Andrei Platonov: sem'ia vs. semeistvo

[Keith Blasing]

Dear SEELANGS!

I am doing some work on the problem of the family in Platonov, and I can't help but notice that he often uses the word "semeistvo" where one might expect "sem'ia." Here are several examples from Chevengur:

Природа не упустила взять от Дванова то, зачем он был рожден в беспамятстве матери: семя размножения, чтобы новые люди стали *семейством* (Sasha's orgasm after being shot by the anarchists)

Никто из прочих не имел *семейства*, потому что каждый жил раньше с таким трудом и сосредоточием всех сил, что ни в ком не оставалось телесного излишка на размножение (introduction of the "miscellaneous")

"Я хочу *семейства*: любая гадина на своем семени держится и живет покойно, а я живу ни на чем – нечаянно." (Karpii, a prochii, announcing to everyone in Chevengur that he wants to have a family)


I would like to ask mainly native speakers of Russian (but also anyone else with an informed opinion) to characterize the effect of using the word semeistvo in such cases instead of sem'ia. Does it sound awkward, feel more abstract, bring to mind taxonomic classification of flora and fauna, etc.? Any suggestions for how to render the distinction in English would also be welcome.

Thanks in advance. Reply off list to kmblasing at wisc.edu

-Keith Blasing

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