Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impersonation'

English Word: impersonation

Key Russian Translations:

• Подражание [pədrɐˈʐanʲije] - [Formal; used in contexts like performance or legal imitation]
• Имитация [ɪmʲɪˈtatsɨjə] - [Informal; often for general mimicry or simulation]
• Пародия [pɐˈrodʲɪjə] - [Informal; specifically for humorous or satirical impersonation]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are moderately common in literary, theatrical, and legal contexts, but less so in everyday conversation.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it requires understanding nuances of context and verb/noun agreements; for "Подражание", it's B2, while "Имитация" might be A2 for basic use.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Подражание: [pədrɐˈʐanʲije]

Имитация: [ɪmʲɪˈtatsɨjə]

Пародия: [pɐˈrodʲɪjə]

Note on Подражание: The stress falls on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft 'ж' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers as it's similar to 'zh' in 'measure' but softer.

Note on Имитация: Pronounce the 'и' as a short 'i' like in 'bit'; common in tech or artistic contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The act of pretending to be someone else, often for entertainment or deception.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Подражание - Used in formal or artistic settings, such as theater or legal discussions of identity theft.
• Имитация - Applied in everyday or informal scenarios, like mimicking a celebrity's voice.
• Пародия - Specifically for comedic or satirical impersonation in media or performances.

Usage Examples:

• Его подражание голосу президента было очень точным и вызвало смех на вечеринке.

  His impersonation of the president's voice was very accurate and caused laughter at the party.

• В фильме актриса использовала имитацию манер известной певицы, чтобы создать забавный эффект.

  In the film, the actress used an impersonation of the famous singer's mannerisms to create a humorous effect.

• Эта пародия на политического лидера стала вирусной в интернете из-за её остроумного подражания.

  This impersonation parody of the political leader went viral online due to its witty imitation.

• Подражание чужому стилю письма может привести к обвинениям в плагиате.

  Impersonation of someone else's writing style can lead to accusations of plagiarism.

2. The act of imitating something non-human, like a sound or object, in a performance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Имитация - Common in technical or creative contexts, such as sound effects in theater.
• Подражание - Less frequent, but used for more deliberate, skill-based imitation.

Usage Examples:

• Имитация пения птиц в опере добавила реализма сцене.

  The impersonation of birdsong in the opera added realism to the scene.

• Подражание шуму ветра в спектакле помогло создать атмосферу бури.

  The impersonation of wind noise in the play helped create a storm atmosphere.

• Её имитация автомобильного сигнала звучала так правдоподобно, что все повернулись.

  Her impersonation of a car horn sounded so realistic that everyone turned around.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Подражание" is a neuter noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun patterns with inflections for case and number. Below is a table of its key inflections:

For "Имитация" (also neuter), it has similar inflections but is more regular:

"Пародия" is a feminine noun and does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Имитация - Similar to "имперсонализация" but more general.
  • Копирование - Exact copying, often used in digital contexts.
  • Мимикрия - Biological or adaptive imitation, with a nuance toward camouflage.
• Antonyms:
  • Оригинал - The original, as opposed to a copy.
  • Аутентичность - Authenticity, emphasizing genuineness.

Related Phrases:

• Подражание голосу - Imitation of a voice; used in acting or comedy routines.
• Имитация стиля - Mimicry of a style; common in art or fashion contexts.
• Сделать пародию - To create a parody; implies humorous impersonation in media.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "Подражание" is the most precise translation for "impersonation" in formal or legal contexts, while "Имитация" suits everyday or technical uses. Choose based on context: use "Пародия" for entertainment. Be mindful of case endings, as Russian nouns change form; for example, "подражание" becomes "подражанием" in the instrumental case. English speakers often confuse it with simple "copying," but it implies intent or performance.

• Always consider the audience: "Подражание" is more neutral, while "Пародия" carries a playful connotation.
• In grammar, pair it with verbs like "делать" (to do) for actions, e.g., "делать подражание."

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse "Подражание" by treating it as unchangeable, forgetting inflections. For example, incorrectly saying "Я видел подражание" instead of the correct "Я видел подражание" (which is fine in nominative, but errors occur in other cases like "Я думаю о подражании" for genitive). Correct usage: Use proper case, e.g., "подражания" in genitive. Another error is confusing it with "Имитация," leading to overgeneralization; for instance, saying "Это имитация человека" when "подражание" is more appropriate for human impersonation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, impersonation like "пародия" is popular in satire shows such as "KVN" (Club of the Funny and Inventive), where mimicking public figures critiques society. This reflects a long tradition of humor in Russian literature and media, influenced by figures like Gogol, emphasizing social commentary through imitation.

Related Concepts:

• Мимикрия
• Копирование
• Аутентичность