A Boater's Terminology WWW.RAFT.ORG

Project Whitewater Russia / USA

Bridging the Communications River

Water does not flow under settled stones.
Russian Proverb

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Many of the signals are derived from conventions used in California boating with ETC, OU, PRAE, ASEAN, Echo. Others are equivalents or derivatives used in international sign language.

English/Russian/Symbol Translation of Useful Boating Terms
Helpful Boaters Terms & Signals
Boater's English Boater's Ruski Visual Symbol (or sign language)

Forward Paddle VPeriod (periot) Bow signaller pulling both hands forward

Back Paddle Nazad (nazat) Bow signaller pushing both hands forward

Left Turn Nalevo (nalleva) Bow signaller pushing right hand, pulling left

Right Turn Napravo (naprava) Bow signaller pushing left hand, pulling right

Are You OK? Vy (Ty) v poryadke? Tap Hand on Head

OK V poryadke. Responding Tap Hand on Head

Good Hharasho (karasho) thumbs up

High Side Polundra

Stop Bow signaller taps both hands and holds down on boat or in Russia, crossed arms above the head.

Raft (Oar Boat) Plot

Barrel-another name for hole or hydraulic Bochka

Rock Overhang Kozyryok

Riffle Perekat

Rapid Porog

River Reka Sign R moving hands up and down

Strong pressure of water on rock or rock wall on turns in the river Prizhim

Drop, steep drop less than 2 meters, small chute Sliv

Swimmer/person overboard head down with swimming motion, or signal with paddle moving straight up and down, point at swimmer

Lost Paddle/Equipment Both hands over head moving hands horizontally while cupped, or one hand moving horizontally, cupped, other hand pointing at object

Come Closer Hand curling and bring back and forth

Pump two hands a few inches apart near stomach, moving up and down

Repair Kit hands open and flat, press palms together repeatedly

Tube/Raft Damaged form a triangle with both hands over head

Line repeatedly grab and pull on a single pointed index finger as though pulling on a rope

Wrap Both hands clasped, fingers interlaced over forehead

We're Cold wrap arms around self, rub upper arms with hands

First Aid Kit hold forearms in front, crossing, usually one arm is verticle.

Flip starting with forearm horizontal and pointing to one side, hands open and flat, swing forearm up and over 180 degrees, also usually several whistles

Conference or Huddle arms outstretched, swing in toward chest, fingers pointing inward

Stop hand up, arm extended with palm toward receiver (sometimes followed by pointing toward a recommended stopping place)

Scout hand horizontal at brow with slight forward and backing motion

Portage hand open and flat over shoulder, moving up and down (carrying motion)

Take Path Indicated (Point Positive) Arm extended or paddle extended toward left[left channel indicated], straight up[center channel indicated], right[right channel indicated]

Are you ready? questioning look, hold thumb up, pointing index finger

I'm coming to you first pointing at your chest, swing arm outward toward receiver

You come to me first point at your receiver, swing arm downward and inward toward your chest

Wait 5 minutes stop signal with one hand, sign number of minutes with other hand in upright position

All OK, don't wait Raise one hand straight up over head

We're going to take pictures hold hands as though holding a camera in front of face, one hand with index finger pressing a shutter

One minute single, vertical forefinger wiggling

Can proceed shortly arm extened horizontally from one side

Don't know shrug shoulders with palms up

Can't hear Cup hand over ear and shake head

Erase(forget last signal) like erasing a blackboard, hand flat toward receiver, rotate hand sideways

Ok Form circle with thumb and forefinger, hold hand upright, usually view receiver through circle in hand

We're Ready make fist with thumb straight up

Something of interest angle your site or vision along your arm pointing at object or area

slow down wipe arm across brow with palm facing receiver

give space or back away Fist with palm up, pushing down and back toward receiver

speed up Working arm and fist in circular motion, rotating forward or hold fist up at right angle and move up and down

hungry straight forefinger pointing at open mouth

thirsty, hydration cup hand pouring motion toward open mouth

sleepy head tilted over toward touching palms in sleeping gesture, or with yawn

tired

yes Da extend hands straight out toward receiver and move hands up and down(works better with cloth in hands) and nod head

no Nyet swing hands together in sideways motion(works better with cloth in hands) and shake head

we barely made it flat hand or single finger passing in front of bared teeth

I love you kiss fingertips and wave/flip fingers toward receiver

Stop and visit/see eddy out signal and pointing toward trail or path

investigating make circle with fist and move in and out over an eye

careful palms at right angle to arms, pushing down

Increase spacing hand flat out and pushing away

Eddy-Out!
Eddy-behind rocks, shoreline outcrops, or shoals where water stops or goes upstream, recirculating Ulov Index finger pointing up, hand moving in circular motion

