Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'expound'

English Word: expound

Key Russian Translations:

• объяснять /ɐbʲɪˈaʐnɨtʲ/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech]
• излагать /ɪzlɐˈɡatʲ/ - [Formal, often in academic or written contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is encountered in standard Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "сказать".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal/informal nuances. For 'объяснять', it's slightly easier; for 'излагать', it may reach B2 due to its formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

объяснять: /ɐbʲɪˈaʐnɨtʲ/

Note on объяснять: The stress falls on the second syllable ("aʐ"), which is common in Russian imperfective verbs. Palatalization of 'bʲ' can be tricky for beginners.

излагать: /ɪzlɐˈɡatʲ/

Note on излагать: Stress is on the third syllable ("ɡatʲ"); be mindful of the soft 'tʲ' sound, which affects fluency in formal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To explain or present a theory, idea, or argument in detail

Translation(s) & Context:

• объяснять - Used in informal or everyday contexts, such as casual discussions or teaching.
• излагать - Preferred in formal settings like lectures, essays, or professional presentations.

Usage Examples:

• Он подробно объясняет свою идею коллегам на встрече. (He expounds his idea in detail to his colleagues at the meeting.)

  This example shows 'объяснять' in an informal work context, emphasizing clarity and detail.

• В своей книге автор излагает исторические события шаг за шагом. (In his book, the author expounds historical events step by step.)

  Here, 'излагать' is used in a formal written context, highlighting structured presentation.

• Профессор объясняет сложные концепции студентам с примерами. (The professor expounds complex concepts to students with examples.)

  This demonstrates 'объяснять' in an educational setting, focusing on accessibility.

• Оратор излагает свою позицию в дебате, опираясь на факты. (The speaker expounds his position in the debate, relying on facts.)

  An example of 'излагать' in argumentative discourse, underscoring logical structure.

• Она объясняет рецепт приготовления блюда друзьям по телефону. (She expounds the recipe for the dish to her friends over the phone.)

  This uses 'объяснять' in a casual, conversational scenario, illustrating everyday application.

To elaborate on a point in speech or writing

Translation(s) & Context:

• объяснять - Suitable for spoken elaboration in dialogues.
• излагать - Ideal for written or formal elaboration.

Usage Examples:

• Доктор объясняет пациенту риски операции. (The doctor expounds the risks of the surgery to the patient.)

  Shows 'объяснять' in a professional, health-related context with a focus on clarity.

• В эссе писатель излагает философские идеи древних мыслителей. (In the essay, the writer expounds philosophical ideas of ancient thinkers.)

  Illustrates 'излагать' in academic writing, emphasizing depth and organization.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'объяснять' and 'излагать' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns but have irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table for each verb's key inflections.

For 'объяснять' (Imperfective Verb):

Note: This verb is regular but pay attention to the stem change in some forms.

For 'излагать' (Imperfective Verb):

This verb is mostly regular, but its formal tone makes it less flexible in casual speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: разъяснять (razʲasnyatʲ) - More precise, often used for clarifying ambiguities; толковать (tolʲkavatʲ) - Implies interpretation, as in explaining texts.
• Antonyms: запутывать (zaputɨvatʲ) - To confuse or complicate; умалчивать (umalʲčivatʲ) - To omit or withhold information.

Related Phrases:

• Подробно объяснить - To explain in detail; used when providing thorough descriptions in conversations.
• Изложить суть - To expound the essence; a formal phrase for summarizing key points in arguments.
• Объяснить на примерах - To expound with examples; common in educational contexts for clarity.

Usage Notes:

'Объяснять' directly corresponds to the informal, everyday use of 'expound' in English, making it suitable for oral communication, while 'излагать' aligns with more structured, formal contexts like writing or presentations. Choose 'объяснять' for interactive scenarios and 'излагать' when precision and formality are needed. Be aware of aspect in Russian: these are imperfective, so pair with perfective forms like 'объяснить' for completed actions. Grammatically, both verbs require agreement with subject in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'объяснять' in overly formal contexts, e.g., saying "Я объясняю свою диссертацию" instead of "Я излагаю свою диссертацию". Correct: 'излагать' is better for academic writing to convey formality. Explanation: This can make speech sound too casual in professional settings.

• Error: Neglecting verb aspect, e.g., using 'объяснять' for a one-time explanation like "I expounded the idea yesterday" – say "Я объяснил идею вчера" (perfective). Correct: Use the perfective 'объяснить' for completed actions. Explanation: Russian aspect is crucial; mixing it up can alter the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'излагать' often reflects the value placed on structured argumentation in education and literature, influenced by historical emphasis on rhetoric in Soviet-era schooling. This can make it a preferred choice in debates or essays, underscoring the cultural importance of clear, logical expression in intellectual discourse.

Related Concepts:

• анализировать (To analyze)
• аргументировать (To argue or provide arguments)
• описывать (To describe)