Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overgeneralize'

English Word: overgeneralize

Key Russian Translations:

• обобщать чрезмерно [ɐbɐˈʂætʲ t͡ɕrəzˈmʲɛrnə] - [Formal, Academic]
• переобобщать [pʲɪrʲɪɐbɐˈʂætʲ] - [Informal, Used in everyday discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in academic, scientific, and psychological contexts, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of complex verb forms and contextual usage for English learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обобщать чрезмерно: [ɐbɐˈʂætʲ t͡ɕrəzˈmʲɛrnə] (Stress on the second syllable of "обобщать"; the "ч" in "чрезмерно" is pronounced like "ch" in "church")

Note on обобщать чрезмерно: The verb "обобщать" has a soft "т" sound, which can be challenging for beginners. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

переобобщать: [pʲɪrʲɪɐbɐˈʂætʲ] (The prefix "пере-" adds a sense of excess, and the stress falls on the third syllable)

Note on переобобщать: This is a less common form and may not be as widely recognized; pronounce the "р" with a slight trill for authenticity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make a generalization that is too broad or based on insufficient evidence.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обобщать чрезмерно - Used in formal academic or scientific writing to describe faulty reasoning in research or arguments.
• переобобщать - Applied in informal settings, such as everyday conversations about stereotypes or biases.

Usage Examples:

• Он склонен обобщать чрезмерно на основе одного примера, что приводит к ошибкам в анализе.

  He tends to overgeneralize based on a single example, which leads to errors in analysis.

• В психологии часто обсуждают, как люди переобобщают негативные опыты и применяют их ко всей жизни.

  In psychology, it's often discussed how people overgeneralize negative experiences and apply them to their entire life.

• Исследователь обобщал чрезмерно данные из небольшого样本, игнорируя индивидуальные различия.

  The researcher overgeneralized data from a small sample, ignoring individual differences.

• Не стоит переобобщать проблемы одного региона на всю страну; это может искажать реальность.

  Don't overgeneralize problems from one region to the entire country; it can distort reality.

• В дебатах она обобщала чрезмерно аргументы оппонента, что ослабило её собственную позицию.

  In the debate, she overgeneralized her opponent's arguments, which weakened her own position.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs based on "обобщать," which is a first-conjugation verb in Russian. "Обобщать чрезмерно" is a phrase, but "обобщать" follows standard imperfective verb patterns. "Переобобщать" is a prefixed variant and also imperfective.

For "обобщать" (and its variant):

Note: The verb is regular, with no irregularities. In perfective form, it might use "обобщить," but for "overgeneralize," the imperfective is more appropriate to convey ongoing action.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упрощать (to simplify excessively) - Often used when overgeneralization leads to oversimplification.
  • стереотипизировать (to stereotype) - Implies cultural or social overgeneralization.
• Antonyms:
  • специализировать (to specialize) - Focuses on narrowing rather than broadening.
  • конкретизировать (to specify) - Emphasizes detail over generalization.

Related Phrases:

• обобщать без оснований - (To generalize without basis) - A phrase used to criticize unfounded assumptions in arguments.
• переобобщение в науке - (Overgeneralization in science) - Refers to common errors in scientific methodology.
• избегать чрезмерного обобщения - (To avoid excessive generalization) - A cautionary phrase in research contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Обобщать чрезмерно" directly corresponds to "overgeneralize" in English, particularly in contexts like psychology or logic, where it highlights flawed reasoning. Use this phrase in formal writing; for casual speech, "переобобщать" is more appropriate but less precise. Be mindful of verb conjugation based on subject and tense, as Russian verbs change extensively. When choosing between translations, opt for "обобщать чрезмерно" in academic settings for clarity, and avoid it in informal conversations to prevent sounding overly pedantic.

Common Errors:

• Error: English learners often misuse "обобщать" without the adverb "чрезмерно," leading to a simple "to generalize" instead of "overgeneralize." For example: Incorrect: "Он обобщает." (He generalizes.) Correct: "Он обобщает чрезмерно." (He overgeneralizes.) Explanation: Adding "чрезмерно" specifies the excessive nature, which is crucial for accurate translation.

• Error: Confusing the verb with its perfective form, e.g., saying "обобщил чрезмерно" when an ongoing action is meant. Correct: Use imperfective forms like "обобщает" for habitual actions. Explanation: Russian aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) must match the English context to convey duration or repetition.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and education, overgeneralization is often critiqued in philosophical and scientific discussions, influenced by Soviet-era emphasis on dialectical materialism. For instance, it relates to avoiding hasty conclusions in literature like Tolstoy's works, where characters' flaws include excessive generalization, reflecting a broader cultural value on nuanced thinking.

Related Concepts:

• стереотип
• предубеждение
• анализ