Vaitsehovskaya's interview with Morozov

[BittyBug]

NM: It is unspeakable, when Patrick Chan wins after falling three times, as it was in Grand Prix in Canada.

So it's not just fans who think this.

EV: Among all the programmes your choreographed there are some that are remembered more.
NM: I know. This season it's Floran Amodio's LP, which, in my point of view, is ten times more memorable than Takahashi's `Hip Hop'. I think it's the best thing ever in the male figure skating as far as the choreography goes.

The man is clearly deluded.

[riveredge]

You gotta give it to him. This interview is quiet entertaining..

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

Sounded that way to me. Good to know there are no good looking Japanese men.

Guess he's never heard of the gymnast Hiroyuki Tomita. That man is

[IceAlisa]

I think Daisuke is quite cute.


ETA:
Question for Japanese speakers: in English, Daisuke's last name is of course TakahaSHI, last syllable pronounced (SHEE). In Russian it is transliterated as TakahaSI with the last syllable pronounced SEE. What is closer to the actual Japanese prononciation?

I also wondered why Yuko Kawaguchi had to change her last name to Kavaguti when she came to Russia (and accepted Russian citizenship). I don't really see is russification of the name. While there is no "w" sound and all w's become v's in Russian (Vot is your name?), there is a ch sound as in "cheers".

[Rafter]

So it's not just fans who think this.

The man is clearly deluded.

So if he's deluded, does that mean the fans are too?

[BittyBug]

Deluded about his own talents, but he's clearly spot on in his opinion of Chan's marks.

[IceAlisa]

Deluded about his own talents, but he's clearly spot on in his opinion of Chan's marks.

Morozov may be a slimy douchebag but he did create quite a few masterpieces as referenced in the article.

[equatorial]

I think Daisuke is quite cute.


ETA:
Question for Japanese speakers: in English, Daisuke's last name is of course TakahaSHI, last syllable pronounced (SHEE). In Russian it is transliterated as TakahaSI with the last syllable pronounced SEE. What is closer to the actual Japanese prononciation?

I also wondered why Yuko Kawaguchi had to change her last name to Kavaguti when she came to Russia (and accepted Russian citizenship). I don't really see is russification of the name. While there is no "w" sound and all w's become v's in Russian (Vot is your name?), there is a ch sound as in "cheers".

Russian transcription of Japanese names is phonological rather than phonetic. It's a tradition that started, IIRC, in the 1920s (the so-called Ivanov&Polivanov's system) Phonologically, it's /t/ and /s/ there, which surface phonetically as alveolo-palatal [tɕ] and [ɕ] before /i/. I'd say that the English transcription is closer to the actual pronunciation but the Japanese sounds are still quite different.

[BittyBug]

Morozov may be a slimy douchebag but he did create quite a few masterpieces as referenced in the article.

I agree, but I don't think that either of Amodio's current programs fall into that category.

[IceAlisa]

Russian transcription of Japanese names is phonological rather than phonetic. It's a tradition that started, IIRC, in the 1920s (the so-called Ivanov&Polivanov's system) Phonologically, it's /t/ and /s/ there, which surface phonetically as alveolo-palatal [tɕ] and [ɕ] before /i/. I'd say that the English transcription is closer to the actual pronunciation but the Japanese sounds are still quite different.

Thanks! Tha Ivanov/Polivanov system made me think of the English Wade-Giles vs. pinyin systems.

[IceAlisa]

I agree, but I don't think that either of Amodio's current programs fall into that category.

Haven't seen it but will look for it now. This thread reminded me of "Winter" so I watched it (again for the 1,000,000th time) and just that program alone carves out a place in skating history for the choreographer. And of course, the fact that Yags was the perfect storm of athleticism, power and artistry helped.

ETA: saw Florent's LP (the MJ one, right?). Well, the first part is the rehash of what has been already done with Takahashi. The second part was not choreographed by Morozov but by Michael Jackson. Morozov just transcribed it to the ice.

[equatorial]

Thanks! Tha Ivanov/Polivanov system made me think of the English Wade-Giles vs. pinyin systems.

The I/P system is not entirely consistent: the Russian counterpart to "Fujisawa" would be "Fudzisava" instead of "Hudzisava" as is expected were a system based entirely on phonology.

[Cherub721]

One can't only focus on jumps or foot work. And we've seen those opposites many times before. Take Takahashi: it happened he received 8.5 in components even though he fell 7 times during the skate.

Um, what?

NM: It's the only place you get to see a skater who can land a wonderful triple Axel, yet has no idea how to jump a triple Toeloop. It's almost as knowing how to use a fork, yet not to have a clue what the spoons is for.

Ok, that was kind of hilarious. {{{Mao}}}

[bek]

So it's not just fans who think this.

Well clearly Morozov knows nothing about skating....Its immature thinking that somehow three falls is a bad performance.

[Tinami Amori]

The I/P system is not entirely consistent: the Russian counterpart to "Fujisawa" would be "Fudzisava" instead of "Hudzisava" as is expected were a system based entirely on phonology.

Japanese man's name: To-kanava To-ki-yama
Japanese woman's name: Ato-mu-lee Ya-da-la
Japanese child's name: Hochu-piseu Hochu-kaki


Oh, please do “Beijing” and “Peking” explanation too………

Guess he's never heard of the gymnast Hiroyuki Tomita. That man is

He is not talking about “every Japanese man”. He is talking about current group of top Japanese male skaters, he has worked with or familiar with.

Just to give another option on translations of this issue……

Tanya’s translation (nothing is wrong with it).

Another reason it's hard working with the Japanese male skaters is because they lack any special physical appearance. When the skater is really good looking it doesn't matter what he does - it will look good even if the programme is changed every day.

Russian text

Работать с японскими мальчиками тяжело еще и потому, что они редко отличаются какими-то выдающимися внешними данными. Когда спортсмен красив, ему что ни поставь - все хорошо смотрится. Хоть каждый день программы меняй. .

Alternative translation

Working with Japanese boys (today’s group of male single skaters, not Japanese men in general) is also difficult because they rarely stand out for their striking physical features/ beauty/handsomeness. When an athlete is beautiful/handsome, no matter what you create for him, even a brand-new programme every day, it will still over-all look harmonious.

Morozov is referring to a classic Russian proverb:
Молодцу – все к лицу. Molodtzoo – vse k litzoo.

Meaning: On a Handsome everything is “handsome”.

[marbri]

I don´t really see any difference between what Tahbka wrote and what you wrote. You both have him saying the same thing.

[IceAlisa]

I don´t really see any difference between what Tahbka wrote and what you wrote. You both have him saying the same thing.

Here we go again. I know you don't mean anything by this, I was just reminded of something.

[marbri]

[IceAlisa]

Just referring to a recently deceased thread where accuracy of several versions of translation was "debated". Look at your rep for more info.

[marbri]

Oh well, not sure what thread that is but I'm not interested in debating. Just made a comment that they seem to be saying the same thing.

But if it's going to spark a debate I'll just put out now I'm not interested in playing

eta...Ok, see now what you were talking about