Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'contiguity'

English Word: contiguity

Key Russian Translations:

• смежность /sʲmʲɪˈʐnostʲ/ - [Formal, used in academic or technical contexts]
• соседство /sɐˈsʲedstvə/ - [Informal, often implying social or geographical proximity]

Frequency: Low (This term and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in specialized fields like geography, mathematics, or legal discussions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections, though "соседство" may be slightly easier at B1 for its everyday applications.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

смежность: /sʲmʲɪˈʐnostʲ/ (The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure', and stress is on the third syllable.)

Note on смежность: Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making the preceding consonant palatalized.

соседство: /sɐˈsʲedstvə/ (Stress is on the second syllable; the 'е' is pronounced as a short 'e' sound.)

Note on соседство: In rapid speech, the initial 'с' may soften slightly, especially in informal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The state of being adjacent or touching; physical or spatial closeness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• смежность - Used in formal, technical contexts like describing borders or mathematical sets in English-speaking discussions about geography.
• соседство - Applied in everyday or social contexts, such as neighborhood relations, which might imply a less strict form of contiguity.

Usage Examples:

• Географическая смежность двух стран облегчает торговлю.

  Geographical contiguity of the two countries facilitates trade.

• В математике смежность элементов множества важна для анализа.

  In mathematics, the contiguity of elements in a set is important for analysis.

• Это соседство домов создаёт ощущение сообщества.

  This contiguity of houses creates a sense of community.

• Смежность культур приводит к обмену традициями.

  The contiguity of cultures leads to the exchange of traditions.

2. Abstract or relational closeness, such as in psychology or logic.

Translation(s) & Context:

• смежность - Preferred in academic or psychological contexts to denote associative links, similar to English usage in behavioral studies.

Usage Examples:

• Психологическая смежность идей может влиять на поведение.

  Psychological contiguity of ideas can influence behavior.

• В логике смежность утверждений определяет их связь.

  In logic, the contiguity of statements determines their connection.

• Соседство понятий в тексте улучшает понимание.

  The contiguity of concepts in the text improves understanding.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns, which follow standard Russian declension patterns. "Смежность" and "соседство" are invariant in the nominative singular but change in other cases and numbers. Below is a table for "смежность" as an example; "соседство" follows similar rules.

For "соседство", the plural form is less common and follows a similar irregular pattern in genitive and dative cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • примыкание (primykaniye) - More specific to attachment or adjoining, often used interchangeably in technical contexts.
  • близость (blizost') - Implies proximity but with a connotation of nearness in space or relation.
• Antonyms:
  • отдалённость (otdalennost') - Indicates distance or remoteness.
  • изолированность (izolirovannost') - Suggests isolation or separation.

Related Phrases:

• географическая смежность - Geographical contiguity; used in discussions of borders and regions.
• соседство государств - Neighborhood of states; refers to diplomatic or relational proximity between countries.
• психологическая смежность идей - Psychological contiguity of ideas; common in educational or therapeutic contexts.

Usage Notes:

Choose "смежность" for precise, formal translations of "contiguity" in scientific or legal English contexts, as it directly mirrors the abstract sense. "Соседство" is better for social or everyday scenarios, where a more relational nuance is needed. Be aware of grammatical gender (feminine) and ensure correct case usage in sentences. In Russian, these words often pair with prepositions like "между" (between) to clarify relationships.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "смежность" with "соседство": English learners might use "соседство" in technical contexts where "смежность" is more accurate, e.g., saying "географическое соседство" instead of "географическая смежность". Correct: Use "смежность" for strict adjacency. Error example: "Географическое соседство стран" (incorrectly implying social neighborhood); Correct: "Географическая смежность стран".

• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., using nominative "смежность" in a genitive context like "из-за смежность" instead of "из-за смежности". This disrupts sentence flow and sounds unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, concepts like "смежность" often relate to geopolitical issues, such as the shared borders of the former Soviet states. This can carry connotations of historical alliances or tensions, emphasizing how physical contiguity influences cultural exchange or conflicts, unlike in English where it's more neutral.

Related Concepts:

• граница (granitsa) - Border
• пространство (prostranstvo) - Space
• связь (svyaz') - Connection