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\"агитационный субботник\"

English translation: ... at a rally of his supporters

22:45 Dec 17, 2017
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Russian term or phrase: \"агитационный субботник\"
Looking for suggestions on how to best translate this phrase: "агитационный субботник".

I know the "субботник" has very specific connotations stretching back to the Soviet period, but would love to hear your suggestions on how to best translate this phrase for an English-speaking audience.

Context:

Суд оштрафовал Навального за нарушения на "агитационном субботнике"
Симоновский суд Москвы оштрафовал Алексея Навального на 300 тыс. рублей за нарушение порядка организации митинга.

Thanks in advance for you suggestions!
Allison Keating
Canada
Local time: 03:20
English translation:... at a rally of his supporters
Explanation:
Without knowing more what that "subbotnik" was about, that's what I would call it because most likely, that's what it was, its fancy name notwithstanding.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2017-12-18 06:25:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The thing with the subbotnik is that you either use it or not. It either fits with the larger context or it doesn't. Only you know that. After all, they are using it in quotation marks themselves.
Selected response from:

The Misha
Local time: 06:20
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5... at a rally of his supporters
The Misha
5 -4Saturday outing devoted to agitation
Mariusz Kuklinski


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -4
Saturday outing devoted to agitation


Explanation:
@

Mariusz Kuklinski
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Susan Welsh: Sorry, sounds like a family picnic with unruly toddlers or teenagers.// I certainly know what a субботник is, but we are talking about your English translation, are we not? Check the word "outing," for example.
1 hr
  -> You do not recognise the ominous overtone of the word. There are 4,220,000 entries on субботник on Google, including an excellent one in Wikipedia. Do yourself a favour, read three.
disagree  The Misha: Uh-huh, a picnic no less. Cum political information session:)
1 hr
  -> Спасибо
disagree  danya: weasel words) and yes, ominous overtone my foot
10 hrs
  -> Спасибо
disagree  Michael Korovkin: they're kicking your prostrate body:))) But yeah, it's VERY awkward indeed+ Ah well, after having seen your disagree and your comment on a colleague's suggestion, I thought I might as well join the rest...
16 hrs
  -> Спасибо, Миша, с Рождеством!
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52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
... at a rally of his supporters


Explanation:
Without knowing more what that "subbotnik" was about, that's what I would call it because most likely, that's what it was, its fancy name notwithstanding.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2017-12-18 06:25:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The thing with the subbotnik is that you either use it or not. It either fits with the larger context or it doesn't. Only you know that. After all, they are using it in quotation marks themselves.

The Misha
Local time: 06:20
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 47
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes, of course. This absolutely fits with the context (and the reality of events). I was just hoping to pick everyone's brains on how to translate it while retaining the "subbotnik" connotation - might not be possible though ;)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Mariusz Kuklinski: Doesn't refer to the historical roots of the source term. And there's nothing fancy about it.
18 mins
  -> Read the question as asked, will you? Unless you are dyslexic or something.
agree  Susan Welsh: That IS what it was about. I don't think there's an English phrase that would convey the historical meaning. You would have to do that with a footnote.
1 hr
agree  Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.: It was a rally, indeed.
2 hrs
agree  El oso
7 hrs
agree  danya
7 hrs
agree  Tanya0104: "Агитационный субботник" is an expression and has almost nothing to do with "субботник" - a day when volunteers clean the territory from old trees, leafs and other garbage
9 hrs
agree  Michael Korovkin: The alternative is to just leave "Agitprop Subotnik" and provide a page-long blurb (for an extra 30 bucks!) to illustrate its – what?! – ah yes, its "historical roots". There is no other choice except "rally".Add "political" for "roots".:)))
16 hrs
  -> Well, now that you mentioned those 30 bucks...:)))
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