Dermo!: The Real Russian Tolstoy Never Used (Russian Edition) [Mass Market Paperback]

Edward Topol (Author), Kim Wilson Brandt (Illustrator), Laura E. Wolfson (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

One doesn't have to be Jewish to recognize the words which have made their way into every fold of popular language: Chutzpah, Mensch, Tokhes, Mishmash, Nudge, Shtick, Schmaltzy, Schlep, Icky, and so on. Then there are phrases whose meaning and syntax are borrowed from Yiddish: "bite your tongue," "drop dead," "enough already', and "excuse the expression." This hilarious, concise guide includes chapters on the Basic Descriptions of People (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the goofy), the Fine Art of Cursing, Juicy Words and Phrases, Exclamations and Exasperations, and the Fine Art of Blessing.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Plume (August 1, 1997)
• Language: Russian
• ISBN-10: 0452277450
• ISBN-13: 978-0452277458
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #954,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful guide to the underbelly of the Russian language, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dermo!: The Real Russian Tolstoy Never Used (Russian Edition) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although this book is not for the faint of heart, it is a wonderful guide to some of vulgarities in which Russians find so much joy and expressiveness. I am currently living in the southern Ukraine where Russian is the dominant language. I bought this book to help me unlock the slang and colloquialisms which I have been picking up piecemeal from my friends. For this purpose, Mr. Topol's book has been wonderful. He not only provides a list of expressions to improve your shadow vocabulary, but he also provides lively and informative background. This additional information puts the expressions in their cultural context and allows the reader to have a much deeper understanding of the meaning behind the language.

This book has been a joy to page through and I have gotten a kick out of sharing my new enlightenment with my Ukrainian friends. They are shocked when they discover it comes courtesy of one of Russia's best-selling novelists. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in expanding their understanding of Russian language and culture, and having a little fun while doing so.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Words your mother never taught you., January 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Dermo!: The Real Russian Tolstoy Never Used (Russian Edition) (Mass Market Paperback)

Using obscenities in a foreign language is risky business -- don't do it. That said, this little book offers a humorous key to Russian vulgarisms. As long as you "look but don't touch," you'll do fine. (One flaw: the accent marks are not given for the Russian, leaving non-natives to guess. But that's not a problem, 'cause you're not going to talk like this, are you?)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious but difficult to master, November 10, 2001

By 

C. Forrester (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dermo!: The Real Russian Tolstoy Never Used (Russian Edition) (Mass Market Paperback)

Right from the start, Topol just couldn't stop making me laugh. His reasoning behind writing the book is exactly why I wanted to read it-to break down that barrier that exists between classroom languages and the reality. Because I want to communicate with people my own age when I go to Russia, I know that theyre not going to speak all prim and proper-I know I don't speak English that way! While decency would prevent me from saying many things, also for fear of my own life, it's great to have the vocab as well as to teach it to English speaking friends so that together, you can pretend to compliment people in a language they don't understand. The only downside to the book is that to seriously learn it all takes a major effort and many of the words are quite difficult to get your tongue around, even if you do speak some Russian.