What does just do it mean? The amazing story of the expression Just do it

In modern language the particle just does a lot various functions, and the difficulties of its translation are often associated with the problem of correct identification of the function. Traditionally, we are talking about three functions just as particles - excretory, restrictive and emphatic, however, as analysis shows, there are also other, albeit less common, functions; in addition, within the framework of these three, one can find quite interesting variations, interesting also from the point of view of translation.
The variety of possibilities is especially clear just visible in the example emphatic (amplifying) a function that we would like to dwell on in more detail. Consider the following examples:

"I see your point, but people here just can"t afford that sort of luxury..." ( D.L. : 65)

"I understand what you mean, but people here Just They can't afford that luxury."

"I"m sorry Siegfried, I just have nothing to say." ( D.L. : 95)

"Excuse me, Siegfried, I Just nothing to say."

"It"s just too early." ( D.T. : 265)

"Just It's too early now."

As can be seen from the examples, just strengthens (intensifies) the meaning of the semantic block that follows it, which often represents a structure with negation, both explicit (the first two examples) and implicit (the last example). The Russian particle we proposed as an equivalent Just can be used in this capacity in most cases, although other means are sometimes possible:

"Didn't tell you he was taking you out. Didn't he?... And just happened to leave his wallet at home." ( D.T. : 66)

"He told you that he was inviting you to a restaurant. Right?...And absolutely (pure/simple) I accidentally forgot my wallet at home."

Of particular interest to us are cases when, when translating just in the emphatic function, a restructuring of the entire sentence structure is required. Consider the following example:

"Wasn't that" just typical?..." ( D.L. : 131)

"How it was all familiar!”

In the English text we are dealing with an emphatic interrogative-negative sentence, which, as was shown in our work devoted to the translation of Russian particles, quite often corresponds to Russian sentences with same. Additional intensification of meaning is carried out through an exclamatory sentence with an intensifier How. From the point of view of the norms of the Russian language, the use Just in this structure seems hardly possible.
In addition to general cases of enhancing meaning with the help just, quite often one can observe the intensification of specific logical values, which is of interest from the point of view of translation due to the difference in equivalents. Firstly, we can highlight the intensification (emphasis) of the insignificance of the distance or time interval:

"We were sitting towards the rear of the aircraft, just behind the wing." ( D.L. : 68)

"We sat closer to the back of the plane, straightaway behind the wing."

"This was the woman who just a few hours before had said she would do anything for them." ( D.L. : 76)

"And it was the same woman who Total A few hours earlier, she promised to do anything for them."

"It"s by a British friend of mine.... He gave it to me just yesterday." ( D.L. : 119)

As you can see, the Russian equivalent is highly dependent on compatibility.
When just acts as a function of intensifying sufficiency; its equivalents are often structures with an adjective one or the previously mentioned particle Just:

I felt nauseated just to breathe them. ( D.T. : 531)

I was sick of one their smell.

It made you smile just to look at him. ( D.L. : 115)

Just the sight of him brought a smile.

"Don't worry" just do exactly as I do." ( D.L. : 180)

"Don't worry, Just repeat after me exactly."

In combination with like particle just acts as a comparison intensification function:

"Lovely girl. I"ve always said so. Looks just like a statue of Diana in my father"s club." ( D.T. : 61)

"Lovely girl. I've always said that. She looks exactly the same like the statue of Diana in my father's club."

Finally, it is worth mentioning that in combination with modal verbs may, might, could the analyzed particle emphasizes the improbability:

I said I was rather tied up at the school over most weekends; though the half-term holiday was the week-end after the next and I might just be in Athens then - but I couldn't be sure. ( F : 162)

I wrote that I am quite busy at school almost all weekends, although the schoolchildren will have a short holiday every other weekend, and I may have it will work out come to Athens, but I can't Nothing promise.

In our opinion, the communicative meaning of the English particle can be conveyed by the lexical means of the Russian language, in particular the addition of the word it will work out usually emphasizes a great dependence on circumstances, which is further reinforced by the pronoun Nothing with the verb promise.
Particular attention should be paid to those cases when the particle just used to strengthen interrogative and relative pronouns and at the same time often implicitly expresses various emotions. Consider the following example:

I didn't answer. I was wondering just how we had reached this stage. ( JB : 53)

I didn't answer. I was wondering how same we have reached such a degree of intimacy.

From the context it is clear that the hero cannot explain to himself what happened; it causes him great surprise, which is emphasized by the introduction of the particle just. In our opinion, such an emotion in the Russian language is well conveyed by the particle same, which is obvious in another example:

"Just what is all this nonsense?" ( K.A. : 74)

"How same understand all this?

However, other translation methods are also possible. just in this function:

I knew just what happened to people who were sacked from the local government. ( JB : 200)

I Wonderful knew what happened to people fired from local government.

