Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2017 March 31

= March 31 =

Imitation of Russian?
In this clip, from about 4:38 to 5:02, a Chinese entertainer performs what he says is a Russian-language song (in reality, the lyrics were Chinese made to sound Russian). For Russian-speakers: how would you rate this "imitation" of Russian? 173.52.236.173 (talk) 02:56, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate; but it doesn't sound anything like Russian to me. (The tune, however, is a well-known Russian one.) --31.168.171.66 (talk) 05:14, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * That's Katyusha, not The Three Tankmen. The imitation isn't accurate, but if that's what Russian sounds like to the Chinese, no probs. nothing wrong with enlisting opinions from speakers of a particular language. people do it all the time on the Language RefDesk. Asmrulz (talk) 13:29, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * actually, I'm not sure, as both tunes are very similar. Asmrulz (talk) 13:42, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

Obama is the 44th President?
Obama is no longer president, but if I say today "Obama is the 44th President of the USA" is that untrue? Siuenti (talk) 03:02, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * Not untrue depending on how you count Grover Cleveland but unusual phrasing. Most speakers would use the past tense. --Trovatore (talk) 03:06, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * Thanks. I'll try to figure out how unusual it is. Siuenti (talk) 03:10, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * There's an ambiguity about whether "is/was" refers to the man or his presidency. That is, he "is", while his presidency "was".  After he dies, the ambiguity will disappear. StuRat (talk) 07:03, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * Surely if he was the 44th president, then no-one else can ever also be the 44th president. That means that he was, is and always will be the 44th president. Wymspen (talk) 10:38, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * To my ear, "is the 44th President" means "is the President, and specifically the 44th one", which is not true. Loraof (talk) 16:06, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * You wouldn't say "Washington is the 1st President of the United States." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.38.221.49 (talk) 16:36, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * Because Washington hasn't been an "is" since the 18th century. Barack Obama is still an "is".  -- Jayron 32 20:07, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * I wouldn't ordinarily say "Washington is the first president of the US", but I don't think that makes it untrue. It doesn't necessarily follow, from being the first president, that one is currently president.  There are lots of examples in standard English semantics where "adjective noun" does not imply "noun".  I'm sure we have an article about that somewhere, but I don't know where to find it.
 * Also, just because I wouldn't ordinarily say it doesn't mean I would never say it. It might come fairly naturally when going over a list, or something.  Also see narrative present. --Trovatore (talk) 20:35, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * Also, just because I wouldn't ordinarily say it doesn't mean I would never say it. It might come fairly naturally when going over a list, or something.  Also see narrative present. --Trovatore (talk) 20:35, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

There's a technical discussion of a somewhat-related issue ("The present King of France is bald") at Definite description... AnonMoos (talk) 01:30, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

Беринг (фон Беринг), Владимир Михайлович
ru:Беринг (фон Беринг), Владимир Михайлович

What is this person's name? Vladimir Mikhailovich Bering von Bering? Vladimir Mikhailovich von Bering Bering? 208.95.51.38 (talk) 12:24, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * Google Translate seems to favor Behring over Bering. Von Behring is a known family name (see Emil von Behring), also see von which discusses its use.  Since the Russian article implies his nobility, Vladimir Mikhailovich von Behring may be the correct name.  -- Jayron 32 12:34, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=45_mm_anti-tank_gun_M1937_(53-K)&diff=773123996&oldid=757100869. Thank you.  208.95.51.38 (talk) 13:11, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * The way the brackets are used suggests that either V M Behring or V M von Behring are acceptable. It may well be that under communism he did not feel it wise to indicate his descent from nobility. Wymspen (talk) 13:43, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * Does Bering (von Bering) remind anyone else of Was (not Was)? --Trovatore (talk) 20:55, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

In or at a roadstead?
The Wikipedia article Roadstead seems to use about 50/50 % forms "in the roadstead" and "at the roadstead". Which one is correct (or possibly both, with different meaning)? --Sivullinen (talk) 15:51, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * "In the roadsted" gives the impression of its being placed so that its surroundings are the roadsted. "At the roadsted" gives the impression that it is there rather than someplace else. The same subtle distinction appears with cities: "in Atlanta" vs. "at Atlanta". Loraof (talk) 16:02, 31 March 2017 (UTC)


 * It can also be a WP:ENGVAR issue. For example, this discussion at Stack Exchange notes that both "in" and "at" are acceptable, with British usage preferring "at" and American preferring "in".  -- Jayron 32 16:44, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * If someone is away on vacation, I might say they are "at the lake". If I'm the one at the lake, I might report that I'm "on the water". If I said "in the water" they might think it was a man-overboard situation. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:05, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * Yes, with things like lakes or water the difference in meaning is pretty clear but roadstead is not so concrete and not so common word in everyday talk. --Sivullinen (talk) 18:27, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * A term we don't hear much in America, with the obvious exception of Hampton Roads. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 21:04, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
 * Not a very common term in the UK either. I think anchorage might be better known and seems to mean roughly the same thing. Alansplodge (talk) 08:26, 1 April 2017 (UTC)