danya Jan 9, 2018:

suggested phrase pattern Does he speak Russian? I doubt that he does, and if he does, it's only a little

Turdimurod Rakhmanov Jan 5, 2018:

@ Asker, I would like to turn your attention to the following:
И, кстати, знает ли он русский язык? By the way...
Русский он "если и" (even if, хотя, даже если ) знает, то очень относительно.
Хотя он знает (even if he knows or speaks), то очено относительно,
The second speaker knows about the third person. It means that the third speaker speaks Russian, but very limited. The second speaker is not saying that he does not speak Russian, he speaks but very limited.
The first speaker is using "By the way" (this gives us an idea that he wants clarification from the second speaker who knows about the third person),
Imagine, if the third person does not speak Russian (as we discussed before), how does the second speaker know if his Russian is very limited?
Здесь используется противопоставляемые члены предложения, не смотря на то, что, хотя, даже если
Хотя он знает (Although he speaks,...) or (even if he speaks), (противопоставляемый член) то очень относительно.
The first part "knows, speaks", the second part - a subordinate clause which contains a statement which contrasts with the statement in the main clause. It contrasts with the statement "knows, speaks"

larazhiwago Jan 5, 2018:

"очень относительно" is almost a popular informal, almost "slangish" way to indicate something "barely there". It indicates something thats marginally present, and is used by people who want to sound cool, fancy and polite.

Turdimurod Rakhmanov Jan 5, 2018:

@ Asker, Yes, I am saying that, the first part says "Russian, if he even knows it", the second part says "very limited" (not negative), it means he knows (in the second part of the sentence). I described below is that I am against the negative tone in the second part of the sentence as it was described in some answers below. I meant that.

Allison Keating (asker) Jan 5, 2018:

Turdimurod Rakhmanov - I don't think we can assume that he knows Russian at all. The sentence starts with: Русский он если и знает

El oso Jan 5, 2018:

Asker, to be quite honest with you, I am totally baffled by these "totally divergent readings" :)

Turdimurod Rakhmanov Jan 5, 2018:

We should not use "negative tone" in this sentence -Русский он если и знает, то очень относительно. Это означает, что он знает язык, но очень плохо
He speaks Russian, but very limited, in some answers, I see they used "negative tone" as if he might not even speak Russian, that is not so in here. He speaks Russian, but to a certain extent or somewhat.

Allison Keating (asker) Jan 5, 2018:

Yes, that is how I translated it, but I just wanted to check in with my fellow colleagues. Such a seemingly simple phrase, but, as you can see, there are totally divergent readings of it on here.

El oso Jan 5, 2018:

@ Asker "очень относительно знает Русский" is just a fancy (or polite, if you will) way of saying "почти не говорит по-русски".