Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'schism'

English Word: schism

Key Russian Translations:

• раскол [rɐˈskɔɫ] - [Formal, Historical contexts]
• разделение [rɐz.dʲɪˈlʲenʲɪje] - [General, Everyday or neutral usage]

Frequency: Medium (Common in historical, religious, or academic discussions but not in casual everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and contextual usage, with раскол being slightly more advanced due to its specific connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раскол: [rɐˈskɔɫ]

Note on раскол: The stress falls on the second syllable ("skol"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

разделение: [rɐz.dʲɪˈlʲenʲɪje]

Note on разделение: The word has a soft 'л' sound, represented by [lʲ], which is palatalized; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Split or division in an organization or religion

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскол - Used primarily in formal or historical contexts, such as religious schisms, to denote a fundamental and permanent split.
• разделение - Applied in more general contexts, like organizational divisions, and can imply a less severe or temporary separation.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Великий раскол в 1054 году разделил Восточную и Западную церкви.

  English: The Great Schism in 1054 divided the Eastern and Western churches.

• Русский: Политическое разделение в партии привело к расколу среди членов.

  English: The political division in the party led to a schism among members.

• Русский: В современной России разделение мнений часто не приводит к полному расколу.

  English: In modern Russia, differences in opinion often do not lead to a full schism.

• Русский: Исторический раскол повлиял на культурные традиции до сих пор.

  English: The historical schism has influenced cultural traditions to this day.

• Русский: Экономическое разделение может эволюционировать в социальный раскол.

  English: Economic division can evolve into a social schism.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Раскол" is a masculine noun, while "разделение" is a neuter noun. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. Below are the declension tables for each:

For раскол (masc., singular and plural):

Note: This follows the standard first-declension pattern for masculine nouns, with no irregularities.

For разделение (neuter, singular and plural):

This noun is invariable in terms of gender but follows the second-declension pattern for neuter nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • разрыв (razryv) - Similar to раскол but often implies a break or rupture; used in personal or relational contexts.
  • расщепление (rasscheplenie) - More scientific, implying a splitting or fission.
• Antonyms:
  • единство (edinstvo) - Unity or cohesion, directly opposing the idea of division.
  • согласие (soglasie) - Agreement or harmony.

Related Phrases:

• Великий раскол - Refers to the Great Schism; used in historical discussions to denote major religious splits.
• Политическое разделение - Political division; common in news contexts to describe ideological splits.
• Церковный раскол - Church schism; a phrase highlighting religious contexts with cultural implications.

Usage Notes:

Choose "раскол" for contexts involving deep, historical, or religious divisions, as it carries a more permanent and formal connotation, similar to the English "schism" in ecclesiastical settings. "Разделение" is more versatile and neutral, suitable for everyday or secular uses. Be mindful of Russian case endings when using these nouns in sentences; for example, always decline them according to the sentence's grammatical requirements. In formal writing, pair these with adjectives like "исторический" (historical) to add precision.

Common Errors:

• English speakers often confuse "раскол" with "разрыв" and use them interchangeably, but "разрыв" implies a sudden break (e.g., in relationships), while "раскол" is for institutional splits. Incorrect: "Мой разрыв в семье" (meaning a family schism). Correct: "Раскол в семье". Explanation: Use "раскол" for organizational contexts to avoid implying personal drama.

• Failing to decline the noun properly, such as using "раскол" in the genitive case as "раскол" instead of "раскола". Incorrect: "Из-за раскол" (wrong case). Correct: "Из-за раскола". Explanation: Always check the case based on prepositions like "из-за" (because of), which requires genitive.

Cultural Notes:

The term "раскол" is deeply tied to Russian history, particularly the 17th-century Raskol in the Russian Orthodox Church, which referred to a schism over reforms. This event symbolizes resistance to change and has cultural undertones of national identity and tradition, often evoking themes of division in Russian literature and folklore.

Related Concepts:

• реформация (reformaciya)
• ересь (eres')
• единение (edinenie)