GR translation: Maybe not now.

[Jochen Stremmel]

I don't think so, John. And I surely cannot imagine a language that has no
words for these simple concepts: maybe, not, now.

2016-12-03 11:13 GMT+01:00 John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com>:

> An experiment regarding translation vs interpretation: can anyone on
> the list rephrase *in English* this simple three-word quote without
> reusing any of its terms, and retain the same ambiguity, implications,
> valencies?
>
> On Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 5:34 PM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > That was what I was thinking the first time. Thanks for taking the
> > time to clarify it for me, Mark.
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 7:11 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Let me lead by saying I second Protomen's straightforward reading as I
> >> reflect.
> >>
> >> But, in the spirit of Mike asking for readings, 'interpretations' of
> what is
> >> in English, as remarked,
> >> perhaps open-endedly ambiguous, I will add one way I have read this
> over the
> >> years.
> >>
> >> Because of the line that follows, the same paragraph, not what could
> easily
> >> have been a different paragraph
> >> since one "rule" of writing is that words spoken 'should' have their own
> >> paragraph to show that the thought
> >> they express ends, I have often read "Maybe not now" as spoken very
> >> tight-lippedly..."stares him hard as fists"
> >> ..controlled anger as in middle class life one person will 'hiss' to
> >> another, "Not now", meaning we won't talk about that NOW, in this
> situation.
> >>
> >> Controlled anger that 'says', "you bring that up so innocently? With
> that
> >> (stupid) 'Really?' and stupid remark since
> >> you should KNOW now"....
> >>
> >> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 2:42 AM, Mike Jing <
> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Thanks. That's what I meant the second time.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 2:19 AM, Protomen <protomen at protonmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>> >
> >>> > I'd assume the more straightforward:
> >>> > "(the fact that Pavel swore off that) maybe doesn't apply, in the
> >>> > current
> >>> > situation"
> >>> > with the "maybe" a euphemism, hence Enzian feeling out of touch.
> >>> >
> >>> > -------- Original Message --------
> >>> > Subject: GR translation: Maybe not now.
> >>> > Local Time: 1 décembre 2016 6:59 PM
> >>> > UTC Time: 1 décembre 2016 17:59
> >>> > From: gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
> >>> > To: Pynchon Mailing List <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> >>> >
> >>> > V519.9-18, P528.2-11 Pavel and Maria meant to have the child. Then
> >>> > Josef Ombindi and his people started their visiting. They have
> learned
> >>> > their vulturehood from the Christian missionaries. They keep lists of
> >>> > all the women of childbearing age. Any pregnancy is an invitation to
> >>> > hover, to tune in, to swoop. They will use threats, casuistry,
> >>> > physical seduction—there’s an arsenal of techniques. Washing-blue is
> >>> > the abortifacient of choice.
> >>> > “The refinery,” suggests Andreas Orukambe.
> >>> > “Really? I thought he’d sworn off that.”
> >>> > “Maybe not now.” The girl’s brother stares him hard as fists.
> >>> > Enzian, old bastard, you really are out of touch . . . .
> >>> >
> >>> > What does Christian mean by “Maybe not now” here? Is he asking Enzian
> >>> > to drop the subject?
> >>> > -
> >>> > Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
> >>> >
> >>> >
> >>> -
> >>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
> >>
> >>
> > -
> > Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>
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