GR translation: Maybe not now.

David Morris fqmorris at gmail.com
Sat Dec 3 08:05:26 CST 2016


Jochen is on point.  There is nothing obscure about these words in any
language.

David Morris

On Saturday, December 3, 2016, Jochen Stremmel <jstremmel at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>
>> >>> > To: Pynchon Mailing List <pynchon-l at waste.org
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://waste.org/pipermail/pynchon-l/attachments/20161203/ceec5793/attachment.html>


More information about the Pynchon-l mailing list