translation question: расстрела и казнь

[R. M. Cleminson]

As Paul Gallagher has already said, расстрел = shooting (for whatever reason), while казнь = execution (by whatever method).

However, although казнь and наказание both contain the same root kaz-, in Modern Russian they have diverged to the extent that there is no longer any perceived connexion between them, any more than there is with отказаться, сказать, etc.

Казнь does not have religious connotations.  It is not connected etymologically with каяться, покаяние, etc., and cannot be taken to mean "penance".

"Наказание" may mean punishment as retribution, or punishment as penalty, just as the English word "punishment" can, but not to any greater or lesser extent.

Obviously the situation is different in other Slavonic languages, or in mediaeval Russian, but I infer that this is not relevant here.
_____________________________________________________________________

Denne vyberame najlepsie hry - http://www.hrymat.sk

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