Let us now move on to consider the particle just in function identification. Its translation into Russian usually does not cause much difficulty here, since in the Russian language there are quite a few particles used in this function; as equivalent just particles can usually be used just And exactly, as can be seen from the following examples:

"Oh thank you, James, it"s just what I want." ( K.A. : 89)

"Oh, thank you, James, this is exactly / just that's what I need."

And I am fairly sure he would have done just that if only I had made it in to see him. ( D.T. : 77)

And I'm pretty sure that exactly it would be him And I did, if only I could see him.

I nearly hung up... but just then the operator came back on. ( D.T. : 160)

I almost hung up... but just at that moment I heard the operator’s voice again.

A special case of identification can be recognized as the expression of simultaneity, although in this case the English particle is usually translated using Russian just:

He ran lightly up the stairs. Ronnie was just emerging from Gerald Wade's room. ( AC1 : 24)

He quickly ran up the steps. Ronnie just was leaving Gerald Wade's room.

As already noted, another common function of a particle just is restrictive function, and here the words such as only, only, only, Just:

I convinced myself that it was just superstition. ( D.L. : 76)

I convinced myself that it was just/simply superstition.

It's just a rumour, actually. ( D.L. : 120)

Actually it's only hearing.

"No, Howard, you said it was the way out, I just agreed." ( D.L. : 117)

"No, Howard, you said that this was a way out, I only/simply agreed."

And it wasn't just a question of having kept my mouth shut. ( D.T. : 550)

And it wasn't only is that I kept my mouth shut.

It is especially worth mentioning the case when just in the restrictive function it approaches in meaning to Russian barely. Consider the following example:

Absolute peace. High and very far to the north I could just hear an airplane. ( F : 113)

Complete silence. Somewhere high and very far in the north was barely The noise of an airplane is heard.

The example is interesting primarily from the point of view of determining the function of the English particle. This is mainly helped by the first sentence, since since the hero says that there was complete silence, then he could not hear anything or almost nothing, which means the particle limits verb semantics hear. Otherwise there would be a logical contradiction.
The Importance of Correct Function Definition just becomes especially obvious when turning to the next, although not very frequent, pragmatic meaning of this particle. Let's analyze the following example:

"It's terrible," said Charles. "Really, I can just see him. Standing out in a yard wearing some kind of stupid apron." ( D.T. : 112)

The difficulty in defining the function here is that just used in the same syntactic position as in the previous example, in combination with a modal verb can (could) and the verb of perception. Therefore, only a general context can help us, the expressive nature of which (expression it's terrible, particle really), as well as the immediately preceding sentence, with a high degree of probability exclude the restrictive function and, moreover, leads us to the idea that the particle is used rather in an expressive function and in pragmatic meaning is close to an adverb easily, resulting in translation this example might look like this:

"It's terrible," said Charles. "Damn it, Can imagine it (by God, I so alive I can imagine it.) How he stands in the yard, wearing some stupid apron."

Last function just, which we would like to talk about is an expression of politeness. In essence, we are dealing with a type of emphatic function, since just here it is always used in statements that represent a polite request, and the particle often only enhances the degree of politeness:

"I don"t seem to have my information handy right now, maybe you could just prompt me." ( D.T. : 159)

From the point of view of naturalness, it should be noted that it is not very typical for the Russian language to use particles before the verb in a polite request, therefore, in our opinion, it is quite appropriate to translate simply the most polite request:

"I'm afraid I don't have the information I need at hand right now; could you help me?"

On the other hand, in Russian it is possible to enhance politeness in other ways, in particular:

... if you don't mind, Tell me please.

In any case, it seems to us that the final decision on the need and possibility of translation just in this function depends very much on the immediate context, both verbal and non-verbal. We would just like to emphasize that in in this case its translation is not an end in itself and that when it comes to such a pragmatic function as increasing the degree of politeness, one should first of all focus on the norms of the target language and the traditions of the receiving culture.

It’s not for nothing that I put this question in the subcategory “Linguistics”, because it directly concerns translation from in English.

The fact is that translating from another language is generally a thankless task. I myself study English, and I had to read a lot that it is impossible to translate everything in the literal sense of the word. Even two related languages, such as Russian and Ukrainian, are fundamentally different. One day I was asked to translate a poem into Ukrainian. It's a pain in the ass, I tell you! If translated literally, then all meaning of the verse will be lost.

Also, I managed to translate, as a beginner, from English into Ukrainian the well-known hit of The Beatles “Yesterday”. While translating this song, I was once again convinced that it is impossible to translate the verse literally. You always have to look for words that have similar meanings. I can imagine what a mess it would be if I decided to translate everything literally. It is difficult to translate prose, but it is even more difficult to translate poetry, because you not only need to choose the words, but also choose them in such a way that they form a rhyme.

Now, regarding the expression “Just do it”.

The word “just” itself is translated as “simple”, that is, it can be done in the context, for example, “just come here”, or simply, in the sense that everything is very simple, uncomplicated, meaning. To denote the expression “simple”, that is, a simple example, or a simple conclusion, you can use the expression “Idle time”.

