Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
агитатор
English translation:
propagandist
Added to glossary by
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
Jan 6, 2022 23:17
2 yrs ago
35 viewers *
Russian term
агитатор
Russian to English
Other
Government / Politics
USSR
context: KGB operative work convincing certain people to cooperate with the existing system. Agitator, propagandist - do not work so well, any other suggestions?
Proposed translations
(English)
References
On 'agitator' | Boris Shapiro |
Change log
Jan 13, 2022 22:28: Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D. Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
2 hrs
Selected
propagandist
A propagandist is a person who tries to persuade people to support a particular idea or group, often by giving inaccurate information.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/prop...
someone who creates or spreads propaganda:
Communist/Nazi/Republican/right-wing propagandists
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/propa...
a person who disseminates messages calculated to assist some cause or some government
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/propagandist
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/prop...
someone who creates or spreads propaganda:
Communist/Nazi/Republican/right-wing propagandists
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/propa...
a person who disseminates messages calculated to assist some cause or some government
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/propagandist
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
23 mins
agitator
////
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Boris Shapiro
: Although I'd disagree with many of the other suggestions on stylistic/associative grounds ('outreach officer', 'recruiter' - what next, 'HR manager'?), this one, I believe, is wrong *semantically*.
3 days 11 hrs
|
1 hr
covert (KGB) agent
...
9 hrs
recruiter
n/a
10 hrs
propaganda agent/officer
This may aptly describe an operative or field agent involved in active campaigning for, and canvassing or soliciting acceptance of and compliance with Soviet or any other rule.
From Vysocki: Ho ведь я не агитатор, я потомственный кузнец,
Я к полякам в Улан-Батор не поеду, наконец.
From Vysocki: Ho ведь я не агитатор, я потомственный кузнец,
Я к полякам в Улан-Батор не поеду, наконец.
15 hrs
scalphunter
Низкая степень уверенности исключительно из-за отсутствия контекста. А так - 4 минимум.
https://www.wordsense.eu/scalphunter/
Noun
scalphunter (pl. scalphunters)
A warrior who collects the scalps of vanquished enemies.
(espionage) An agent who vets potential defectors.
1982, Richard Deacon, With My Little Eye: The Memoirs of a Spy-Hunter (page 103)
There is one class of spook we have not encountered as yet. This is the scalp-hunter, or defector-hunter. Quite often a scalp-hunter will be more valuable than almost any other intelligence operator.
2002, Angelo Codevilla, Informing Statecraft (page 82)
But agency policy is that the case officer is, in the jargon, a "scalp hunter" who must turn a contact into an agent […]
https://www.wordsense.eu/scalphunter/
Noun
scalphunter (pl. scalphunters)
A warrior who collects the scalps of vanquished enemies.
(espionage) An agent who vets potential defectors.
1982, Richard Deacon, With My Little Eye: The Memoirs of a Spy-Hunter (page 103)
There is one class of spook we have not encountered as yet. This is the scalp-hunter, or defector-hunter. Quite often a scalp-hunter will be more valuable than almost any other intelligence operator.
2002, Angelo Codevilla, Informing Statecraft (page 82)
But agency policy is that the case officer is, in the jargon, a "scalp hunter" who must turn a contact into an agent […]
1 day 17 hrs
communicator / campaigner
To be specific more context is needed,
We can't say definitely they are campaigners or communicator or something else,
maybe brainwashers?
I believe campaigners and communicators are widely used in Soviet contexts.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 17 hrs (2022-01-08 16:27:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Maybe outreachers?
We can't say definitely they are campaigners or communicator or something else,
maybe brainwashers?
I believe campaigners and communicators are widely used in Soviet contexts.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 17 hrs (2022-01-08 16:27:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Maybe outreachers?
Reference comments
3 days 11 hrs
Reference:
On 'agitator'
As with most literal translations, the meaning in Russian and English is rather different.
To wit: a [political] agitator is a person who stirs up sentiment *opposed* to the current regime (OED still notes: 'After the Bolshevik Revolution freq. applied spec. to Communist agitators').
That is, in the land of Bolsheviks агитатор had a positive meaning, while outside of the Eastern Bloc it was (and, I suppose, still is) negative. Out there people agitating the masses get locked up, you know.
To wit: a [political] agitator is a person who stirs up sentiment *opposed* to the current regime (OED still notes: 'After the Bolshevik Revolution freq. applied spec. to Communist agitators').
That is, in the land of Bolsheviks агитатор had a positive meaning, while outside of the Eastern Bloc it was (and, I suppose, still is) negative. Out there people agitating the masses get locked up, you know.
Discussion