Pulsating high wave or waves which tend to stay in one place, a.k.a. a standing wave Val or Valy Stoyak(slang)

Waterfall, a drop of 2 meters or more Vodopad hand extended pouring over crossing arm

Attention Vnimaniye One whistle

Emergency Three whistles

Whirlpool Vodovorot (opposite of eddyout)hand extended pointing downward making circular motion

Logs or trees which create veritable "strainers" in the river, one of the more dangerous obstacles Zaval one hand palms up and fingers spread out, other hand horizontal moving toward hand with fingers spread

Trust, but check Doveryay no proveryay

Stern Surovyi

Pocket Karman

Eating Time (lunch) Perekoos Head tilted, hand feeding, mouth open

Turn Povorot

Unexpected Neozhidannyi

Work-Out Razminka

Sieve Sito one hand pointing down in circular motion toward other hand in a fist

Bait Primanka

Big Bol'shaya (Bolshoi)

Black Chernaya (Chernyy)

White Belaya (Belyy)

South Yuzhnyy Point down

North Point straight up

West

East

Mountains Gory Gorky

Single Mountain Gora

Small Mountain Gorka

Clean Chistyi

Insidious Kovarnyi

Touchy Nedotroga

Baby Malysh

Hippo Begemot

Classic Klassicheskiy

Turbine Turbinnyi

Good Luck Shchaslivo

Very Ochen

This Etta

Thank you Spasibo Spasiba

Toast Zha Nostrovia Cup hands, pour into mouth, raise hand and arm straight up

Good Morning Dobroye Utro Utra

0

1 adeen Pointer finger

2 dva Two fingers

3 tree Three fingers

4 chetyre cheteere, four fingers up, thumb in

5 piat' four fingers up, thumb out

6 shest' four fingers up, thumb touching pinky finger

7 sem'

8 vosem'

9 devyat' (devit), four fingers up, thumb touching index finger

10 fist with thumb out and up

How much or how many? Skolko? (skolka)
How much? (money) Skolko Stoit? (skolka)

Angle Ugol

Bear Medved'

First Aid needed Nuzhna pomosch' Hand grabbing wrist on other arm

Guarding Steregushchyi

Toothed Zub

Separate Razdelnyi

Small Snake Zmeika

Open Otkrytyi

Paddle missing Veslo! Hand grabbing paddle shaft

Chink Shchel

Deep Glubokiy

No problem nyet problema

Unpopulated Bezlyudnyy

Steep Krutoy

Mill Melnitsa

Left Channel Hold paddle up, pointed toward river left

Center Channel Hold paddle straight up

Right Channel Hold paddle up pointing toward river right

Key Klyuchevoy

Meat Grinder Myasorubka

Stone Kamen'

Island Ostrov

Kamikazi Kamikadze

Push on, hurry up Davay! Arm up at right angle, fist moving up and down

Family ?Semeynyi

Obstinate Upryamyi

Cramped Tesnyi

Gate Vorota

Crevice Shchel

Tongue Yasyk

Puck Shayba

Good Luck Schustlivo (shusliva)

Scout Razmadietsa hand horizontal swaying over brow

To look around Prasmadietsa scout signal followed by two fingers in walking motion pointing downward in wide circle

Cabin Izba

Spacing of boats Hold both hands straight up, move inward to tighten up

Repeat Povtorii (paftariti)

Excuse me Izvinite (izviniti)

Pardon me Prastite (prastiti)

Sit down Sadites' (saditis)

Do you speak English? Vi gavariti pahangliski?

