Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'polemic'

English Word: polemic

Key Russian Translations:

• полемика [pɐˈlʲemʲɪkə] - [Formal, Noun; Used in academic, literary, or political debates]
• полемический [pɐlʲɪˈmʲit͡ɕɪskʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective; Describes something argumentative or contentious]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, journalism, and intellectual discussions, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of abstract concepts and formal language; For 'полемика', it's straightforward for learners at this level, while 'полемический' may vary slightly based on adjective usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полемика: [pɐˈlʲemʲɪkə]

Note on полемика: The stress falls on the second syllable ('le'), which is common in Russian nouns. Be mindful of the soft 'l' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

полемический: [pɐlʲɪˈmʲit͡ɕɪskʲɪj]

Note on полемический: The ending '-ский' often softens the preceding consonant; pronounce the 'ch' as in 'church'. This adjective form may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: A strong verbal or written attack, often in the form of an argument or debate.

Translation(s) & Context:

• полемика - Used in formal contexts like philosophical essays or political speeches to denote heated argumentation.

Usage Examples:

• Эта статья является яркой полемикой против капитализма.

  This article is a vivid polemic against capitalism.

• В его книге много полемики по поводу современной политики.

  His book contains a lot of polemic regarding modern politics.

• Полемика на конференции была интенсивной и продуктивной.

  The polemic at the conference was intense and productive.

• Историческая полемика между учеными продолжается до сих пор.

  The historical polemic among scholars continues to this day.

• Ее речь превратилась в полемику с оппозицией.

  Her speech turned into a polemic with the opposition.

As an adjective: Relating to or involving controversy or strong argumentation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• полемический - Applied to describe texts, styles, or individuals in argumentative contexts, such as literary criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Его полемический стиль письма привлекает внимание читателей.

  His polemic writing style attracts readers' attention.

• Эта полемическая дискуссия помогла прояснить спорные вопросы.

  This polemic discussion helped clarify controversial issues.

• Полемический тон статьи вызвал бурные дебаты.

  The polemic tone of the article sparked heated debates.

• В университете изучают полемические работы классиков.

  At the university, they study the polemic works of the classics.

• Ее полемическая позиция в дебатах была убедительной.

  Her polemic position in the debates was convincing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'полемика' (a feminine noun, 1st declension), it follows standard Russian noun inflections. It changes based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table of its key forms:

For 'полемический' (an adjective), it declines like other adjectives in Russian, agreeing with the noun in gender, number, and case. It is regular and follows the standard pattern:

• Masculine singular: полемический
• Feminine singular: полемическая
• Neuter singular: полемическое
• Plural: полемические

Note: These are regular inflections, so no irregularities to highlight.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • спор (spor) - More general term for argument, often less formal.
  • дискуссия (diskussiya) - Implies a structured debate, with subtle differences in intensity compared to полемика.
  • контрверсия (kontroverziya) - Used for controversy, similar but with a broader scope.
• Antonyms:
  • согласие (soglasie) - Agreement or consensus, directly opposing argumentative contexts.
  • мир (mir) - Peace, emphasizing the absence of conflict.

Related Phrases:

• полемическая дискуссия - A polemical discussion; Used in academic or political settings to describe heated exchanges.
• вести полемику - To engage in polemic; Common in contexts like debates or writing to mean actively arguing a point.
• острая полемика - Sharp polemic; Refers to intense or cutting argumentation, often in media or literature.
• полемический обмен мнениями - Polemic exchange of opinions; Implies a back-and-forth in formal discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'полемика' directly corresponds to the English 'polemic' as a noun, emphasizing intellectual or ideological confrontation, and is typically used in formal contexts like essays or speeches. 'Полемический' as an adjective mirrors the English adjective form, describing something argumentative. Be cautious with register: these words are more common in written Russian or educated speech, not casual conversation. When choosing between translations, use 'полемика' for nouns and 'полемический' for adjectives. Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case, as per standard Russian rules.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'полемика' with 'дискуссия': Learners might use 'дискуссия' interchangeably, but it's less intense. Error: "Это просто дискуссия" (when 'полемика' is needed for a heated argument). Correct: "Это полемика". Explanation: 'Полемика' implies aggression, while 'дискуссия' is neutral.
• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting to change 'полемика' in different cases, e.g., saying "о полемика" instead of "о полемике". Error: "Я думаю о полемика". Correct: "Я думаю о полемике". Explanation: Russian nouns must inflect for case; always check the prepositional case for "about".
• Overusing in informal settings: Using 'полемический' in casual talk, which sounds overly formal. Error: "Это полемический фильм" in everyday chat. Correct: Use simpler terms like "спорный". Explanation: Reserve these for professional contexts to avoid sounding pretentious.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'полемика' often carries historical connotations from Soviet-era intellectual debates and literary traditions, such as those in the works of authors like Dostoevsky. It reflects a value placed on passionate discourse in philosophy and politics, where vigorous argument is seen as a path to truth, contrasting with more conciliatory Western approaches.

Related Concepts:

• дискуссия
• спор
• контрверсия
• дебаты