Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'transparency'

English Word: transparency

Key Russian Translations:

• прозрачность [prəˈzraʧnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, used in scientific, technical, or physical contexts]
• открытость [ɐtˈkrɨtəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, often in governance, business, or ethical discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in professional, scientific, and everyday contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun declensions, with 'прозрачность' being slightly more challenging due to its length and phonetics, while 'открытость' is more straightforward).

Pronunciation (Russian):

прозрачность: [prəˈzraʧnəsʲtʲ]

открытость: [ɐtˈkrɨtəsʲtʲ]

Note on прозрачность: The 'ч' sound is a palatalized affricate, similar to 'ch' in 'church', but ensure the stress on the third syllable for natural pronunciation. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The quality of allowing light to pass through; clarity in materials (e.g., glass)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прозрачность - Used in physical or scientific descriptions, such as describing glass or water clarity.

Usage Examples:

• Стекло обладает высокой прозрачностью, что делает его идеальным для окон.

  The glass has high transparency, making it ideal for windows.

• Вода в озере потеряла свою прозрачность из-за загрязнения.

  The water in the lake lost its transparency due to pollution.

• Прозрачность материала позволяет видеть объекты насквозь.

  The transparency of the material allows objects to be seen through it.

• Ученые изучают прозрачность кристаллов в лаборатории.

  Scientists study the transparency of crystals in the laboratory.

2. The state of being open and honest, especially in organizations or governments

Translation(s) & Context:

• открытость - Common in discussions of ethics, politics, or business, emphasizing accountability.
• прозрачность - Sometimes used interchangeably, but more for processes like financial reporting.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство подчеркивает важность открытости в своих решениях.

  The government emphasizes the importance of transparency in its decisions.

• Отсутствие прозрачности в компании привело к скандалу.

  The lack of transparency in the company led to a scandal.

• Открытость в коммуникациях помогает строить доверие между партнерами.

  Transparency in communications helps build trust between partners.

• Бизнес должен обеспечивать прозрачность финансовых операций.

  Businesses must ensure transparency in financial operations.

• В демократическом обществе открытость является ключевым принципом.

  In a democratic society, transparency is a key principle.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'прозрачность' and 'открытость' are feminine nouns (feminine gender in Russian grammar). They follow the standard first declension pattern for abstract nouns, which is regular but requires attention to case endings.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, but plural forms are less common as these concepts are often treated as singular abstracts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • прозрачность: ясность (yasnost' - clarity, but more general)
  • открытость: гласность (glasnost' - publicity, with historical connotations from Soviet times)
• Antonyms:
  • прозрачность: непрозрачность (neprozrachnost' - opacity)
  • открытость: закрытость (zakrytost' - secrecy, or lack of openness)

Related Phrases:

• финансовая прозрачность - Financial transparency (refers to clear and accountable financial practices).
• политическая открытость - Political transparency (emphasizes openness in government operations).
• обеспечивать прозрачность - To ensure transparency (used in contexts of maintaining clarity in processes).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'прозрачность' is preferred for literal or physical transparency, while 'открытость' better captures metaphorical uses like in ethics or governance. English speakers should note that Russian often requires the appropriate case for context (e.g., genitive for possession). Choose 'открытость' in formal discussions to align with cultural emphasis on accountability in post-Soviet contexts. Avoid direct word-for-word translations; instead, consider the broader implications in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'прозрачность' interchangeably with 'открытость' in all contexts. For example, an English learner might say "Я ценю прозрачность в отношениях" when meaning emotional openness, which is incorrect.

  Correct: "Я ценю открытость в отношениях" (I value openness in relationships). Explanation: 'Прозрачность' implies physical clarity, not interpersonal dynamics.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "из-за прозрачность" instead of "из-за прозрачности".

  Correct: "Из-за прозрачности" (Due to transparency). Explanation: The genitive case is required after prepositions like 'из-за'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially post-Soviet Russia, 'открытость' gained prominence during the era of glasnost (publicity) in the 1980s under Gorbachev, symbolizing a shift towards greater governmental transparency. This historical context adds a layer of political connotation, making the word not just about openness but also about reform and anti-corruption efforts.

Related Concepts:

• ясность (yasnost' - clarity)
• честность (chestnost' - honesty)
• гласность (glasnost' - publicity)