Hi alexander -- on Jan 16 2012 at 12:01, you wrote:   
      
   ak> No, it must be "the Russian language". Probably you mixed up with   
   ak> the phrase like this:   
   ak> English is easier than Russian.   
   ak> but   
   ak> The English language is easier than the Russian Language.   
      
   Yes! Nice example! (or more formally, "That's a nice example").   
      
      
      
    OI> I think there must be a different expression for that idiom, like "try   
    OI> to walk (or step) in(to) their shoes". There's even a Depeche Mode song   
    OI> about it. (-:   
      
   The expression is something like "before you critize someone, walk a mile in   
   their shoes".   
      
   ak> It is typical mistake - some people think if there is an idiom a   
   ak> translator must use it. No, can express yourself clearly without   
   ak> idioms. As I did, foe instance. Did I, Dallas? ;-)   
      
   Yes, you did!   
      
      
   ak> The rule is taken from a Russian textbook, so the translation is   
   ak> mine (and I shortened it a bit):   
   ak> ========================   
   ak> Abstract nouns can be combined with descriptive adjectives.   
   ak> Such adjectives make abstract nouns less general, but nevertheless   
   ak> DO NOT CAUSE articles changing.   
      
   ak> These adjectives are:   
   ak> 1. nationalities: English, French, etc.   
   ak> 2. social characteristics: democratic, feudal, religious, etc. 3.   
   ak> temporal meaning: ancient, modern, daily, monthly, etc   
   ak> 4. spatial meaning: internal, external, inside, outside, etc. 5.   
   ak> authenticity, reliability: real, true, false, etc.   
   ak> 6. measure of features: great, immense, huge, perfect, sufficient,   
   ak> etc. 7. genres: belles-letters, dramatic, comic, etc.   
   ak> 8. social or spiritual life: personal, moral, reasonable, etc. 9.   
   ak> manner of behavior: informal, series, polite, etc.   
   ak> 10 mixed group: good, bad, free, ordinary, plain, etc.   
   ak> ========================   
   ak> So, imho according exactly to this rules we omit "the" before "youth   
   ak> unemployment".   
      
   That's a nice excerpt -- well found!   
      
   ak> In short, Englishmen tired of putting articles everywhere where   
   ak> possible, and they tend to omit them whenever possible. ;-) It is   
   ak> perfectly excusable: why should you put an article if you'll be   
   ak> perfectly understood without it?   
   ak> And because of it "they go on board the yacht", but not "on the   
   ak> board of the yacht", although later is more correct. They speak "I   
   ak> like late autumn",... however in a minute they can say "I like a   
   ak> cool, late autumn. ;-)   
      
   Hmm ... I would quibble slightly; "on board" is an expression meaning "to get   
   onto" so it would never be correct to say "go on the board". You could also   
   say "They board the yacht".   
      
      
   Cheers... Dallas   
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: The BandMaster, CANADA [telnet: bandmaster.tzo.com] (1:153/715)