translation question

[Vadim Besprozvany]

According to American modern dictionaries the rank of "praporschik" is  
below lieutenant junior grade but in the Navy; whereas in Russian it  
would be ?michman? rather than "praporschik". Besides that the problem  
is complicated since we talk about the same word with significant  
differences in meaning, in this case - with a historic notion (in  
Russian the old and modern words are common only by their signifier).  
Also the system of ranks in various armies  has specifics supported by  
cultural tradition, so I very much doubt that this realia  simply  
exists in AE. That is why any comment is better than a definite but  
defective choice. Of course, if it?s just a matter of choice, a final  
approximate choice ? ?warrant officer?, ?military commissioner,? even  
??junior lieutenant? or simply ?lieutenant? will fit.

Best,

VB



> Vadim Besprozvany wrote:
>
>> The answer of the second question is much obvious: "praporshchik"   
>> (Engl. ensign) is a junior officer in an infantry regiment; from   
>> "prapor" - "flag, banner" *(cf. with English "ensign"). "Warrant   
>> Officer" usually means in Russian "unter-oficer."  ...
>
> I don't claim to know British usage, but in American English,  
> "ensign" is specifically a naval rank, roughly like "lieutenant" in  
> the other services. It would sound very peculiar for us to hear an  
> army officer called "ensign."
>
> -- 
> 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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