GRGR (17): german samples

[Seb Thirlway]

From: Lorentzen / Nicklaus <lorentzen-nicklaus at t-online.de>


I didn't realise there were so many mistake/mistake-n in the
German (bad memories of trying to get those -e/-en endings right
for O level)...

>  "klar, entlüftung, zündung, vorstufe, hauptstufe" (361) -
"clear, ventilation,
>  ignition, first stage, main stage".

It's almost a pity to hear this translated, when Enzian (and to
some extent Slothrop) make such a mystical touchstone out of it.
Sounds prosaic.  But then Enzian, if not Slothrop, would have
known the literal meaning you give here...

>  "säure" (365)- "acid". weisenburger adds "(as in vinegar)" &
goes on: "thus
>  emil is an 'acid bummer', american sixties slang for an
unpleasant experience
>  while under the influence of lsd." isn't this characerization
a little
>  unfair?! true, he never really stops thinking about business.
but in general
>  emil bummer is one of the more likeable characters in this
novel, no?


I always read "Saure" as having more "bitter, corrosive"
connotations, rather than what Weisenburger reads into it (though
W's reading is probably what TRP had in mind).  So this makes
Emil's name "bitter bummer" - exactly the attitude to life that
makes him so likeable, and gives all those Berlin characters (and
ole' Pig Bodine) their zip - life's a bitter bummer, but that's
assumed, not mentioned, so load up that hash-pipe and roll on the
spendidly weird high spirits...  when Greta comes on the scene
the comedy gets the droop (in inverse motion to Slothrop... hmm
Tyrone, what's this now, paradoxical stage or what?) - she's the
exact opposite of dose Krazy Berlin Kats - moans and needs all
the time, any exhilaration is buried well inside her messed-up
head...


>  "der springer" (376) - "the knight" (in chess).
Literally "jumper" or "leaper", correct?




seb