Fortochka

[Rafael Shusterovich]

Technically, it may be described as a "hinged ventilation pane".

On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 2:43 PM, William Ryan <wfr at sas.ac.uk> wrote:

> 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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