Putin: Biggest catastrophe?

[elenka]

I've just watched the whole address and I believe that not only Putin's words
were taken out of context and misinterpreted by Western journalists but that
also the translation "the demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest
geopolitical catastrophe of the century" is inaccurate. VP used the
superlative "krupneishaia katastrofa." Often this kind of superlatives - as
opposed to analytically formed superlatives ("samyi" + adjective, e.g. "samaia
krupnaia") is used emphatically (e.g., Ia prochel interesneishuiu knigu! V
etom magazine bogateishii vybor klassiki!). A better translation would be "one
of the biggest catastrophes of the century." If one reads the next sentence,
this meaning becomes clear. Also, throughout his address, VP mentioned WWII
and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the "great victory". In fact, he
finished the address with evoking the sacrifice of the nation in the war,
etc., and this, I believe, indicates that like many Russians and many
historians of Russia, VP views WWII as the greatest catastrophe that befell
the Russian nation in the last century.

As for the phrase (quoted on Canadian TV) that Russia will decide for itself
the tempo of democratic reforms, it sounds like Putin's attempt to polemicize
with Dr. Rice who'd just delivered a number of important statements about
democratization of the region. One may be tempted to interpret VP's repetition
of "samostoiatel'nost", etc. as a reflection of a certain complex of
inferiority in the face of Russia's rapidly losing its remaining influence on
the former Soviet republics.

Respectfully,


Elena Baraban

>===== Original Message From Slavic & East European Languages and Literature
list              <SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> =====
>Many Western media are reporting that in his State of the Nation speech
>("О состоянии страны"), Tsar Vladimir said, "first and
foremost, it is
>worth acknowledging that the demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest
>geopolitical catastrophe of the century."
>

============================
Elena V. Baraban, Ph.D.
Germanic and Russian Studies
University of Victoria
P.O. Box 3045 STN CSC
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P4
(250)721-7322

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