Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'divisive'

English Word: divisive

Key Russian Translations:

• разделяющий [IPA: rɐzdʲɪˈlajʊʂʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• вызывающий разногласия [IPA: vɨzɨˈvajʊʂʲɪj rɐznəˈɡlaʂʲɪj] - [Informal, Phrase]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in discussions on politics, society, and debates, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary, though the core concept is straightforward for learners at this level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разделяющий: rɐzdʲɪˈlajʊʂʲɪj

вызывающий разногласия: vɨzɨˈvajʊʂʲɪj rɐznəˈɡlaʂʲɪj

Note on разделяющий: The stress falls on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing disagreement or division, often in social or political contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• разделяющий - Used in formal writing or speeches to describe issues that split opinions, such as policy decisions.
• вызывающий разногласия - Applied in informal discussions, like everyday debates, to highlight controversial topics.

Usage Examples:

• Эта политика является разделяющей для общества, так как она вызывает конфликты между группами.

  This policy is divisive for society, as it causes conflicts between groups.

• Его речь была вызывающей разногласия, что привело к жарким дебатам в зале.

  His speech was divisive, leading to heated debates in the hall.

• Разделяющие темы, такие как религия, часто избегаются в дружеских беседах.

  Divisive topics, such as religion, are often avoided in friendly conversations.

• Вызывающий разногласия лидер не боится высказывать спорные идеи.

  A divisive leader does not fear expressing controversial ideas.

• В семье разделяющие мнения о политике иногда приводят к ссорам.

  In the family, divisive opinions on politics sometimes lead to arguments.

Meaning 2: Tending to create factions or splits within a group.

Translation(s) & Context:

• разделяющий - Common in organizational or team settings, emphasizing internal divisions.
• вызывающий разногласия - Used in broader social contexts, like community events.

Usage Examples:

• Разделяющий подход менеджера ослабил единство команды.

  The manager's divisive approach weakened the team's unity.

• Вызывающий разногласия фильм спровоцировал споры среди зрителей.

  The divisive film provoked debates among viewers.

• В политике разделяющие решения часто приводят к потере поддержки.

  In politics, divisive decisions often lead to loss of support.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations are adjectives or phrases, so they follow standard Russian adjective and noun inflections. For "разделяющий" (an active participle/adjective), it inflects like a regular adjective:

For "вызывающий разногласия", it is a phrase where "вызывающий" inflects similarly, but "разногласия" (a plural noun) follows standard plural noun patterns and is invariable in this context as a fixed phrase.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: конфликтный (konfliktnyy) - More general, implying conflict; спорный (spornyy) - Emphasizes debate.
• Antonyms: объединяющий (ob"yedinyayushchiy) - Unifying; нейтральный (nejtrálnyj) - Neutral, without causing division.

Related Phrases:

• Вызывать разногласия - To cause disagreements; often used in media contexts to describe provocative actions.
• Разделяющие силы - Dividing forces; refers to elements that split groups, such as in historical or social analyses.
• Конфликтные темы - Controversial topics; a common phrase in discussions to avoid or address divisive issues.

Usage Notes:

"Разделяющий" directly corresponds to "divisive" in formal English contexts, making it ideal for translations in academic or professional writing. However, "вызывающий разногласия" is more versatile for informal speech and allows for emphasis on emotional responses. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in Russian sentences, as adjectives like "разделяющий" must agree with the noun they modify. In political discourse, these terms are often paired with verbs like "вызывать" (to cause) to highlight the action. When choosing between translations, opt for "разделяющий" in structured contexts and "вызывающий разногласия" for everyday conversations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "разделяющий" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "разделяющий политика" instead of "разделяющая политика" for feminine nouns. Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "разделяющая политика". This mistake stems from English's lack of gender, leading to confusion.

• Error: Overusing "вызывающий разногласия" in formal writing, where it sounds too verbose. Correct: Use "разделяющий" for conciseness, e.g., avoid "вызывающий разногласия вопрос" and say "разделяющий вопрос". Explanation: Russian prefers precise, context-appropriate phrasing to maintain clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "разделяющий" often relate to historical events such as the Soviet era's ideological divides or modern political polarizations. For instance, discussions of "разделяющие силы" might evoke memories of the Cold War, adding a layer of emotional weight that English speakers should consider when using these terms in cross-cultural contexts.

Related Concepts:

• конфликт (konflikt)
• споры (spory)
• объединение (ob"yedineniye)