AtDDtA1: Pugnax

[kelber at mindspring.com]

>
>"'Rr-Rff-rff Rr-rr-rff-rrf-rrf,' replied Pugnax ...'" (AtD, Pt. I, pp. 5-6)

This is similar to the translations of baby Sunny's speech in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events books (Pynchon's son is exactly the right age to have been hooked on these books, and Pynchon must have read or at least seen them.)


Example [The Bad Beginning, p.4]:

" For instance, this morning she was saying 'Gack!' over and over, which probably meant, 'Look at that mysterious figure emerging from the fog!'"

This device is used throughout the books.

Laura