I don't remember much Russian these days, but from the little I still seem to
know: Anekdot would be a short humorous tale, which would also have some
literary merit, unlike a joke that has absolutely no value other than providing
instant gratification.
Best
Boris
On Mar 18, 2013, at 3:19 PM, Piers Hemy wrote:
>Don't know about "too lazy", Bob, as you would need to know where to look. >
>>Yes, of course it has a common origin with "anecdote", although the meaning
>>in modern Russian is subtly different - in English, I think it's simply a
>>tale, in Russian it's more specifically a joke (although one which is more
>>often than not impenetrable to a foreign ear!). > >Vasmer's Etymological
>dictionary suggests that, judging by the word ending, >it is from the French
>anecdote, itself a borrowing from Greek ἀνέκδοτα >although it isn't clear to
>me how the word ending excludes a borrowing from >English. Dal' agrees with
>Vasmer (perhaps vice versa). However, Ushakov's >dictionary cites from both
>Pushkin and Gogol using the word - that would >coororate Vasmer, as French
>was the court language in 18th and 19th century >Russia, and thus a more
>likely source than mere English. > >I had long ago forgotten all those great
>lexicographers - thanks for giving
>me the reason to revisit them.
--
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