Toilet tooalyet

Restaurant ristarahn PECTOPAH

water vodah (vadah)

tea chay (chaya)

coffee kofi

bread khlyep

fruit frookti

fish ryba (riboo)

cup chahshka (chahshkoo)

plate taryelka (taryelkoo)

fork vilka (vilkoo)

knife nozh

Sunny solnechno (solnichna)

turning globe

**English/Russian/Symbol Translation of Useful Boating Terms**
Helpful Boaters Terms & Signals
Boater's English	Boater's Ruski	Visual Symbol (or sign language)
Forward Paddle	VPeriod	(periot) Bow signaller pulling both hands forward
Back Paddle	Nazad	(nazat) Bow signaller pushing both hands forward
Left Turn	Nalevo	(nalleva) Bow signaller pushing right hand, pulling left
Right Turn	Napravo	(naprava) Bow signaller pushing left hand, pulling right
Are You OK?	Vy (Ty) v poryadke?	Tap Hand on Head
OK	V poryadke.	Responding Tap Hand on Head
Good	Hharasho	(karasho) thumbs up
High Side	Polundra
Stop		Bow signaller taps both hands and holds down on boat or in Russia, crossed arms above the head.
Raft (Oar Boat)	Plot
Barrel-another name for hole or hydraulic	Bochka
Rock Overhang	Kozyryok
Riffle	Perekat
Rapid	Porog
River	Reka	Sign R moving hands up and down
Strong pressure of water on rock or rock wall on turns in the river	Prizhim
Drop, steep drop less than 2 meters, small chute	Sliv
Swimmer/person overboard		head down with swimming motion, or signal with paddle moving straight up and down, point at swimmer
Lost Paddle/Equipment		Both hands over head moving hands horizontally while cupped, or one hand moving horizontally, cupped, other hand pointing at object
Come Closer		Hand curling and bring back and forth
Pump		two hands a few inches apart near stomach, moving up and down
Repair Kit		hands open and flat, press palms together repeatedly
Tube/Raft Damaged		form a triangle with both hands over head
Line		repeatedly grab and pull on a single pointed index finger as though pulling on a rope
Wrap		Both hands clasped, fingers interlaced over forehead
We're Cold		wrap arms around self, rub upper arms with hands
First Aid Kit		hold forearms in front, crossing, usually one arm is verticle.
Flip		starting with forearm horizontal and pointing to one side, hands open and flat, swing forearm up and over 180 degrees, also usually several whistles
Conference or Huddle		arms outstretched, swing in toward chest, fingers pointing inward
Stop		hand up, arm extended with palm toward receiver (sometimes followed by pointing toward a recommended stopping place)
Scout		hand horizontal at brow with slight forward and backing motion
Portage		hand open and flat over shoulder, moving up and down (carrying motion)
Take Path Indicated (Point Positive)		Arm extended or paddle extended toward left[left channel indicated], straight up[center channel indicated], right[right channel indicated]
Are you ready?		questioning look, hold thumb up, pointing index finger
I'm coming to you		first pointing at your chest, swing arm outward toward receiver
You come to me		first point at your receiver, swing arm downward and inward toward your chest
Wait 5 minutes		stop signal with one hand, sign number of minutes with other hand in upright position
All OK, don't wait		Raise one hand straight up over head
We're going to take pictures		hold hands as though holding a camera in front of face, one hand with index finger pressing a shutter
One minute		single, vertical forefinger wiggling
Can proceed shortly		arm extened horizontally from one side
Don't know		shrug shoulders with palms up
Can't hear		Cup hand over ear and shake head
Erase(forget last signal)		like erasing a blackboard, hand flat toward receiver, rotate hand sideways
Ok		Form circle with thumb and forefinger, hold hand upright, usually view receiver through circle in hand
We're Ready		make fist with thumb straight up
Something of interest		angle your site or vision along your arm pointing at object or area
slow down		wipe arm across brow with palm facing receiver
give space or back away		Fist with palm up, pushing down and back toward receiver
speed up		Working arm and fist in circular motion, rotating forward or hold fist up at right angle and move up and down
hungry		straight forefinger pointing at open mouth
thirsty, hydration		cup hand pouring motion toward open mouth
