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Paragraph 42. The expression "several dozen" is given as
an acceptable equivalent
to Russian "
несколько десятков". However, a literal
translation of this Russian
expression is "several tens". The Russian equivalent of the word "dozen" is
дюжина ['dyu-zhi-па]. Instead of "
несколько десятков" you can say
"
несколько дюжин", however the latter expression is not so common
nowadays as the former one. You can also simplify each of these expressions by
using just one word rather than two, namely:
десятки [dye-'syat-ki] or
дюжины
['dyu-zhi-n.y].
Paragraph 43. A literal translation of this expression is "What is it?"
Paragraph 51. The translation of the Russian proverb is not literal. The exact
equivalents of the words in question are:
ученье [u-'chye-n'ye] = learning;
неученье [nye-u-'chye-n'ye] = lack of learning. The corresponding terms used in
the English translation have the following Russian equivalents:
knowledge =
знание ['zna-ni-ye];
ignorance =
невежество [nye-'vye-zhe-stva].
Paragraph 52. Again, a literal translation is not possible here. If you try to translate the
Russian expression word by word, you will get something like this: "In such a case,
until meeting at a school desk!" By the way,
парта is not exactly a desk: it is
shared by two school pupils, and combines in one piece of furniture a long narrow
desk and a long narrow seat.