Today we talk about Russen en Nederlanders zeggen hetzelfde, a book by Angelika Regossi, published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Angelika Regossi, to get to know her better, what prompted her to write her book Russen en Nederlanders zeggen hetzelfde, as well as how her passion for writing started.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What prompted you to the writing of your book?
When I first came to the Netherlands, or Holland, as it is used to be colloquially called, I was struck by the fact that I understood many words, that the Dutch say in Russian. But it turned out to be another way around – it is Russians speak Dutch for more than three centuries. It all started when Peter the Great came to Holland in the autumn of 1697 to learn how to build ships and maritime craft. Back, he took with him not only masters and craftsmanship but also a lot of Dutch words that took root in Russia. And the Russians still say them, not even suspecting that they speak Dutch. So, I decided to write down the words, which are similar in Dutch and Russian. And I thought, that if I give the transcription in both languages, how to pronounce these words, it will be an additional help in the learning process. One may ask: “Why thousands of words and not more or less? Let’s say five hundred words?” My reply is, that a thousand words are a minimum for communicating in a foreign language. Therefore, I created a list of “my thousand words”.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
I want that my book makes it a bit easier to communicate with each other. I mean not necessarily for Dutch and Russians, but also for people from other nations, who are interested in learning both Dutch and Russian. I tried to create the book this way that it is aimed at different groups and backgrounds of people: from children to adults, from military professions to peaceful ones, and so on. For all, who are interested in Dutch and Russian languages. I hope to hear from readers, that people discover “my thousand words” as an easy tool in language learning, which for many people in the world is not a simple task at all. In hope that “my thousand words” could be easily memorized and people can enrich their Dutch – Russian vocabulary with thousand words at once. Just in a couple of hours. For example, during a few breakfasts, coffee breaks, while waiting in the airplane line, between serious work or study. Linguists say that for a simple conversation, we need only a thousand words. I mean the so-called “kitchen level” of talk. Of course, for more sophisticated conversations, we need a much richer vocabulary. A thousand words are not enough for exciting and cognitive talk. But, “my thousand words” can be a good base to start learning both the Dutch and Russian languages.
- How did your passion for writing start?
I started very early, as soon as I learned reading and writing. A bit older than five years old, I wrote my first and last poem … I gave it as a present to my mother, along with her portrait, which I also painted. It was not her birthday or another celebration day, just I felt inspired. The poem was about Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the communist revolution in 1917 in old Russia, which led to the creation of the USSR. Already at that fragile age of around five, we – the children of the USSR – were brained washed in the kindergartens. Where we were taught about “grandfather Lenin”. How much he loved children and how good he was, that he created the best country in the world – where all children are happy. So about was my poem. I wrote it on a white sheet of paper, which I found at home, laid it on the table together with my mother’s portrait, left a note that it is for her, and went to sleep. I remember, when next morning, my mother came to my bed and kissed me on my head, which was still on the pillow. My mother took the sheet with the poem, and the painting and thanked me for the present. Then she asked: “Why did you write me about Lenin?” I recall that I corrected her: “Not Lenin, but granny Lenin,” then I added that “I wrote it because he loved children. Because Lenin is good,” that was my reply to my poem at the age of around five. There was another attempt at “writing”, some six years later, when I was twelve or thirteen years old. But this I shall tell next time …
- How did it feel to see your book published?
Very happy. It feels like fulfilment, the work is done, and maybe someone will like what I did. Maybe it can be helpful. That’s what I feel. It always gives a pleasant feeling, that what someone is doing it is recognized by others, and respected by the community and society in general. So, I hope that people will like “my thousand words” book. And of course, it is amazing to see your book title with your name on the bookshelves in your own home and even more amazing, when you see it in the shops. All these give inspiration for the next projects.
- Are you currently working on a new writing project?
Yes, I do. I just finished working on a big writing project. But I don’t want to reveal the details, because it must come to the readers as a surprise. And I have more writing plans for the future.
Europe Books thanks the author, Angelika Regossi, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book Russen en Nederlanders zeggen hetzelfde. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my dear adult and young readers, I wish this book allows you to communicate more easily in Dutch and Russian. A thousand words are certainly not enough, but they can be a good basis to start learning these two new languages and to become familiar with them.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!