sleepy		head tilted over toward touching palms in sleeping gesture, or with yawn
tired
yes	Da	extend hands straight out toward receiver and move hands up and down(works better with cloth in hands) and nod head
no	Nyet	swing hands together in sideways motion(works better with cloth in hands) and shake head
we barely made it		flat hand or single finger passing in front of bared teeth
I love you		kiss fingertips and wave/flip fingers toward receiver
Stop and visit/see		eddy out signal and pointing toward trail or path
investigating		make circle with fist and move in and out over an eye
careful		palms at right angle to arms, pushing down
Increase spacing		hand flat out and pushing away
Eddy-Out! Eddy-behind rocks, shoreline outcrops, or shoals where water stops or goes upstream, recirculating	Ulov	Index finger pointing up, hand moving in circular motion
Pulsating high wave or waves which tend to stay in one place, a.k.a. a standing wave	Val or Valy	Stoyak(slang)
Waterfall, a drop of 2 meters or more	Vodopad	hand extended pouring over crossing arm
Attention	Vnimaniye	One whistle
Emergency		Three whistles
Whirlpool	Vodovorot	(opposite of eddyout)hand extended pointing downward making circular motion
Logs or trees which create veritable "strainers" in the river, one of the more dangerous obstacles	Zaval	one hand palms up and fingers spread out, other hand horizontal moving toward hand with fingers spread
Trust, but check	Doveryay no proveryay
Stern	Surovyi
Pocket	Karman
Eating Time (lunch)	Perekoos	Head tilted, hand feeding, mouth open
Turn	Povorot
Unexpected	Neozhidannyi
Work-Out	Razminka
Sieve	Sito	one hand pointing down in circular motion toward other hand in a fist
Bait	Primanka
Big	Bol'shaya (Bolshoi)
Black	Chernaya (Chernyy)
White	Belaya (Belyy)
South	Yuzhnyy	Point down
North		Point straight up
West
East
Mountains	Gory	Gorky
Single Mountain	Gora
Small Mountain	Gorka
Clean	Chistyi
Insidious	Kovarnyi
Touchy	Nedotroga
Baby	Malysh
Hippo	Begemot
Classic	Klassicheskiy
Turbine	Turbinnyi
Good Luck	Shchaslivo
Very	Ochen
This	Etta
Thank you	Spasibo	Spasiba
Toast	Zha Nostrovia	Cup hands, pour into mouth, raise hand and arm straight up
Good Morning	Dobroye Utro	Utra
0
1	adeen	Pointer finger
2	dva	Two fingers
3	tree	Three fingers
4	chetyre	cheteere, four fingers up, thumb in
5	piat'	four fingers up, thumb out
6	shest'	four fingers up, thumb touching pinky finger
7	sem'
8	vosem'
9	devyat'	(devit), four fingers up, thumb touching index finger
10		fist with thumb out and up
How much or how many?	Skolko?	(skolka)
How much? (money)	Skolko Stoit?	(skolka)
Angle	Ugol
Bear	Medved'
First Aid needed	Nuzhna pomosch'	Hand grabbing wrist on other arm
Guarding	Steregushchyi
Toothed	Zub
Separate	Razdelnyi
Small Snake	Zmeika
Open	Otkrytyi
Paddle missing	Veslo!	Hand grabbing paddle shaft
Chink	Shchel
Deep	Glubokiy
No problem	nyet problema
Unpopulated	Bezlyudnyy
Steep	Krutoy
Mill	Melnitsa
Left Channel		Hold paddle up, pointed toward river left
Center Channel		Hold paddle straight up
Right Channel		Hold paddle up pointing toward river right
Key	Klyuchevoy
Meat Grinder	Myasorubka
Stone	Kamen'
Island	Ostrov
Kamikazi	Kamikadze
Push on, hurry up	Davay!	Arm up at right angle, fist moving up and down
Family	?Semeynyi
Obstinate	Upryamyi
Cramped	Tesnyi
Gate	Vorota
Crevice	Shchel
Tongue	Yasyk
Puck	Shayba
Good Luck	Schustlivo	(shusliva)
Scout	Razmadietsa	hand horizontal swaying over brow
To look around	Prasmadietsa	scout signal followed by two fingers in walking motion pointing downward in wide circle
Cabin	Izba
Spacing of boats		Hold both hands straight up, move inward to tighten up
Repeat	Povtorii	(paftariti)
Excuse me	Izvinite	(izviniti)
Pardon me	Prastite	(prastiti)
Sit down	Sadites'	(saditis)
Do you speak English?	Vi gavariti pahangliski?
Toilet	tooalyet
Restaurant	ristarahn	PECTOPAH
water	vodah	(vadah)
tea	chay	(chaya)
coffee	kofi
bread	khlyep
fruit	frookti
fish	ryba	(riboo)
cup	chahshka	(chahshkoo)
plate	taryelka	(taryelkoo)
fork	vilka	(vilkoo)
knife	nozh
Sunny	solnechno	(solnichna)

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A Boater's Terminology WWW.RAFT.ORG

Bridging the Communications River

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