“… in a few cases simply inserted the word “reset” in English, since many Russians are presumably familiar with the English word from electronics they use.”

Hey, maybe State got the idea from that link you sent but then thought that if they don’t translate someone may take offense. As they say, the way to hell is paved on good intentions.

http://mobbit.info/item/2007/06/04/vneshnyaya-knopka-reset-prikol-no-vpolne-deistvyustcii

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There has been a lot of confusion over the linguistic error on Hillary Clinton’s gift of a gadget “reset button” to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. First, Lavrov himself pointed out that the Russian word “peregruzka” inscribed on the button was a mistranslation, but then he himself erred in saying that that word means “overcharge.” It actually means “overload.”
Now Peter Lavelle, in his otherwise reasonable commentary on the prospects for U.S.-Russian relations, has unwittingly compounded the confusion by mistranslating “peregruzka” as “reload,” evidently thinking that the reload here means reloading weapons. And then he bases his commentary on the false juxtaposition of “reset” vs. “reload.”
As I mentioned at the top, “peregruzka” means “overload,” not “reload.” And ironically, one of the correct translations of “reset,” the word “perezagruzka,” which was undoubtedly the word that Hillary’s staff intended to put on the button, does normally mean “reload.” In this context, however, it is meant in the computer or electronic sense, as in reloading (i.e. resetting) parameters.
It’s worth noting that the Russian media themselves rendered “reset” several different ways in its dispatches on Joe Biden’s speech, where the word was first used. Besides using “perezagruzka,” they also translated the word as “perezapusk,” “sbros” and in a few cases simply inserted the word “reset” in English, since many Russians are presumably familiar with the English word from electronics they use.
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Your Dem. propaganda machine in action.

Au contraire, that’s exactly what I was remembering. Let’s call you Mr. 180; someone says ‘black’ you read ‘white’.

As Dr. Rice was known for not reading stuff that she deemed unimportant (e.g. Richard A. Clarke’s pre-911 warning memos) I think such a typo could have slipped by her.

I am not into demonizing Hillary or anybody else, just calling a spade a spade. Once again, Hillary and her cheating husband are probably the most responsible for squandering any goodwill there was between the US and Russia. Hillary was saying the most outrageous things about Russia for minute political gains during her run for the White House and Bill was humiliating Russia at every opportunity during his presidency. So it comes as extremely rich for Hillary to try shifting blame on Bush. Do you forget that Dems kept accusing Bush for being too nice with Putin for the 8 last years?

Obviously you do forget. So does Sean, who praised Hillary for “admitting her mistakes” in supposed contrast “to the previous administration”. How about publicly describing one Russian President as a soulless ghoul and next RP as a mindless puppet, did she admit it was a mistake? How about ramming through the Kosovo intervention without any regards for Russian objections, did she admit it was a mistake?

Any person with Hillary ‘diplomatic’ record should never been allowed to work at the State Dept. even as a janitor. Just compare Hillary and Dr. Rice to get an idea who is really qualified for the Secretary of State post.

Next as on cue comes ‘tess’ and pipes that Hillary gaffe would be a lot worse if commited by Rice. Obviously ‘tess’ forgets that Dr. Rice is an accomplished academic and serious stateswoman who specialized in Russian language and culture, so she never had and never would have made any outrageous statements or stupid cheap gifts like Hillary did.

Finally, just because I reminded you of the recent history you accuse me of “irrational hatred” and tendencies to “demonize”, and throw all that other Dem. propaganda garbage at me. Shame on you!

I think this would be a perfectly valid discussion for lengthy texts or conversations (particularly idioms).

But this was one word on a button that clearly was wrong and easily could have been translated and labeled properly. It was mere incompetence, not lack of some great skill or experience, that resulted in this Hillary button fiasco.

I agree completely, Tim.

My sense of things was that to be a good interpreter one needs a certain talent that goes beyond language aptitude, but Cyrill is disabusing me from that notion.