Although, separately, these words from the expression mean “waiting” and “time”.

So, “just do it” can be translated as “it’s easy to do,” or “it’s easy to do.”

Throughout the history of mankind, many different catch phrases have been invented. Some of them became a symbol of some event, others united people to achieve some goal. Typically, such expressions are short and understandable to make it easier to remember and differentiate concepts. Some of the expressions led people to war, while others led people to die in war. IN Lately the real struggle is between competing companies, each of which wants to surpass its opponent. Everyone knows the slogan - Just do it. This article will tell you the unusual fate of this slogan.

Just do it - translation

To understand this formulation, it is enough to translate the expression literally. Just - simply, do - do/make, it - this. There is another variant of the phrase in a different tense: Just did it. Translation: “Just did it.”

Nike Company

At the end of the last century, fashion for sneakers and sports style came. At that time, the leaders in the sports shoe market were Nike and Reebok. In 1987, Reebok outsold its rival in sales with advertisements featuring sports greats. Nike, in turn, has opted to support easy runs.

Nike executives decided that a completely different approach to advertising their product was needed. Then they realized that for effective sales a special slogan is required, and we contacted advertising agency Wieden & Kennedy with this order. Unfortunately, the employees of this agency were not immediately able to achieve the desired result. On the last day before the presentation of the order, Dan Weeden came up with 5 slogans, but he realized that all these invented expressions would not cause rejoicing among the customers. However, at the last moment he came up with the sixth and main slogan: Just do it. At the conference, Nike executives approved it, and the slogan became the main symbol of the famous company. After this acquisition, Nike took the sports industry by storm.

Let's do it

Dan Weeden, who came up with the slogan for Nike products, was inspired by the story of an American criminal. Gary Gilmore, a Waco native, committed two murders after serving 20 years in prison. Then he was serving punishment for a series of robberies and murders. At 35, he was sentenced to death after killing a gas station worker and a hotel manager. On the day of execution (January 17, 1977), before his death, the criminal surprised everyone present with his statement; instead of asking for mercy or repentance, he said his last words: Let's do it! ("Let's do it!").

Advertiser Dan only had to change the first word. No one could have imagined that the slogan for a sports giant would be based on the saying of a criminal figure. Therefore, Nike's slogan fits well into the sports industry.

I would like to give Gilmore credit for his words if I could, but I shouldn't have to.

Since then, Nike has provided serious competition to its opponents and emerged victorious with sales of up to $9 billion. A year ago, without a well-known slogan, sales reached 876 million.

Shia LaBeouf

In 2015, a video appeared on the Internet in which a Hollywood actor motivates people to change with the phrase “Just do it.” In Russian - "Just do it."

The actor was originally filmed for a student project, where he reflects, rests and meditates against a green background for 30 minutes. This project is designed for students to use his sayings before defending their graduation papers. Soon the video was published on the Vimeo portal.

A month later, user Mike Mohamed posted a one-minute fragment on YouTube with the title “Shia LaBeouf Gives the Most Powerful Motivational Call of All Time!” The video quickly gained 27 million views before being deleted.

Users social networks We turned the video into the previous years. Since the actor was filmed using chromakey, he could easily be inserted into any background, video, or advertisement. Most often it is used in humorous videos in which people cannot decide to do something.

Shia LaBeouf with his segment “Just do it” managed to achieve great success on the Internet. Craftsmen edit his videos into clips with songs, in which the actor suggests not to give up and not give up. Some people insert it into famous movie scenes. The most popular of these passages: Shia supports Skywalker, prepares the inhabitants of the Earth for confrontation with aliens, motivates the Avengers.

It’s not for nothing that I put this question in the “Linguistics” subcategory, because it directly concerns translation from English.

The fact is that translating from another language is generally a thankless task. I myself study English, and I had to read a lot that it is impossible to translate everything in the literal sense of the word. Even two related languages, such as Russian and Ukrainian, are fundamentally different. One day I was asked to translate a poem into Ukrainian. It's a pain in the ass, I tell you! If translated literally, then all meaning of the verse will be lost.

Also, I managed to translate, as a beginner, from English into Ukrainian the well-known hit of The Beatles “Yesterday”. While translating this song, I was once again convinced that it is impossible to translate the verse literally. You always have to look for words that have similar meanings. I can imagine what a mess it would be if I decided to translate everything literally. It is difficult to translate prose, but it is even more difficult to translate poetry, because you not only need to choose the words, but also choose them in such a way that they form a rhyme.

Now, regarding the expression “Just do it”.

The word “just” itself is translated as “simple”, that is, it can be done in the context, for example, “just come here”, or simply, in the sense that everything is very simple, uncomplicated, meaning. To denote the expression “simple”, that is, a simple example, or a simple conclusion, you can use the expression “Idle time”.

Although, separately, these words from the expression mean “waiting” and “time”.

So, “just do it” can be translated as “it’s easy to do,” or “it’s easy to do.”