Fortochka

[William Ryan]

A transom window, which may or may not open, is normally above a door 
transom, and full width, so not the same thing at all. Also, "fortochka" 
is a word used very frequently in Russian while "transom" is not much 
used in English.

I remember agonizing over this when editing Marcus Wheeler's original 
Oxford Russian Dictionary - in the end we left it as fortochka with a 
short explanation in English. This is retained in the current Oxford 
Russian Dictionary. However, although this helps to understand a Russian 
text it does nothing for a translator. In the Penguin Russian Dictionary 
we decided on "ventilation pane" which may be just about usable in a 
translation since it explains the function, but it still does not really 
describe the object, or correspond to anything specific in English 
domestic experience (not sure about other parts of the English-speaking 
world).

There is in fact nothing exact that you can use if the phrase you are 
translating is the commonly heard "Zakroi fortochku ... [expletive of 
choice] - kholodno na ulitse!", apart from "shut the ... window - it's 
cold outside!". Translation is often compromise and context is crucial.

Will




On 02/02/2011 11:15, Seth Graham wrote:
> A word used sparingly in English: transom.  In palaces it is referred 
> to as a 'king's transom'.  :  ]
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Seth
>

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