A query on translation

[Cyrus]

s~Z wrote:

>>>>American pronunciation of the word.<<<
>>>>        
>>>>
>
>Humorous watching you go from saying there is no single Chinese
>pronunciation of the word to suggesting there is an 'American
>pronunciation.' On the Metrorail I hear Americans pronouncing it eye ching,
>eye jing, ee ching, ee jing, and yee jing, depending on many demographic
>factors.
>
>How is the pun captured in non-English translations?
>

Well, the Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (which I often resort to when 
translating), has all the above pronunciations except "yee jing", but 
says the standard is "ee ching", which is consistent with Pynchon's ear 
as is evident from the pun, and also with the rendering of the word in 
Greek. My solution was to use the verb "tsimbane" for the feet (meaning 
in this context to itch, to tingle, to sting) as "i-tsingbane" (the 
Greek language does not differentiate between the "ts" and "ch" sounds). 
The result is not very pretty, but it works, i.e. the reader understands 
the pun intended.

Cyrus