GR translation: Maybe not now.

[Monte Davis]

Good to have that settled.

On Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 9:05 AM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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>:
>>
>>> 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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