooperative/nasty/mean person" -- no sexual meaning, 
usage slightly favors male speakers, strongly favors female targets, 
strong taboo

"bitch" n. = "asshole" as general term of abuse -- no sexual meaning, 
usage slightly favors male speakers, strongly favors female targets, 
strong taboo

"bitch" n. = "slut" -- explicit sexual meaning, usage strongly favors 
female targets, strong taboo

"bitch" n. = "female dog" -- explicit sexual meaning, target must be 
female, mild taboo due to homonymous taboo forms (cf. niggardly)

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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